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Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1921, Page 2

Tiik Wellington ‘Evening Post” is a fairly consistent supporter of the Government in season and out of season, but now and again it suffers lapses of independence which always are. more or less interesting. It’s latest visitation of this kind was, in connection with Mr Massey’s promise to deal with tho problem of waterside labour. “Not long ago,” it said one day last week, "the Government appeared to be interested in the conditions of waterside labour, hut there is now every indication that this interest, at any rata so far as the present session is concerned. is on the wane, and that it will produce no practical results unless somebody pushe»»the Government very bard. Since the science of Government in Hies,, days is not to lead but to await pressure, the supporters of waterside reform will need to 1 weenie very busy if, anything is to be done.’ This little outburst of exhausted patience was apropos of a discussion at a meeting of the Wellington Hartymr •Board, when a proposal to call a conlVreiice of interested parties to consider tile question of waterside labour was regarded in favour of a motion for the appointment of a committee of the Board alone. This committee in all probabilities will report that the Harbour Boards should have control of labur on the wharves, without any of the other interests concerned having any representation, but the “Post” is unperturbed by tills threat to its own pet system of control. “But,” it says, “the committee’s decision on this point is hardly likely to effect a Government the inertia of which is undisturbed by anything except a united push applied with enthusiasm and with frequency.” As Wellington is by no means united on this question, tlq. enthusiasm and its frequent expressions which might mow Mr Massey and bis colleagues into action will be lacking, and nothing will be done.

Tun meeting between the District Traffic Manager and the Ross Borough Council on Saturday last to discuss the proposed alteration to the timetable on the Hokitika-Ross railway line to come into force on the sth. December did not result in giving any satisfaction to the claims of the people of the district for a better service than the abortion anmmunced to come into force next week. The requirements of tlq. district were laid before the official in plain words, and the serious inconvenience and loss that will bo entailed ou the community were emphasised in most conveneing manner, but in spite of the Traffic Manager recognising the truth of tile statements put before him, he had no crumbs of comfort to give his hearers, stating that there was no prospect of there Is'ing ally alteration made to the announced new timetable. The proposed arrangement will be a most unsatisfactory oiq. and will entail considerable loss ami mucli inconvenience on the people of the district. Unfortunately that appears to be the aim of the Department of late. The alterations to be made appear to lie the result of ail attempt to cut down expenditure without any consideration being given to the users of the line, and must result if carried into effect, in a further decided drop in revenue, because the proposed timetable, on four days a week only will necessitate tfhe use of other means of communication even at ;t decidedly enhanced cost. The proposed alterations are most unsatisfactory, and are the subject of much unfavourable com incut, which will .be moi-e pronounced when the community realises the ex-

1 tronie amount of inconvenience and trouble the alterations will entail.