WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

GENERAL election.

THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN- j WELLINGTON, May 1. ( The opening of the Labour campaign bv Mr H. E. Holland in Christchurch on Saturday night has served to remind the public afresh of the appoaeh of a general election. Mr Wilford, the leader of the Liberal-Labour Opposition, did not take the platform during bis recent tour of the country and consequently did not attract must attention except from those very closely interested in the political game. Mr Holland however, does noi believe in travelling without talking and during the next fortnight lie will speak in most of the important centres of the South Island. Just what are the prospects of his party at the impending polls it is difficult to say, very much depending upon the response of the Liberal-Labour appeal; but the general opinion here, even among people whose wish is not father to their thought, is that it will emerge from the campaign with its numerical sttength in Parliament increased. Whether this will he at the expense of the Reformers or the Liberals is a matter of speculation} hut it is not expected that vote-splitting will be to prevalent as it was at the last election. POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT. The return of the Postmaster-General from his northern tour has been followed by several conferences between the Minister and the high officials of the Department. Nothing fresh has transpired in regard to the “conversations” between the Government and the Executive of the Officers’ Association concerning the proposed affiliation with the Alliance of Labour, but there is a feeling abroad to-day that the prospects of an amicable settlement between the parties are not quite so bright as tbev appeared to be a week ago. The current number of “The Kntipo”, the official organ of the Association, contains an article of a distinctly militant tone. “Remember,” it urges the members of the Association, “the Government is under oath to uphold and maintain the constitution of New Zealand. That constitution gi\ r es to all citizens (no limitations whatever) the full right of association with other people for any lawful purpose. The Alliance of Labour is a lawful combination of national unions of workers.” These words, so the editor of the official organ says, are written with Lite advice of high legal authorities and stand as an eptoine of the charter of the Public Service. “A WEAK DEFENCE.”

Under this heading the “Dominion” this morning deals trenchantly with the “KatipVs” statement of the case for the supporters of affiliation. The official organ, it says, is taking far too much for granted in assuming that the Alliance of Labour is a lawful organisation which any member of the Public service may lawfully join. “Here and in other British countries,” it argues “some combinations exist within the law only because as a nation xve lielieve that it is often better that even t’’e rankest folly should he ventilated in the open, where it will ultimately evaporate than that it should, he driven into hidden holes and corners. It is in these conditions that Communist bodies like the Alliance of Labour are tolerated, and it is only in this sense that such bodies are flawful combinations’ Thicontention is strangely at variance with the “pains and penalties” with which the Minister of Education, for- instance is enforcing some of his orders-in-coun-cil, but it is in harmony xvith the popular view of such institutions as the Alliance of Labour and the doctrines for which they stand.

ECONOMY AND TAXATION. In the report of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to be presented at the annual meeting of members this week, emphasis is again placed upon the urgent need for economy in the administration of the affairs of the country and for a substantial reduction in taxation. The delay in gazetting the publie accounts for the year closed on March 31st last has kept the critics without any definite information on the subject, but there is a shrewd suspicion abroad that very few of the Government’s promised “savings” have ,ie. taken effect. Mr Massey, it will to remembered made it qilite clear when he promised of expenditure amounting to between four and five millions that it would take a couple of years or so bo bring them all to account and apparently lie has found the practical supplication of the recommendations of the official economies committee even a more difficult task than he expected it to be. However, he has not lessened in his ardour for reform in this direction and is not likely to do so while the commercial community continues to bombard him with reminders.