The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23rd, 1921.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23rd, 1921.

THE FINANCIAL SITUATION. In all his references to the financial sima.iion when here hist week, the Prime Minister seemed to be careful on all occasions not to commit himself in regard to any financial reforms to save the situation. His invariable statement was to see demands lessen, d, production increased and cost of living reduced. Then lie said he cpukl re duce taxation. Mr Massey wanted the people to make matters easy for him He did not want to do anything unpleasant. For instance, he did not favour retrenchment as a meaps to reduce departmental expenditure, but he expects the public at largo to economise and save, or otherwise reduce their expenditure. Mr Massey therefore failed to give a practical lead in regard to retrieving the financial situation. He took comfort in the fact as Minister of Finance, that though there was gomg to he a drop in the return for wool, the increase in the volume of dairy products was going to help make up substantially the loss of income. He felt that there was going to be a national adjustment by this means which would bring into the country in the aggregate nearly as much money as otherwise. He referred to this fact more than once, indicating the comfort the po- . sition was giving him. During this and next month, millions will roll into the New Zealand Treasury for income tax and this will give the Premier' a further source of satisfaction, j and enable him to close the year’s accounts with a surplus. But can he go ' on extracting millions from the people ns he has now' been doing? There are indications that the income tax collections are at the full limit, and many firms and business people are at the end of their resources to meet the demands. Another year of'sueli taxation, and the fear is being expressed that the Government will kill the goose which 1 lays the golden eggs. Still, Mr Massey offers no statesmanlike policy for the future, and no immediate action at the present to solve the financial difficulties now being experienced. It is true that ho states if production increases , us it promises and demands decrease, I ho may be able to reduce taxation by a ( ! million or two, hut what tlic conntry wants is a permanent reduction in i its administrative costs, on which, as, has been shown from time to time, charges are growing more rapidly than has the increasing revenue due from abnormal importations and very heavy taxation. The coming session is to he a brief one in mid-March before the close of the financial year, and that might be an excuse for further deferring a statement as to the financial policy the country must shape if some tangible relief is to be given to those now taxed so heavily. Mr Massey seems inclined to plod his own way. Tic rejects a proposal to seek guidance from a committee of experts, hut' he accepts such a committee for guidance in regard to Customs’ revision, yet the whole incidence of taxation is of greater importance than one branch of it such ; as customs’ revenue. Mr Massey strains at the gnat and swallows the camel. 1

In the course of the deputations to the Rt. Hon. Minister of Railways at Greymouth last week some of the public men brought before Mr Massey the question of securing a better connection with the Wellington ferry service and the overland train and coach service to the Coast. On three days a week under normal cohditions, it is possible for tlm -‘Wahine” to readily connect, but owing to various abnormal causes, more particularly poor coal and indifferent stoking caused at times by go-slow and other methods, the steamer fails to steam up to her capacity and there is a late arrival, at Lyttelton. Often when this occurs the railway authorities do not make knjwn the best arrangements possible for Coast passengers to get through to the city quickly for the Midland train. Those awarQ of the position now enquire if an ordinary train is leaving ahead of the steamer special, and by taking the former it. is possible to reach Christchurch in good time to catch the west-, hound train. The Government has been asked now to give a better connection—that is more secure,-by putting hack the regular departure of the" Midland train for half an hour or so. This is done now on occasions and the connection and through journey are .made well up to time. Tt- might 1)0 made the general practice and it is hoped the Railway Department will favorably consider the feasibility of this being arranged. Another matter of very general complaint hv passengers travelling by the Midland train, is the inadequacy of the accommodation at Springfield refreshment buffet. The building provided is little more than a hurriedly built shed, improvised for the occasion. But it has been serving its temporary purpose for a very long time now and the public who endeavour to crowd the little counter for quick service have to participate in a scramble. In wet and wintry weather it. is ■ bleak and comfortless. During the summer season when hundreds are travelling the accommodation is quite inadequate and it is high time something more convenient were provided. It is high time indeed that the Railway Department rose to the occasion in this ! small hut essential matter. 1 Mention was again made yesterday of

tin' condition of t’.ie Kaniori bridge, and its serious condition. We gat-ier that the bridge is barely safe for loading of two tons, including the vehicle, and that in point of fact it is in danger of being closed altogether to publile traffic. All heavy traffic will be wise to divert now by way of the Hokitika railway bridge, as it would be serious for the local connection between the the two communities on bot.i sides of the river, if their ready access one to the other were suddenly cut off. there is a danger of this if the heavy traffic is persisted in, as there is the liability of the structure collapsing at any time through undue weight. This, besides the great inconvenience, might cause also loss of valuable lives. The authorities have had a re-examination made of the structure, and the report appears to confirm the statements as to the serious condition of the bridge, ft is under the control of the Public Works Department so far as repairs are concerned, being part of the main road. No (doubt local opinion will be ready to back iTp the authorities in The demand for repairs as speedily as possible, and as nothing was done apparently during the late visit of the Prime Minister, representations of an urgent character should now be inaide to the Minister of Public Works. These, very appropriately, could be made through the member for the district ,who knowing the locality and the conditions so well, will be foady to cooperate in seeking the required authority for an extensive overhaul of the bridge. There are those who suggest the bridge is beyond repair, and that a new structure is necessary. Fhis indicates that a large expenditure will he involved in any case, and as it is requisite to maintain the bridge for traffic, its repair or reconstruction should he pressed for at once.