WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. SU PERU LOUS CANDIDATES. j (Our Special Correspondent;. WELLINGTON, April 11. Wellington has not made such a signal success of its municipal government that it need be quoted as an example to other centres of population in this respect. It lias been honestly concerning itself, however, during the last two or three weeks over the superfluity of aspirants for the occupancy ol the mayoral chair and to-day it is announced that an arrangement has been made by which one ot the two candidates who have been specially appealing to the Moderate-Progressive-Sane electors will retire in order to present a. solid front to the Reform-Prohibition and the Labour champions. The arrangement obtains more than mere interest from the composition of tlie committee that is to deckle between the two “moderate’ candidates. It is representative of tlie Welfare League, the Central Chamber of Commerce, the Scottish Society, the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Moderate League and the Progress League. Surely there never was a I stranger conglomeration of widely di--1 versified interests. THE PATE A ELECTION. Mr Massey has returned from bis flying electioneering visit to the -Paten constituency highly pleased by the reception acordecl to him everywhere and by the prospects of his candidate retaining the seat for the Reform Party. He is not perturbed by the reminder that a year or two ago his candidate was a pillar of Liberalism. “We all,” lie laughingly retorts, “are evolving a new and bettor Liberalism from the old.” But he is a little concerned by the unanimity of the fooling displayed at his meeting. “Tlie opposition stopped away,” lie complains, “and T had no opportunity to convince thorn.” Lookers on at the game point to the same fact as a cause for Reform uneasiness. They predict a. majority of. votes against the Government, but expect j them when divided between two candidates to fail in their purpose. TOTALIZATOR AND FINANCIAL STRINGENCY. The totalisntor business at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting last week confirms the popular impression that it is the country clubs rather than the metropolitan clubs that are suffering in revenue from the financial depression. There was a great crowd at

Trenthiim on Saturday and it swarmed around the tolalisator as il Air Massey’s loan already were floated and tinbanks had withdrawn their restrictions upon overdrafts. The result was an increase ju the investments for the two days, compared with the investments for the corresponding days of last year, of £7,789. that is from £131,413 to £139,202. This does not reach the great record of the Auckland Club at . Easter Lime, which showed in increase of twice as much, hut still Wellington, like the Queen City, is able to plume itself upon substantial evidence of its financial stability. AIR M ASSET’S PORTFOLIOS. it is rumoured that the arrangement semi-offieially announced some days ago, for the custody of tlie Prime Alinister’s portfolios during his absence from the Dominion lias been revised in several important particulars. It is stated, apparently with authority, that .the Hon D. H. Guthrie will not take Railways, and that Sir Francis Bel! will assume even greater responsibilities than those allotted to him by the earlier reports. The irony of the position is that Sir Francis, who lias been looking toward to a trip Home over since the conclusion of the war. and, who certainly has earned a respite from departmental labours, is to have bis burden enormously increased during the absence of his political chief. And that in a company of young stalwarts of the Reform Party. The country may thank its stars, as Air Afassey doubtless thanks his, that at least one of the old brigade survives.