WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

If AI LAY FINANC'D. TUB COST OF ECONOMY. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON. November 11). Though this year's railway ay-counts show a slight impiovomeiit upon those ol last year, the revenue having slightly increased and the expenditure having substantially decreased, public opinion here is by no means unanimous in applauding the clforis of the Minister and the General Manager to place their house in order. It is admitted that the Hon. .1. G. Coates lias displayed admirable courage in going his own way "itliont- making any concession to political pressure. To this extent his administration is without reproach. But it is contended, on the other hand, that lie is. far too prone to defer to the views of the General .Manager, and that this gentleman has established a system of automatic control which leaves neither Parliament nor the Minister any effective voice in the management cl the lines. It is complained that

-Mr McVilly’s economics begin and end with the reduction njf 'services and lake no account at all of losses suffered by individuals or by whole communities, or even by the Dominion itself, through tlie reduction and abolition of services "Inch were designed for the promotion of settlement and production. (something is hound to be heard on this subject early next .session and its. free diseus-hm will do no harm. POST offices and employment. It is announced that an arrangement Ims boon made by which postmasters in all towns u here there is no permanent olliccr of the Department of T.aL. >11 r "ill act as employment agents. \ny employer desiring the services of a worker is invited to apply at the nearest post office and make bis requirements known to the postmaster, v.ho, if no suitable worker is available locally, "ill immediately comniimioMe with the nearest office of the Depart-

ment of Labour. .Men in need of employment also a;e invited to coninmnfiate "iih the nwi; <--1 east master, when an endeavour "ill he made in the same way to find them suitable work. A small lee "ill lie i barged, whether tho parly lienelited lie the employer or the worker, bill no lee "ill lie rharged unless an engagement follows. Iho arrangement seems likely to he uselul to both workers ami employers, but its -access will iepeud hugely upon the readiness of the post office officials to approach it in a spirit of helpfulness. Their new duties, if one may credit all the oflicers of tho Labour Department have to say on tho subject,, will be no

sinoeuio. Rot.l) employers and workers are sometimes a little unreasonable in their demand- upon the Labour agent", and taci as well a- intelligent attention, i- necessary to obtain tho hest. results. CONSTITFTfON OF TIIF DOMINION. One of the difficulties that have con. I Minted the compiler of a New Zealand ]laii(|hnol\. uhicli is being prepared tot* the F.mpiic Exhibition, has to do with (lie Const it m ien of the Dominion. Tho nullum - of pooplf who " ill visit the New Zealand Court at tic.' Exhibition ill! naul l'i take away "ith them all ihe information thev can gather roneerning thi- ceunuy. Among them -.■ill he many thousand more nr less militant smiaii-t-. who. notu ithstandiup; ;;!! M’e'r politi.-ai extravagances ; tlelu 'n"-, "iillld laal.i' VC v v cl- , i; let I hese I eeple 'A ill want 1-1. kilo", all about th" enlist tuition ol the Sen Zealand I‘arliameiii and will have to he told that tho House of Reptesetili!l ivos. at lit i -eaf. i« elected by \ (em "liiel. ih. I’rilne Minister Inn deniiunceil in.d las p;emi-ed in i hatigo, and that ihe l.egi-lat iv '■ "tun i! is i:-. luich (lie -a:.ie posit i-.n, Mr Ma—ci I'a a ing legislat i d for its reformation

and 1 bon Intiig it ii the opera iii in .. I ,Ji.i !. ■■ i-hi i nut d< hlittely. Nearly ion vears ago tlio Uoformels toali-'d l heir ping i liot'i'-hod dicam o! niaking the ( miueil. on paper, elect ivo. under I lie pi-opert iotial I"! re-elf. lt! m-yst • -in. lot! ‘■-I far tliev have shown no disposition to pi n -it their prize. The |tosiiiou is Pound to j,t "-I'mt dtHi allies to the in- ! n v mal ion ' Ilk ei's v, It,; .ire to be alt aeh- ,.| in i lie New Ze;d ittd t 'tti't at tlte Kxlril.it ion. 'l l|K NK\V PAUTV. Tb-e stnitUKH \ of an iittervi w with Mr

Arthur Harper, the fcciouny and orgn. ni-or ( r ill,' Now Zealand WcllVc l.o;>- | site, iii-tt ihiiti d trout Dunedin f.y the 1 I’i'ess A.- -eciation hit- orensioltcd soma a m n't tit ait t hero. Alt liarpoi t-. teported to itavo said (hill, he tuts very glad to have been n-l.cd about the new tmlitical party |:ecati«" he had ,t«-enained during his travels that the Melßtre 1., ague was •‘supposed to be in the movement"’ and he bad been much aggrie'.'od by file suggestion. *'l he League" he is repie'Cnteil as saying, “knows nothing about it. nor can we.

I alter mtieli inquiry hud that there is any limit in lit" >epnr!." Ihe ‘'.Ne.\ Zealand Times." which v.tts responsible for the new party story, is at some pains to explain that it never had rat- pel ted the Welfare League of being mixed it;) in iite business. Its name had not breii mentioned in connection with the con-piracy tili Mr Harper bittiself dragged it into the current gossip with the natural desire, no doubt, to dispel the aspersions that were being (list upon its eminently respectable chaiaeier. As a matter of fact the new party does not yet- know exactly whint if. is itself.