WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

POLITICAL PARTIES.

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S VIEW

(Our Special Correspondent;

WELLINGTON, May 9

The publication on Saturday of a summary' of the signed article contributed to the “Manchester Guardian” by Sir James Allen has given rise to a good deal of comment and speculation here. The High Commissiaoner is made to say by tlie cable agent that there is practically no difference between tlie Liberal and the Labour parties in this country and there is much discussion as to whether this is what he actually stated or whether the cable agent has confused the Labour Party with the Reform party. Mr T. M. Wilford, the leader of the Official Liberal Party, does not believe Sir James used the words attributed to him. It would have been very absurd or very ingenious of him to make such a statement, he says, and no one wishes to think him either absurd or ingenious. The Liberal Party, Mr Wilford maintains, stands for the workers always, “four square for King and Country,” but it has neither part nor lot with the extremists, who acknowledge Mr Holland as their leader. An alliance of that kind would be abhorrent to even'one imbued with the true ideals of Liberalism. A MISTAKE SOMEWHERE.

The “Dominion” in commenting upon the matter is satisfied that a mistake has been made somewhere. “Mr Wilford no doubt is quite right,” it says, “in refusing to believe that Sir James Allen is correctly reported as saying that there is practically no difference between the Liberal and Labour Parties in the New Zealand Parliament. It is probable that what the High Commissioner did say was that thero is practically no difference between the policies of the Liberal and Reform Parties.” Against this, it is being pointed out that no question of reporting is involved. Whatever Sir James’s statement was, it was made in a signed article in which the risk of error would lie reduced to a minimum. Still the cabled message is so far removed from the truth it seems incredible that the High Commissioner can have made such an unfortunate i«o of words. Of course attempts were made by their less scrupulous opponents during tho election campaign of 1919 to identify tho Liberals with the Labour extremists, but Sir James could have no reason for reviving such tactics, even if lie had any inclination to do so.

RACING* AND THE TOT A LIS ATOP. The Racing Commission brought its public sittings to a close here on Saturday when it invited interested parties to tender such evidence ;u> they' pleased concerning racing and the t.olalisator. The proceedings were not particularly edifying or entertaining. Tho Rev. J)r Pinfold, representing a number of Methodist bodies and Mr T. W. Shallcrass, tho general secretary of tho Now Zealand Sports Protection League, were the principal witnesses, taking different sides, of course, and presenting diametrically opposite views. Dr Pinfold was at a disadvantage in never having attended a race meeting and perforce had to roly upon secondhand information in framing his indictment against racing and the evils of gambling. He declared racecourses were the scenes of much drunkenness and refused to accept the assurance of tlie chairman that lie had been misinformed on this point. Mr Shallcrass was not very effective in reciting the reasons why there should lie a substantial increase in the number of totalisator permits, but lie knew bis subject, and though ho probably made no impression upon the Commission ho did not prejudice his case by disregarding the facts. THE CAPITAL CITY. Wellington is congratulating itself, with some reason, upon the increase of its population during the last six years, the period between the census of 1916 and that of 1921, by 13,333. In 1915 the population of the city was < 3,305 and of the boroughs of Miramar and Karori 2,158 and 1,647 respectively, making a total of 77,110. Since then the city boundaries have been extended to include the two suburban boroughs and the population of the amalgamated area is now with a small margin of possible error, 90,443. Judging from the figures that already have been published, Auckland will ho able to boast of a still larger increase, and there is reason to fear the complete returns for the Dominion will show a continued drift from the country districts to the towns in both tho North and South Islands. Wellington is the least attractive as a place of residence of the four large citios, but it offers many avenues of employment and neither prosperity, noi depression seems to make much difference in the flow of population towards this busy centre.