WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PRIME MINISTER. A DISAPPOINTED FRIEND. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, January I. The “New Zealand Times” takes the Prime Minister to task, gently, for not having fulfilled all its own expectations of “what the young man who got things done ” would accomplish. “ The prosperity of any country,” it says by way of introduction, “ rests largely on the competence, industry and good faith of its administration. Failure in one or all of those qualities spells dissatisfaction and disquiet throughout the community.” Having delivered itself of this truism, the “Times” proceeds to make its point. “ Now.” it declares, Mr ('oates. who entered on his office to such acclaim, has not fulfilled popular expectations. It may he. of course, that too much was expected from him. seeing that he was young for the job. and was confronted with problems which were not of the simplest nature. Whether more was asked of him than fairly could be asked, the fact remains that when tested the Prime Minister did not always impress. He has shown a tendency to bend when he ought to have stood upright. Deeply-rooted forces have managed-to pull him Ironi the perpendicular path or edge him into devious by-paths.” Whether it is the strong men among his own colleagues or the specious ones among the socialists that have drawn Mr Coates into devious paths the “Liberal organ” does not say, hut it is fairly obvious

that for the moment it lias lost faith in the Reform leader. The truth ot 1 l*o whole matter is. of course, that Air Coates had greatness thrust upon him by his friends against his own will and now is paying the penalty for their extravagant expectations. BIRTHDAY HONOURS.

The local papers sav the usual tilings in the usual way concerning the latest New Zealand recipients of New Year honours, hut they all. it seems, have missed the opportunity to re-acknow-ledge the Dominion’s deep debt ot gratitude to the father of the new Sir Donald McLean, who.' as Native .Minister between 1869 and 1876, did more to establish the present good relations between the Maori and the

European populations of this country than did all his predecessors and successors in office put together. “ Out of innumerable perplexities, difficulties and errors of the previous generation,” writes the Hon. W. P. Reeves, a- critic by no means lavish in praise. “ a really capable Native Minister Iliad been evolved. This was Sir Donald McLean, who, from the beginning ot 1869 to the end of 1876. took the almost entire direction of the Native policy. A burly, patient, kindly-natural Highlander, his Celtic blood helped him to sympathise with the proud, war-like, clannish nature of the Maori. It was largely owing to his influence that Ropata and others aided us so actively against Te Kooti. Tt w;is not. however, as a war minister, but as the man who established complete and lasting peace through New Zealand, that his name should he remembered. By liberal • payment foi service, by skilful land purchases, by showing respect to the chiefs and tact and good humour with the people Sii Donald acquired a permanent influence over the race.” The new Sir Donald, though with fewer opportunities, is a worthy son of a great father and will hear his distinction with a nice regard for all it implies. BOOKMAKERS.

A special message from Auckland tells of a police raid on Saturday morning in the Queen City which resulted in the subsequent appearance of a number of men in the magistrate s court charged with illicit betting of one kind and another. Two ot the company, one stated hv the police to be president of the Bookmakers’ Association. and the other the secretary of that strictly select body, were lined £76 apiece and the others, on a graduated scale, from £26 to £2 apiece. I lie remarkable tiling about this story is that the Auckland correspondent of a Wellington paper should have thought it necessary to send such familiar information aboard. There are at least, as many bookmakers’ “ offices ” waiting to l-e raided in Wellington as there are in Auckland and the only surprising feature of this telegraphed incident is that the magistrate having satisfied himself of the guilt of the parties should '.have let off the president and the secretary of the Bookmakers’ Association with so, paltry a penalty as £76. Probably neither of these gentlemen netted less than fifty times this amount over the downitill of the favourites in the Auckland Cup and other big events at Ellerslie during the recent meeting there, and they paid not a single penny of taxation either to the State or to Lne racing club. The northern bookmakers this season have enjoyed a more bounteous Christinas than they had experienced for many a long year and the £76 extracted from their president and secretary is loss than they gladly would have donated to any charitable institution had they been invited to do so. ,