WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1920, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

NEW TAXES. STIFF POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH CHARGES. (Our Special Correspondent). July 27. When in his first War Budget, Sii Joseph Ward raised th e postal rates by one hall-penny a packet all round and the telegraphic charges in a corresponding ratio, lie expressed a hope that the increases would be only temporary. Even in 1915 we had not quite realised that winning the war was going to he a long business, and Sir Joseph, as tin author of penny postage in this country naturally was reluctant, to abandon tile principles Be laid down so emphatically twenty years before. But the war drugged on and involved the Dominion in such an enormous burden of debt that every source of revenue now has to In exploited and probably the National Government, had it remained in office would have been compelled to do what the Reform Government is doing now. THE LIMIT. Many business people are inclined t:> l ink, however, that the increases ii post and telegraphic rates announced this morning are just about the limit, arc so high, that is, that they will force all classes of the community into economies that were not practised when the last increases wero made. Individuals and firms, they contend, who were accustomed to paying only a penny for a four ounce letter and will hesitate about paying two-pence for a two ounce letter, and will cut down their correspond cnee accordingly. Telegraphing will become a luxury. The twenty words that used to cost- a shilling will now cost one and eightpence and on Sundays and holidays the charge will be three shillings and fourpenee. Late fees will be simply prohibitive, and we all shall he bound to keep up to time. OUT OF WORK. There was another slump in the jHouse of Representatives on Friday night when menibers hurried the whole ,of the business through at such a rate (that the evening sitting lasted less than an hour, and at 8.20 the Prime Minister took the adjournment for the weekend. The Opposition good-humouredly is chaffing the Prime Minister for having complained of the waste ol time during the early part of fh e session, and now being unable to keep the wheels going round for four hours a day. The Prime Minister’s friends are retorting that the Opposition is not playing the game by allowing business to go ahead at such a pace, and that no one could have foreseen that Monday’s Order Paper with the subsequent additions would be practically exhausted by Friday afternoon. However, everyone is glad to have the docks clear for the delivery of the Financial Statement on Tuesday.

THE OPPOSITION ATTITUDE. The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald strongly resents the suggestion, “even if it were made in jest.” that the Opposition is neglecting its duty hv facilitating tho work of the House. Ho made it perfectly clear before Parliament met, he says, that this would he the policy of the Liberal Party, and his determination was in no way affected by what happened during the first weeks of the session. The “ want-of-confidonce motions did not aspire to ousting the Government from office, but to getting a bettor definition of parties and this end was undoubtedly achieved.