NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2307, 14 November 1914, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The efforts being made to smooth over the attempt to squeeze out the Social Democrat for the Wellington North seat do hot appear to be meetingwith very much success, and the position is aggravated by the endeavours to secure the retirement of Mr. Moore, the Labour-Socialist candidate for the Suburbs seat. Both Mr. Holland and Mr. Moore were early in the field, and had been busily at work for some time when the Wardist candidates came out. It is true that Mr. Fitzgerald's candidature for the Suburbs was not unexpected, seeing that he, like Mr. Moore,, had previously contested the seat,' but Mr. Moore defeated him on the last occasion, and polled very heavily. However, the point of interest is that the Wardists want to grab whatever chances there may bo of winning these seats regardless of thoi'r allies. Should thoy press the matter, then it is probable that Lab-our-Socjalist candidates will be run at Wellington Central and the Hutt, and possibly elsewhere. The public will be interested in a further evidence of the alliance between tho Wardists and the Social Democrats contained in an announcement made on behalf of Mr. Robertson; the gentleman who represents Otaki. Ho is now announced not as the Social Democratic nominee, but as "Labour's choice" and "Liberals'choice." Yet there is a "Liberal" candidate in the field. Apparently he has been turned down by the Wardists in favour of the Social Democrat; and no doubt pressure will be brought to bear on him to 6tand down altogether. We should imagine that Sir Joseph Ward is finding that these alliances or understandings, or whatever they may be, which his party has entered into, are most uncomfortable things. But how much more uncomfortable they would be for tho country if by any chance the Wardists were returned-to power, dominated by the extremists of the "Social Democratic" persuasion. \

Mr, J. P. Luke has no reason to be dissatisfied with his reception when he opened bis campaign at Wellington South last evening. Tho noisy band of Labour-Socialists who attempted to interrupt and disturb the meeting were in a small minority, and their organised rowdyism will no doubt harden up the determination of thinking people in the electorate to return a candidate who will support a Government which has demonstrated its ability to present a firm and uncompromising front to all lawless disturbers of tho public peace. Since their leaders have become involved in some sort of alliance with tho Wardist faction, tho Labour-Social-ists have manifested an inclination to adopt a peaceful \ disguise? but incidents such as occurred at. Mr. Luke's meeting last night indicate that the spirit of lawlessness which found free vent at public meetings until a few months ago is still alive. Mr. Luke, of course, can expect no favours from tho adherents of the Red Federation. At the time of the strike last year ho did good service in standing up" for the rights of tho general body of citizens, and in assisting to maintain law and order. Now that ho has come forward as a candidate for Parliament these things will probably be remembered against him by tho men who, at the time of tho strike, attempted to set the law at defiance. Tho efforts made to break- up his meeting did not pre.veafc Mfi, Lhse giving a clear and

straightforward exposition of tho political principles' for which he stands, and of his reasons for supporting the Massey Government, and it was quite evident that ho had the sympathy of a great majority of his audience. Whatever the Red Federationists may say or do Me. Luke's claims must appeal to the great body of citizens. In an extended period of service as a city councillor he gave ample proof of his tireless industry in tho public interest, and more recently as Mayor ho has shown himself a capable administrator. iPossibly many citizens have never fully realised how much they are indebted to him for the good work he did at the time of the strike, and in discharging the arduous duties which have more recently fallen to his lot in the way of activities arising out of the conditions created by tho war.

In his speech at Te Aroha, which is reported in our news columns today, the Hon. W. H. Herries put forward a strong defence of the Government's proposal- to raise a I loan of £3,200,000 over a term of five years, and expend it in bringing the railways of the Dominion up to date. This is a matter which has been made the target for a great deal of Opposition criticism, and it has been alleged that the Government is intent upon erecting palatial buildings. in the large centres _of population while the country is, hungering for an extension of lines which, would develop its outlying districts. This, as Mr. Herries pointed out, is an absor lute _ misrepresentation of the facts. Station buildings account for only a very small proportion of the proposed expenditure, the greater part of which is to be devoted to new station and' goods yards, . goods sheds, and engine Bhedß, grade-ease-ments, and duplication of congested lines. It is always easy for Opposition critics to suggest that any large expenditure _of public money in or near the principal- centres of population is against the interests of the country at large and particularly of the back-blocks settlers, but probably moat of these settlers are farsighted enough to recognise that adequate provision for handling the traffic at the chief terminal points is essentialto the working efficiency of the whole system. _ As the feeder lines extend the necessity for making this provision becomes more and more pronounced. If the principal -stations were allowed to remain in their present condition for a few years longer the result could only be a serious congestion of traffic which would affect the interests of the back-blocks settlers quite as injuriously as those of any other section of the community. The objection to these very necessary improvements is based almost wholly, of course, upon a desire to manufacture a case against the Government. No serious attempt has been made to prove that the Government is really neglecting or sacrificing the interests of backblocks settlers for the very good and sufficient reason that any such attempt would be foredoomed to certain failure. More ample provision is being made at present for railway ana road works to open up the undeveloped portions of the Dominion than at anv previous period in the history of the country ( and the fact that this will necessarily stimulate a large increase- in the total volume of traffic makes it all the more necessary that ample facilities should be provided to cope with tie traffic at the ports of shipment.