WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE ARBITRATION COURT. MR McCt LLOUCIi’S RESIGNATION (Our Special ('oncspondcnH. WELLINGTON, Sept. 1 I Mr d. A. .McCullough's resignation from the office of workers’ representative oil the Arbitration Court remains a topic of animated discussion. Whether or not Mr Me( ulloiigli luol sufficient reason lor bis precipitate action is a question upon which liscre a..-

wide differences of opinion, but it is generally agreed that ihe circumstances and manner nf his retirement would render it extremely difficult, lor him in rcstinrc his seal even were be again selected a> t lie workers’ representative. His charge ol a hreacli ol faith against his roll.'agues makes n inconceivable that he ■.■. otild wish io sit with them again in a judicial capacity. or that I Ley would cunsent to being associated with him. 'Happily Mr .Met 'allonge himself sees that lie has definitely severed hi- official ririni'ciinn with thcCourl. Noilung wh.atcver. be declared lo an ini-rvicuc, in C’lil'isti-hit-. would indmv Jiim io sit again. llis declnratinn oi bis readim sto "bold the foil” til l such iime a- bis sjici cssor is appoinicd is a little enigmatic. bin il may be Imped it I s U"! intended pi promote a paiU broil ovci ti c integrity ol ihe Coin i. IN THE BALANCE.

In any case the. .•Hiinmi-Gom'ra!, Si,- Kr.iii'.'is I!.-II. lias ruled that the I',- i'gnatiull p "k cl!'.-, l from i lie da o- on which il was icml'.'icd In the proper ailllioiity. and that Fa deputy represcmal ivc, M r M. .1. Reardon, canno! oisupv the scat pending the selection ut a successor lo Mr MU ullotigh. Meanwhile 1 lie labour groups arc by no means unanimous as to what their next step should be. A considerable section would seize upon this opportunity to finally wreck the arbitration maebin- , ry. as they think, by refusing to iniiniiinll- representative to the Court. This would prevent the tribunal being constituted a- ; 't present ami so throw tho whole inaebincr.) out of gear. 'lnis move finds favour with the advocates of direct action. But another section, with more regard for the needs , I tho country and a higher sense o: responsibility, is standing firmly against revolutionary tactics and seems at the moment to bo in the ascendency. Ibe two sections arc not yet proclaiming their differences from the house tops, but il is quite possible the crisis may mark ihe parting of the ways between the extremists and the imidcraics. TAXATION AND EXI’ENDITURE.

Addressing I In* 11 in*ri<in t'!i:im 1 • t oi Coiiiiiicnr mi Monday, the president, Mr .). T. .Miniin. I'f'liirni'd In tin' snlijei-t ot eoiiipany tax.A inn for ilio |illrpo>e of rrn! m. ri ling *niin' fi*mur i. made liy ill.* Ailing Prime Mm i-• oi ii little while ago in Auckland mill iviili'ly riieiilnted through Air ngeiiry of llir I * As-orintino. ll' l took pnnii tilnr exreptinn to Sir !• r:t lli'll's stateuioiil (lint it would bo tinJaiir lo tlio shareholders lo levy ini'oini' tux upon tlirm iii'-lriiil ol' upon tln' coin |in nil'. - '. Tin' st 4.- ill ihr siimrlinlilrri>’ cliviili'iul." lit. stiiil, "is reguhilnl In llir priiiits Ihr ( oiupiioy Inis nviiihihlr Ini' ilislrihiition, ninl llir nrliinl ■■ nt’:iii ni'i-s lirs in pri’pi'tiiiil in;; tin' present system rf charging llir iinliv it 1 1 i:i I s! in rrl 101 llr r m ike maximum in ti* ol' ss hil in llir |millit I. instead ol at llir coiiipurni ively small rate hr umill! pry mi iloulrrirut; mi nrrotmt ol' his personal iilromr. 1* o]lowi lip; till' president, Mr M. A. Chit Mini Ihr (jlti'st ion oi t.l xntil'll M ils inseparable 1 ruin llir ipirslion ol public expenditure ninl urged n strong protrst shollhl hr iiiiolr nit n 111 s t llir ill t rliipt sol politirimis mill others to lijiiiipcr llir Covrminrlit in its elfurts towni(ls erolloniy. Till: DAY. Thr imriisc iiilrrrst in Ihr linal ninl ilriiili up test between llir South Al'rir: 111 mill llir NrW /.rlllnllll 1 Oltl ha IIiTS I oil l ill Ilfs lo grow its thr liny ol ilrcision approaches. .liisi how lhr rrowils ol' would-be spri-tnturs m AtliIriir Park arc to‘"be nrrollllmnhllt'll oil Saturday no nnr srrius lo know, hut