WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

MINISTERS AND ELECTIONS. A MILD REBUKE. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON, .May 11. The “Post” having taken an unconscionable time to think about the matter mildly reproves tbe Prime Min-' inter for having played an active personal part in the Tauranga and Oamaru by-elections. It admits that Mr Massey bad ample precedent for leaving his office in Wellington to look after itself for quite a lengthy period, and going to tlie assistance of his friends in the two constituencies that hail an opportunity to review tho verdict they pronounced at the general election. “But a custom may bo old and be as bad as it is old,” it says, "it must be remembered that visits by Ministers at by-eiectioii times are always liable to give rise to charges of the exertion of undue influence. In the heated atmosphere of a by-election a Minister cannot give anything or promise anything, even a half holiday for tbe school children, without being in danger of an accusation of bribery. Is it not better, then, that he should keep clear of the troubled country?” in its conclusion the “Post” answers its own question irt the affirmative. But the chief complaint made here against the Minister's electioneering tours was that they brought much o' the important work of bis departments to a standstill. ONE-.M AN OOYERNM EXT.

Tt is at least as much a compliment ' as it is it reproach to Air Massey to sav that in his own person be constitutes seven-eighths of the Government even when the whole of his colleagues are bearing their allotcd share of the work 1 of administration, jFIow much lie constitutes just now it would be hard to say. Tbe Hon D. TL Guthrie, Ariutster of Railways and;M,mister of Lands, is laid aside by a very serious illness, which may prevent him resuming his duties for many months to come, and meanwhile Air Massey, to all intents and purposes, will he administering his two very important departments. Then the final exclusion of Alt' Lee from Parliament has necessitated the appointment of a successor to him ns Minister of Justice and Minister of External Affairs, and in addition to the worry of making a selection from a number of aspirants for office tin Prime .Minister will have to carry a large part of his new colleague’s load for a time. It is true.that he lias Sir Francis Bell and Sir William Fraser at bis side ready to tackle any odd job that comes along, but he has lost the sage advice and ready assistance of Sir William Herries whose full knowledge and wide experience helped to tide the Government over many a critical period. A DIFFICULT POSITION. No doubt the head of the Government is in an extremely difficult position. Ho lias lost all the colleagues that sat with him in the House when ho first reached tlie Treasury benches ten years ago. Sir Francis Bell, the leader of the Legislative Council, is the only one of flic strong team that •stood by him in 1912 still at bis side. •Sir William Fraser remains as a Alinister without portfolio, the handy man of the Cabinet, so to speak, and bis services are frequently called into requisition; but the rest of Air Massey’s colleagues are younger and loss experienced mi'll, who still have to develop i lie quality of leadership. Tn these circumstances the Prime Ai.imstor finds Ilia existence of hi* Government dependent upon the votes of three of his former political opponents, wlai are pledged to him no inri her than i* implied !;v an untlerlitKing to protect him from an attack b\ .the Labour forces. Whether or not tbe situation will allow him to accept the urgent invitation of the Homeauthorities to ai tend the lon licoming Imperial ('oiiferenro this year is a question still undecided, bill ibere is a general tooting that the Dominion should be represented at such a gathering hv no less a personage lban the Prime .Minister himself. THE RAILWAYS.

Tlie Bnilw.-iv returns published ihN mnriiiiii' coverin'.*: the whole ni the Hnnwi:'.! vear ended on .March 31 show

a substantial improvement upon those of last year. The revenue lor the year shows an increase of £84,301 and the expenditure a decrease of £730,230 compared with that of last year, so that the lines, apparently, have coniributcd £.‘919,55J to the interest on the cost of their construction more than they did in 1921-22. The critics, however, are not growing very enthusiastic about the figures ami are contending that much of the so-called saving had been effected by driving business away from the lines and so reducing expenditure. The “Dominion” works a guarded allusion to this point. “As the tabulated figures show,” it says, “the improvement now in evidence is due in imieli greater degree to reductions in expenditure than to an increase in revenue. In the conditions now reached it should lie open to the management to do something to encourage the increase of traffic by a revision of rates.” This is somewhat ([Unfilled praise.