WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

DOMINION FINANCE

PERFECTLY SOUND

(Our Special Cor respondent)

WELLINGTON, June 20. The Acting Minister of Finance naturally is a little indignant at the attempts that have been made to discover a note of pessimsim in bis recent review of the Dominion’s financial position. He is astounded that anyone should have read into Ids figures a. suggestion that tin- country is not perfectly well able to bear the additional burden of debt that has been forced upon it by the war. As a matter of fact the figures showed that the national wealth was enormously larger than the national debt, that the public revenue was extraordinarily buoyant, that trade and production were rapidly expanding and that the whole position was eminently satisfactory. In these circumstances there was no nerd and no temptation to disguise the fact that the liabilities of the country had largely increased and that in order to bear them lightly the people must be united in effort and purpose towards fhe realisation of 'their great destiny as a prosperous and progressive nation. PARTY POLITICS. Though there is no reason for supposing it was the intention of the Liberal caucus in declaring for the termination of file party truce before the next general election to stir up political discord in advance of the return of the party leaders, there can be no doubt its determination lias tended in that direction. The nerves of the politicians and of their friends are on edge and it will require all the tact and forbearance of the party leaders to preserve the peace during the approaching session of Parliament. The kite flown by the “Dominion” last week implying that Sir Joseph Ward was hurrying hack to the Dominion for the purpme of organising his forces for the impending contest is typical of the sort of stories that are Hying about. There is no actual and open broach between the rank and file of the two old parties, but they are looking ahead and. preparing for eventualities. THE COMING SESSION. In the usually best informed circles, however, it is generally anticipated that the bonds of the truce will not be officially loosened til! the end of flic session and perhaps not till the dissolution. 'The retirement of Sir Joseph \Vsiril :»ml liis l.iliernl col lon from the National Cabinet'before the session would place upon Mr Massey the embarrassing duty of tilling their places from among bis own supporters. It has been suggested that this would give the Prime Minister an opportunity to heal such dissatisfaction as there may be in the ranks of the Reformers; but experience lias shown there is nothing more disturbing fo the harmony of a party than Cabinet-mak-ing. There are not sufficient positions to go round and the disappointed aspirants for ministerial honours are bound to be in a majority. With the session over there would lie no need to make the appointments till after the election. MINES AND MINERS.

The Coal Minos Report, which unlike Mohammed's coffin, lias boon hanging suspended between Wellington and London during the last seven or eight weeks, makes its appearance l in the evening papers to-day, and proves to be a somewhat less heroic production than was generally expected. The mines are to he nationalised to (he extent of being controlled by a hoard, consisting of two •members selected by tilt' owners and two selected by the miners and a president appointed by tiie Government. The owners are to receive debentures for tlhe value of their mines, and are to have preference in profits up to ■! per een(. Beyond that the miners and the State are to participate. That, roughly, is the basis of the scheme. Of course legislation will fie required to give effect (o the -proosuls, and the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald lias a Bill on the stocks towards that end. Accompanying the report "a re some pictures of miners’

“ shacks ’’ which speak eloquently of the need for reform.

TI-IE COAL CRISIS. IMPENDING FAMINE. Wellington, June 27 By the very narrowest margin on Wednesday evening, Wellington escaped having its gas supply cut off for the night. Owing to the non-arrival of a collier, which should have reached here the day before, the Gas Company was left without a hundred-weight of coal in stock and it was only through the Railway Department coming to its rescue it was able to carry on As it was, between five and eight o’clock, the hours at which the consumption is greatest, it was touch and go whether or nor. the mains could 'be kept charged. The crisis is by no means over. During the last few years there has been an immense increase in the installation ot gas cookers and heaters in the city, largely on account ot the difficulty householders have experienced in obtaining fuel, and till a regular supply of coal is again assured the position will remain very critical. 1

THE HOARD OR TRADE’S REPORT

One good effect of the (right householders suffered on Wednesday, from which they have not yet fully recovered, will be to turn more interested public attention to (he Board of* Trade’s report on the coal industry than otherwise would have been the case. Many sanguine people, who had not looked" very closely into the subject themselves, had hoped the Board would be able to propound some scheme that would ensure a regular and abundant. supply of fuel forthwith, but of course it attempted to do nothing ot the sort. Its proposals for safeguarding the country against a recurrence of the present conditions, however, are comprehensive and drastic enough, and if the public take them seriously and back up the Government in a bold, vigorous policy ot reform, a vast improvement upon the existing methods of winning and distributing this prime necessary of life ought to be effected. Tine ABSENT /.HADUR,S. Though there is 110 further definite news concerning the movements of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph

Ward, it is generally expected "in official circles that the two Ministers will arrive here about the same time. Sir Joseph Ward’s departure from London was tentatively fixed for to-day and if this arrangement is adhered to the Minister of Finance may travel as far as Vancouver in advance of the Prime Minister ; but it is thought they may meet there and come across the Pacific together on the next trip of the Niagara. In this case they should be back in the Dominion early in August and there should be nothing to prevent Parliament meeting in September. The idea that the session will be a short one, extending over only a few weeks, is being gradually dissipated and Hie expectation now is that both Ministers and private members will do most of their electioneering from the floor of the House.

/ PUBLIC works. . Sir Wil'iatu Fraser is a difficult person to catch in these days, being engaged upon the inspection ot various works that may require his attention during the session; but before leaving for the North Auckland district the other day he let it be understood he will have no superfluous money to throw about next year He seems to be content to leave the Fast Coast Railway in the North and the Ofira Tunnel in the South to proceed at a snail’s pace, but it is believed he has been impressed by representations made to him in regard to spanning the gap in the Main Trunk Line between Christchurch and Picton. This gap is the only obstacle in the way of establishing a State service between Auckland and Bluff, with fast ferry boats across Cook Strait, and the shipping difficulties of the last year or two have illustrated better than anything else could have done the need for the completion ol the line.