WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

SIR JOSEPH WARD

HEALTH AND POLITICS

SPECIAL TO GOAIUIIAN

WELLINGTON, June 19

( ossip is still busy with the health ami tlm political intentions of Sir Jo.-cph Waid. Oil? day the story is that the late Liberal leader’s health is so • i'hv 4- impaired that his re-appeat-in t ; c political arena is quit- out of Lilt: question; tlie hext, that lie Is entirely Ins old self again aikl that he is definitely committed to. the acceptance of one of the invitations he has received to contest a scat in tlie House at the approaching general election. To the hist story an authoritative and unreserved contradictivc can be given. Sir Joseph, having followed the direction. given him by the specialists lie eon suited when-ill London last year. in letter health to-day than he has l e u at si 11 v time since his succession p, M r Sc,Met: in 199(1. He is not leading exac-ly the simple life at Heretnungn since his business affairs demand his frequent attendance in the C ity and occasionally carry him farther afield, north and south; hut he is entering thoroughly into the spirit of his rura. surroundings and enjoying wholeheartedly Hie exercise and occupation they provide. THE OTHER STORA. As much as this was made obvious during an afternoon spent with Mr Joseph Ward I Ilk personal friends need have mi anxiety concerning his health. But as regards Ins political intentions one can write neithei so ion tidentlv nor so intimately. D m sate to sav. however, that his interest m the. public affairs of the Dominion remains as keen as ever it was, and that he appears as a mere looker-on to view many passing events in a broader perspective than lie inigbt have done had he hehn engaged iii the thick oi the (Flit Whether or not lie again will lie a candidate for Parliament was a question one could not well shape 111 the ci eumstanees. Probably the answer would depend upon the attitude of Ins old political friends. Meanwhile he lias no hard words for his political opponents He does not share Mr Alnsscy s optimism in regard to tlie finances 0 the country and .the speedy restoration of normal conditions, but he differs from tlie Prime Ali.M Ulster as he might do were they sitting in the same Cflhi,ut‘ railway concessions. The delegates attending the eofifeionee of the Railway Officers Institute l ore last week while discussing a remit from the Dunedin branen to the effect that all tariff concessions to the public, except free passes to school ’ should he withdrawn expressed th selves with quite retreslung bluntuess and candour. They were sick and tircd they said, of reading the ignorant and all advised denunciation of the railway service and were going to hit hack with the Moves off. And they did. lbe farmer’s lime they .declared, wm cal- - free on the railways up to 100 links and then the increased Products o iwe* sI.H-k ulm ««» '"• Alv lot! freight on beef for export recently had Been reduced to an unpayable xateThen newspaper editors ™* na ®" B { at reporters were -allowed to tiatei a merely nominal rates and commercial salesmen and their samples were carried about the country at '-’C, which did not cover the have cost of the S< ON THE WKONXG SHOULDERS. The delegates lmd no fault to hi with the Governor General, . two motor ears, polo pomes, chnidfoms and other attendants being [ „f but they held strongly, that the cost this concession to VLee Roy “tty si >uhl not Is- saddled on the Hnilway Department alone. The same with C.ab t Alinisters, their Secretaries, tlu.i friends, and their special cai Let them travel 111 luxury by all ” ‘ so long as the expense was l- 'l distributed. The issue of tw I>» - to numerous distinguished visito other people who “happened along • should cease forthwith 01 • ■ 'Department should he credited luth the cost of carrying them. And so long a list of gratuitous services «a» run up till it seemed the Railway partment was the milch cow of every other Department, the medium for tno distribution of official and ministerial favours and so the butt of every cheap politician find shallow untie that looked at mils' one side of the picture. The Ifffllt won' adopted unanimously and the

executive was directed to p» into the matter thoroughly and see the P« was acquainted with the facts.