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Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1922, Page 2

Mn Lynch in his local address last night showed a very consistent regard for inconsistent statements all through his jaunty remarks. But not only was he inconsistent, lie also indulged in a flow of inexactitudes which wepo thrown about with a reckless disregard of actual tacts. Really liis mission in the present campaign is not clear, for while he ennio forward as an ardent admirer of Mr Massey, Iris speech on the whole was a constant condemnation of the Government policy. If Mr Lynch was sincere in his criticism last night, he certainly should not lie on the side of Mr Massey who is primarily responsible for the maladministration to which Mr Lynch from time to time referred. Mr Lynch however is blessed with a good deal of assurance. and takes n good deal for granted. Actually it is difficult to take his candidature seriously in the light of all the surroundings and for that reason it will probable be more charitable not to offer any serious criticism

of his address. TnEHB is a very healthy feeling of optimism about the outlook affecting the contemplated exhibition to bo held on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of tho provincial gold-field, and to celebrate the opening of the Midland railway. One great essential for tho allround success of the large'undertaking for tho town in particular, will bo the matter of hotel and general accommodation. This is an aspect of the general arrangements which will require to be gone into very thoroughly by the

committee charged with the organisation. A good deal will be expected from the hotelkeepers in the matter of rising to the occasion, but enquiries in that quarter are being met with the rejily that everything depends so far as the licensed houses are concerned on the result of the coming liquor, ‘cr 110-license poll. Leading hotel-keepeis state that if the poll is favorable tlie trade here may he relied upon to do its part well. If no-license should he carried next month, of course, there would not he any licensed houses here at exhibition time, and no special obligation on those places to cater adequately for the comfort and convenience of the travelling public. This is probably a fair statement of the ease, hut it does not seem likely that socalled prohibition will be carried. If it were it would do a great deal to mar the general success of the exhibition, as unless there are licensed houses, thre is no one to whom tli public Would j have a legal right to look for good I accommodation. This state of nflaiis I raises a rather serious objection in iti self to the prohibition issue here, and 1 suggests very good grounds locally in | particular, why at the coining poll the 1 proposal to seek to enforce prohibition should he turned down. An isolated district such as this can hardly afford to do without licensed houses if it expects visitors to come west in any number. The licensed house is a guarantee of fair accommodation to the traveller and without that guarantee hopes and expectations regarding a big inllux of visitors would he nable to he blighted.

If there is one department in particular where the Government has failed to make good, it is in the administration of the railways. It should he remembered in this connection, that no less a person than Mr Massey, admittedly the ablest member of the Government. was iii charge of the Department, till lie handed it over with the heavy deficit to Lis _ henchman, Hon. Mr Guthrie. Mr Gnthdie is in a fair wav to account for the misman-

agement of the railways, as liis seat is reported to he in serious jeopardy. But it is not altogether fair to heap all the disededit on to him. He took over a Department from his chief which was drifting to leeward, and Mr Massey should hear a very full shaie of the blame attaching to the Government for the position of the railways today. Users of the railways should hear in mind that the railways, are not in the same condition, nor the same eonvenienco to the public, as they weie under Liberal administration. Under the Liberals there were more trains, and more convenient trains. Fares were cheaper, concessions greater and freights lower. Tlierc was a better allround service before Reform started to mismanage the railways. And in this district we have to recall that it was a Reform Government which stopped tlie extension of the railway south beyond Ross. It was in 1911 when the Reform party came into power that they cancelled the vote for the extension of the line and abandoned the proposals to go on with tlie bridging of the Mikonni river, although Parliament had approved the works, the money had been voted, and the plans for the work were prepared. The money earmarked for Westland was devoted to a line Mr Massey’s electorate, and in due course that line was completed. and the line is now in operation, while the Westland line remains at a standstill. This form of rough and ready control, is akin to the general style of railway mismanagement which lias left tlie Department with a heavy deficit, and there is no sign of the railways pulling through, nor former concessions being returned to the people. Apparently the country will have to wait for the Liberals to return to office.