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Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1925, Page 2

The probable effect of Sir Joseph Ward standing for Parliament at the next general election will be his return. Invercargill is the suggested seat, and in Southland territory Sir Joseph should fie very much at home. Perhaps it is too soon yet to speculate on possibilities, but we should lie inclined to think that Sir Joseph will not lie opposed by Official Reform. An independent Reformer of the Howard Elliott brand might enter the lists against Sir Joseph hy way of perversity, but otherwise we should think the Reform element connected with tho government of the country would welcome his re-entry to Parliament. TV hen the time comes, Sir Joseph may he trusted to make his position clear, on the lines of his remarks to the deputation at Invercargill this week, namely that it was important to have a strong rather than a sectional govern-

Blent. Wherever Sir Joseph finds himself sented in the House his voice and advice will be welcomed by all. He is a capable administrator and is strong on finance wherein the present Parliament is so weak. In that department he will be a tower of strength, for he is essentially a strong man as was demonstrated by nis action in boldly facing retrenchment when be thought it necessary, and later when called to direct the finances in the period of the Great War, be built up a strong national reserve and secured the financial stability of New Zealand as no other country involved in the Great War was secured. What this country needs is a careful overhauling of its finance, its outgoings as much as its revenue. It is in the administration where the greatest economies can be made, as has been demonstrated by Mr Winston Churchill at Homo. But it takes a. strong man to wield the axe—the time for the pruning knife has gone by. So it is that just now the time is very opportune 'indeed for the return to Parliament o*' experienced men of finance like Sir Joseph Ward. The chief spokesman at the deputation put the position 1 oth concisely and truly when he said the electors wished to have as representative a man whose experience, ability, and Pal liamentary genius had been tried and tested by public serv-.-.-o Sir Joseph' Ward by bis great services to New Zealand as Minister of P ulways, Postmaster-General and Ml >Ltcr of Finance, lias proved himself equal to the exacting requirements laid down at Invercargill, and is in point of fact just the personage to ill .lie bill most adequately. Good luck to him.

Tim examination of the water supply pipe line by the Borough Council members this week, it would appear, was an overdue visit. It is rather an open secret that for a long time past the pipe line had very little attention. The water was coining into the reservoir, and all's well that is well. But when there wr« a marked diminution in the supply the investigation which had to he made showed a condition of neglect which probably had contributed towards the state of atfaiis. ihe Council in the future no doubt '■ill realise that the pipe line should be patrolled regularly, and nil parts of Ihe service attended to. In particular the air values should he kept in goad order and if the state of the line were noted regularly there would not be the drift that there was in the past. It i.s noted that the supplementary supply is not to lie ready this week as was half promised at last Council meeting. From what can he gathered there is still a good deal to do. The country i.s said to be rough and difficult over which the pipe line is to be carried taking more time than was anticipated at the outset. However, all seem to ho imbued with the necessity of pushing through the job, and it i.s to bo hoped that by next week at the latest all anxiety regarding the water supple will he at rest for the time being at least.