WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

END OF SESSION. \ A BIG RECORD. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON. September 11. The local newspapers. trough not brpinlly enthusiastic, are unauinious in approving ol the hearing of the Prime Minister during the session of Parliament just closed. “It can he said at once.” the ” Dominion ” proclaims, •‘that Mr Coates has proved himself

as a. parliamentary leader, llis nnwieldly majority has at times caused him difficulties with individuals in ''is own following, hut that in the circumstances was inevitable, and he has come through the minor ordeals with credit. Nothing, perhaps. Fas added more to his standing with the House and the country than his sell-restraint in tile exercise of the great power placed in his hands at C’e polls hist year. With his majority in the House he might have forced through business almost as he pleased. Instead, he ; sis shown a. forbearance and regard for

the views and wishes of his opponents which, minimised friction and assisted to eii-.iire a rapid progress of business under harmonious working conditions.” There is not a word of this eulogy that is not richly deserved. Air Coates in attention and courtesy lias made tv: difference between his political friends

and liis political opponents; indeed if there has been more forbearance and cordiality towards one side than another it has been towards his opponents.

I’l'Sllf. WORK.” Even the " Dominion.” however, lias to admit that rather l etter work could have been done by the House had not the insistent call of the Imperial Conference necessitated the utmost speed in the transaction of business. “ Iho chief weakness of the session’s work.’'

it. says, ••lias been the evident desire of the- Prime Minister to give effect t~ his election pledges in the speediest possible time. This has led to a rush of business towards the closing hours of the session, which we think unwise. No doubt, this was mainly attributable to the fact that with the necessity of his departure to the I'mjierial Conference hanging over him, Mr Coates felt that, he v.as working against time. Fuller normal conditions the session could have been extended for another fortnight and the rush work thus avoided.” Curiously enough in the very issue of the ‘‘Dominion” containing t his allusion In I -he' nece-sity for ‘‘rush legislation ” the humorist of the paper points to the inevitable aftermath of sui '• proceedings. " Parliament passed ninety-seven Dills this year,” he says laconically. '' a'Hl it is not anticipated that more than ninetv ■ will refillin' amending next rear,’ Many a more extravagant prediction has come true.

THE BUS PROBLEM. .Mr J. R. Palmer', for manv years Town Clerk of Wellington, returned yesterday from a holiday trip to the Old Country and was promptly pounced upon by the reporters for an account of his experiences and observations during his travels. Perhaps at Che moment his most interesting statement had to da with the bus problem. “To think of London.” he said, ‘‘win to think of buses. I do not know just what the opinion, is in New Zealand a! [•/resent, hut I understand that legislation is framed to discourage F’e bus From what I have sec'it during mu travels I really believe that to lice; the bus from th • road- is impossible I believe that the Inis will win mil again st- the tram. Everywhere ii England the bus is becoming more am

mere a popular means of" transport and I should eorla.inlv advise cautioi op the part of municipalities consider

in</ extensions t«> t *oir tnimwav •S.vstcir.s. Wlictl'er tliere .should Ire coinnrjtiticn between municipally-owned .services xji cl private buses is iwothor question altogether upon which I do i\o [. wish to enter, hut I do say that the bus is here to stay. ADuiicipalities. as i have suggested. should consider the possibilities ol the motor-bus very carefully lie fore embarking upon further tramway undertakings.” If Mr Palmer’s summary of the position is eorrerb the hus regulations may he aiiM.-; the legislation requiring: revision during the next session of I’avliamrait. Rhodes scholars. The Press Association message from Dunedin this morning gives t-Jio opinion of a prominent educationalist mem her of the [adversity Senate in regard to file selection of Rhodes scholars from Canada. Australia and New Zealand has aroused considerable interest here. Authorities .'igroe whole-heartedly with the Dunedin critic that the type of scholar Cecil Rhodes :, ad hoped to secure for the Empire and the world are not being selected from the Dominion, and that tin* great majority of the young men who have graduated from their home university regard Oxford mciely as a lini.s l! ’ing school, so to speak, where they can equip themselves for same profession or occupation and then pass out into the bigger world where lucrative salaries are awaiting them. One prominent teacher declares that scholarships, apart from being an incentive to brainy youths to learn something about cricket and football or athletic exercises of one kind or another, have been of no benefit at all t;> Now Zealand and. as far as ho has ascertained, of very little to the Kmpire. lie warmly endorses the suggestion of the Dunedin critic that more emphasis should he placed on literary ability, debating power and force of character of the candidates.

and that young men of the typo that served Cecil Rhodes himself so well, and not mere conventional scholars, should he selected for these big npportunitios.