WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

fUur Special Correspondent.)

THE PRINCE’S VISIT. THE CAPITAL EN FETE. WELLINGTON, May 5. Wellington has decked itself with much bunting and greenery for the reception of the Prince of Wales, and at the moment the weather is gloriously fine. A disagreeable Government meteorologist has predicted strong southerly winds and cold changeable, showery weathe/. but a loyal public is refusing to credit him and is dressing itself in its best. The royal guest will arrive by train at Lambton Station at 7.30 this evening having travelled from Napier by way of Wairarapa, rejoicing the hearts of the country folk en route, and will proceed to Government House, through the decorated and crowded streets, for the first nglit’s rest lie has been permitted to enjoy since leaving Auckland. After that, the deluge of entertainment. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. Colonel Mitchell, the much alive new member for Wellington South, lias not contented himself with njerely condemning the dilatory methods being employed in the development of the Mangaliao hydro-electric scheme. He has obtained a report from a well-known firm of electrical engineers endorsing liis statement that Mangabao will not provide sufficient power for the city and his suggestion that a stand-by and supplementary power should be obtained from the Hutt River. This scheme could be completed in three years at a comparatively small cost and while ensuring a constant and reliable supply of electricity would make the erection of additional steam power in Wellington unnecessary. Wit!' the authority of the engineers behind it the scheme is bound to receive official attention. THE COST OF LIVING. Speaking to a deputation from the Post and Telegraph Department, which approached him yesterday with a request for an increase in pay, Mr Massey said no power on earth could have kept the cost of living down after such a war as the world had experienced. But in this respect New Zealand had done better than any other country, Australia alone having figures that were comparable with those of the Dominion. He instanced sugar as a commodity in which New Zealand had stood ! pre-eminent during the course of the

war—omitting to mention, by tlie way, the factor of duty—and predicted that though an increase in price was inevitable New Zealanders would continue to have tho cheapest sugar in the woi’ld.' MORE TAXATION. Pressing his point, Mr Massey appealed through the deputation to the wliolo community to do its duty. ‘ ■ cannot go on as we are doing willum arranging for additional revenue from the revenue-producing Departments of tlie State,” ho s aid. “I am satisfied of that, though I had thought it might bo avoided. It is only right we should do anything we can to pay you salaries in keeping with the increase in the cost of living. I lay down as a principle on which we have stood up to the present, but I am afraid we shall have to arrange for more revenue from the Post Department and more revenue from the Railway Department and from any other revenue-producing Department. ’ In plain word® this means' more taxation and an inevitable increase in the cost of living. This is the prospect with which the country is faced to-day.