WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE .WINLSTIty. (X THE .MAKING. I I (Special to " Guardian.”) WELLINGTON. April U. The presence of -Mr k. S. Williams in town yesterday set the "Dominion'’ again speculating over the constitution of the reconstructed Cabinet. Thu Reform organ, which lor the moment appears to he receiving no more inspiration from those in high places than do its local contemporaries, thinks .Mr Williams's selection, lor a place at the Cabinet table would be a. popular choice, but it has discovered no special significance in the visit ot the member lor the Lay oi Plenty to the capital city just, now. As a matter of fact, as his intimate friends all know, Mr Williams is not an eager aspirant lor office. I here tne hig plicate interests demanding his attentention. lie is deeply attached to the rural life he has liven living for years, and lie is not sure ot his ability to divest himself oi a certain measure o! independence which might not harmonise with bis colleagues’ conception of Cabinet rule'. But lie lias a bigb .sense of loyally and patriotism, sneaks with the facility of a well-informed man ami knows more about parliamentary procedure than do many of the older numbers of the House. The " Dominion ” reports it as a general impression that if it is thought desirable to j m .|mb* it Wellington member in the reconstructed Cabinet the Prime Minister's choice will fall upon Mr U. A. Wright. In political circles, however, it is'expected that Mr Coates will find no particular reason lor honouring ilm capital city. THE CONSUMERS. Nunc too early the consumers are beginning >■" realise tliai they have some interest in the coniroversv that has heel! going on for months past between tile Dairy Produce Control Hoard and the Free Marketing League in regard to the handling and disposal of exported bill ter and cheese. The ••Post" lias taken up their cause and

shown what may happen in New Zealand il the whole business is left In the resent disputants. "The local market," it says, "was purposely left out when legislation constituting the Control Hoard was in the process of .incubation. Hut it may receive attention. once control ol the export trade is in smooth running order. ltide<_l this proliahli* in vu'W «<! u ‘ lJ tr ,s being done under ibe Patterson But--1.... Pooling Scheme operating in. the Conimomvealrh. By Dial device Cm Australia's annual butter bill bus been increased by an estimated C l.nnO.Otll) per annum. The Australian consumer actually is paying -Id per pound more for .Australian huttei than is tin- British consumer of that identical article. He is waiting up to tile fact that lie has a real interest in cent mis and isinls. and yet has ueithei choice nor voice in their making. He just pays. The consumer in Ausira.lia. New Zealand and everywhere t ise. lias a vital interest in food control, imd it is certainly his business and that of bis representatives in Parliament.’’ AViili such an example before them New Zealand housewives should be assisting themselves in rouueeiion with Ibis control business. THItOI'CTI THE COLD COUNTRY. Eastertide brought Dm ii-ual crop of complaints. serious and trivial, concerning the railway services between Wellington and near and far holiday resorts. Apparently in ibis respect hoard control is going t" Ia re no belter Ilian did direct and Hugraut ministerial control. Among ilm e*>mplaints that have been made public 0 one referring to the disagreeable experiences of a number id passengers travelling troll! .Auckland to Wellington hylic night express on Friday ol lastweek. " The train." a " Bos' " cor-i-e-pond-'m w i ii.c 1 aa- a very long • •lie. eo11 sistiItg I'll eighteen ea l lia go-- . the first eight of which were locked amt einoly. Ibe hot water run through the train for beating purposes bad lost all its efficacy by the time it reached the twelfth carriages; eon.se((iientlv the passengers in the last six carriages—-including the ladies’ ears, both first and second class—were without anv heat, while ihe first eight (nil|itv nits were well warmed. ’I be night was an exceedingly cold one, bard frosts being experienced I nun (Horobaiigii to below Tnihapo. and the

V ritil llllilll _!,« I l' I 'll I \ l v |.l|| I•< | . HUM ■ Irv si ml i!isi*osnli)rl' <>| Llit* p.Mssrngors s llll (> 1112: whom were many children, uni- intense.” An iii(|iiiry Irv one- of •|lie suffering passengers elicited the interesting inform;'.lion that the c;irriages 1 thoroughly vanned) were put inxmodiatoly behind the engine because in that position they con Id he linin' easily detached if not required by the irallii'. As it hnpepned the traffic later on did rerpiire the carriages and alter daylireak they were thrown open to tl-.e Inekv folk id 10 had slept coml'ortahly in their own beds and escaped the rigors of the wintry night. The authorities are now busying themselves with a searching inquiry. THE EDEN CONTEST. As heroines the political capital of the Dominion, Wellington continues to take a. lively interest in the Eden bveleetion, and, speaking generally, its sympathies remain with the discarded Reform candidate. Whether or not Miss Melville in Parliament would fill the role allotted to her by her admirers here liinv he an open question; hut for the time being she is the popular heroine of the political situation. The unfortunate Reform organiser who has repudiated the statements and overtures attributed to him by Miss Melville would not find Wellington a pleasant place of residence just now. It is understood that the Prime Minister is going North at the week-end. to give Sir James Gunson a helping hand in the contest, and his in ana' must count for a good deal : but there are even Reformers here who wonder why Air Coates should he so feverishly anxious to secure so recent a convert to the tenets of the party in place of a consistent supporter of many years’ standing. The truth of the matter is that the local public feel Miss Afelville has been badly treated by her former friends and that an indignity has been east upon a- woman who deserved better treatment. Labour testimony on this point, in the circumstances. must lie accepted with some reservation, but members of the party bore declare that many women’s votes which otherwise would be east for the Labour candidate will be given to Afiss Afolville out of pure personal sympathy.