MELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1922, Page 3

MELLINGTON TOPICS

THE RAILWAYS, r DEPARTMENT’S POLICY. SPECIAL TO CUAB.DIAN. WELLINGTON, Alay 15 Business men here are not surprised by the failure of the deputation from the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce to obtain the concessions it sought from the General .Manager of Railways. Their own experience is very similar to that of their southern friends. Air AleVilly is courtesy itself to everyone who comes to interview him, and nobody questions his ability, hut having made up his mind on a subject neither arguments nor eloquence will move him. Being obsessed with the idea that declining revenue must he repaired by increased charges, lie refuses jtositivelv to entertain any other suggestion. He always is ready to confer with the chambers of commerce and other bodies of the kind, hut lie rarely shows any disposition to accept their recommendations. Jnst what his attitude towards the new system of administration will he remains to he seen, but the Almister and the advisory hoard are not likely to have things all theii own way. The statement Air Mas-ey made tlu* other day seemed to imply a return to ministerial control, and this change in- 1 evitably would affect the status of the General .Manager, hut he still would remain tie commanding iigme in the management. A EORE-RUNNER. The meeting to he held in the \Aellington Town Mall on Wednesday evening at which .Mr 11. E. Holland. ALP., will expound the policy of the official Labour Party is being boomed as the biggest event in the history of the party since it first declared its political inde|K’iidenee. Curious people unassociated with the movement attended in consideiable numbers a meeting aldressed last night hv .Mr A. C. Willis, the secretary of the Aimers' Federation, in anticipation of hearing something ol the impending announcement from tlm speaker’s chief. But they were disappointed. Air Willis snoke mainly on the “soeinlisingof finance.” and told his .audience that if the Labour Party was to he ol use the first thing it should do was to liberate the work-us; fiom the vicious circle of financial in- , ternationa! creditors” and replace them j by the representatives ol the people. |

“The New Zealand and the Ails’ ralLn Labour Parties.” he added with emphasis, “have not the eoti’iige to say what is true, hut I will. Aon "ill have to get down to the question ol financial credits.” Probably few members of the audience understood what Mr Willis was talking about, hut the majority of them applauded his remarks vociferously. THE LABOUR PARTY. If Air Holland touches upon the question of “socialising finance at all on Wednesday night he probably will handle it more tactfully than did Mr Willis. He is not entering upon tho

approaching election campaign with tlic idea entertained by the secretarv ol the .Miners' Federation that if this tvere made the one question at the polls his party would he well consoled by the amount of educational work it would do for the loss of every seat. Mr Holland has had opportunities of observation Ins friend has not enjoyed. The years lie has sat in Parliament have brought him to distinguish between the practicable and the impiacticahle, and to look with less than his former .contempt upon the half lon I when oflered as the onlv alternative to no bread. Apparently there is no truth whatever in the story that he is coquetting -with the new Liheral-l-ahour Party, hut P is fairly obvious he and his colleagues are anxious to spread their net a little wider than they did at the last general election.

POST CHAIKINS. The Postimistor-CJonornl’s aiiiioimreinent at Dannevirke to the effect tlmt the Post Office has had a (rood sear ami that in consequence it may lie possible to provide the public with a cheaper service has been received with oereral sal isfuction in tlie cit.v. Ihil business men and otliers compelled to make extensive use of the post and telegraph offices are very far In"" i,dmittinti that the boat means of restoring the revenue have been adopted. The greatly increased chaws, they say have had the effect of interrupt...- toe natural growth of the activities of the department and, in addition, have inflicted quite unnecessary !oss n,,(l convenience upon business houses and 1 the -eiieral public. The <mst rise may have heen excusable, in the very special circumstances wind, existed at I. time, but the second was -ntolcrab e and at once wits reneeted in tlit revenue. Simply 'he public wan taxi? beyond its capacity to respond am ma „ T thousands of pounds were turm d "vav from the departments. The business community will he satisfied w, h no reduction that does not take Phases bfffiU to wly WHr rßtw <