WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

the coming session

SOME EARLY SPECULATIONS.

(Special to “ Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, February 11

The “New Zealand Times’’ is in the field early this morning with some speculations as to the Government s programme tor the approaching session of Parliament. Hie oracle does not go much beyond the range of street-corner gossip in predicting that there will be a Compulsory Contributory Pensions Bill, amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act and that “compensation to workers, mining reform, marine amendments and changes in the publicity scheme ” will receive attention ; but is distinctly interesting in foreshadowing, with an assumption of authority, licensing legislation of an important and far-reaching character. It is an open secret that the “Trndo took a very active part in the recent election campaign, as. ol course, it had a right to do, and that it was well satisfied with the results of its efforts. It is thought that one of the outcomes of its success in tile constituencies will he a revival in Parliament of the agitation for a longer period between the licensing polls and for the institution of some compensation scheme. -Mr Massey himself hinted at something of this kind when the report of the Licensing Commission was being discussed in "the House and it will not he surprising to find Mr Coates giving effect to the views of his old chief. TRAM AND BUS. Though the conference called by the Government to consider the draft regulations for the control of motor buses concluded yesterday without even the fringe of an agreement between the contending parties having been readied, the statement made by the Prime Minister in pronouncing his henedmtion upon the delegates seemed to imply that he had made up his own mind on the matter. “Wo are going to do what we consider is best for the public.’ - were his last words, “and what is best for the proper control of transportation.” Doth parties having expressed confidence in the Minis to i s judgment and impartiality their failure to agree between themselves should not long delay a settlement of the dispute. In Wellington, however, there is a very strong feeling among the “bus” proprietors and their patrons that the City Council, whose hounden duty it m (o look after the interests of Hie municipal tramways should not: he made the licensing authority. It. was owing mainly to differences of opinion on this point that the conference failed to approach an agreement. The representatives of private enterprise indeed made it plain that if the administration of the regulations were left to a disinterested authority they would not haggle over their construction. The municipalities, however, were not prepared to meet private enterprise even half way. THE SANE VIEW. The “ Dominion ” in a judicial review of the situation puts the ease as it appears to the general public. “ H seems likely.” it says. “ that a nearer approach might have been made to agreement hut for the unyielding stand taken hv the municipal bodies which were represented at the conference as owners of electric tramways. Those undertakings, of course, are entitled to reasonable protection and consideration. hut it is at the same time obvious that the motor-bus cannot be driven off the streets and roads simply because the proprietors of existing tramways find in it an inconvenient competitor. The real issue does not turn on the fact that some six millions of capital are invested in tramway undertakings in the Dominion. It turns

rather on t!:i' question of efficient service. When existing tramway* are rendering; reasonable efficient service, lii ( .y hni e sonic claims. other things boing equal. In special r<m>i dvrati<> n. It is nl so obvious, lion ever, that the motor bus is destined to be a factor of increasing importance in the passenger transport of urban and suburban areas, and should not be subjected to unreasonable restrictions.” These are the principles being observed in England. where numbers of tramways have been supplanted by motor buses, and no doubt they will weigh with the authorities here. THE WHEAT PROBLEM. Loud and continual protests arc being made against the proposal to bolster up the price of wheat for the benefit of the Canterbury farmers at the expense of thousands of consumers to whom an advance of a penny a loaf in the price of bread would be a serious matter. One of the Protestants lias discovered in a recent number of flic “ Christchurch Press ” n letter addressed to that journal bv Mr George Gould in which that gentleman points to a. more admirable wav than taxing the poor in order that the Canterbury farmers may obtain substantially more than their fair share of advantage from the world’s wheat shortage. “My suggestion is.” Mr Gould writes, after recognising the claims of producers and the difficulty of flic problems besetting the Government, “that instead of a duty on wheat with an equivalent duty on flour, a subsidy should he paid by the Government on all home-grown wheat, a moderate duty imposed on flour and imported wheat admitted dutv free.” By this arrangement. Mr Gould thinks. “ the wheat industry would flourish, labour would be well employed and, to the extent to which we grow our own wheat, the money would be kent and circulated in tlic country, while the Minister's grey hairs would grow visibly fewer.” The head of a great mercantile house to whom this suggestion was submitted to-day pronounced it to he the sanest word yet spoken in the discussion of the matter.