WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A PROPER APPOINTMENT. i >pocial to *■ Guardian A) ELLIXG I'OX, June 0. Tlit* Prime Minister lias falsified, for the time being at an.v rate, all the disturbing predictions that were being put about concerning hi.-.'intentions in regard to the Legislative Council. 1 tic appointment of Sir .lames Alien to the Upper lloiko ol the country's Legislature is an entirely proper and appropriate one. During the twenty odd years ho was in Parliament beluiv tin war Sir .lames rendered to Xcw Zealand services which went appreciated beyond the confines of his own party.' j Dnrin.. the first, year of the war. as Minister of Finance, he was laced by problems which never before had confronted a custodian of the Treasury, and lie applied himself to his formidable ta-k with cheery optimism and untiring zeal. > It was as Minister of Defence, however, after Sir Joseph Ward, on the formation ol the Xaiionai Government, had taken over the portfolio of Finance, that Sir James gave ol his best to the country and the Empire. From him, probably more than from am other politician, the country obtained its inspiration towards cl fort and achievement and so earned indisputably a place in the counsels and the responsibilities of the nation. The Dominion, as well ns the Council will welcome hits return to the public life of the Dominion. A KNIGHTLY KNIGHT.

Europeans will applaud just as heartily as will the people of his own race the distinction that, lias been conferred by His Majesty the King upon the lion. Sir Apirnna Xgata. Though Wellington in recent years has seen less of Sir Apirana than it has wi-hed. it hears vividly in mind the admirable work he has done and is titling lor the united peoples since lie came to the House of Representatives in 100 J, a young matt til scarcely thirty-one imbued with the highest ideals “I .sacrifice and service. Ecfore that he had stripped himsoll of the opportunities of a distinguished scholar, set aside the promise of a lucrative profession, and devoted his rare talents and personal magnetism ungrudgingly and unreservedly to the service of humaniiy as it camo nearest to his hand. In say that all this was a self-imposed task would he unjust to the man. The marked success of his eflorts on behalf oi the Native race is due to the fact that thev are put forth as gladly lor one fitco as they are for the other, and that His gottl always is the same, the promotion of the best interests <>l the human race. Xo English gentleman is better <,ualiliod to wear the badge of liis sovotvijiirs I a vonr. WELLINGTON ASLEEP. Wellington, which, as the political capital of the Dominion, owe- something to the community at large as welt its itself, is being urged hv the •‘Rost ” In restore some ol its wilfully destroyed beauty spots. " Gor.se cutting on the Wellington hills. the evening journal reminds the city. “ is providing work for some of the unemployed. . • Why allow the gorse to grow year .after year? It is not that there i. no means of keeping it permanently in cheek. It lias been proved that when trees are planted and given a fair start the gorse must bo beaten. Why should the Council not go a little further now and plant where it ha- grubbed? 'I here is little possibility of keeping the gorse in cheek oy grazing. Nor is there any positive objection to tree-planting. On the contrary. many hill slopes which tire drab in summer and little more attractive in winter could be made beautiful with trees. The initial cost of planting ami caring for the plantations would hate to be met, but there would he a permanent improvement in appearance, a saving in cost (as the gorse was brought under control), and ultimately it return to the city from the timber grown.’’ It may take something moio than this to awaken the city authorities to action, hut the. growing ugliness of Wellington’s environment is a national reproach. GAM TNG LEG ISLATIOX.

The Prime Alinister himself having stated that amendments to the Gaming Act will he among the proposals submitted to Parliament during the approaching session, the newspapers are finding a congenial subject for speculation in the character of the proposed legislation. That the amendments will include provision for the publication of dividends, the recognition in some shape or form of double event betting find tbe telegraphing ol investments to the course is being taken for granted ; but nothing at all so far has been said concerning the dividend tax and the stake tax. Those two impositions really are of much more consequence to the sport and to its genuine followers than are the devices for facilitating the operations of mere gamblers, who, though perhaps necessary for the nmiutchance of racing on its present scale, do little towards upholding its host traditions. The suppression ol particulars concerning dividends is an idle limitation of the privileges of the newspapers ; and the prohibition \er\ well might ho' withdrawn; but the “double event” iotalisntor would lie simply another incentive to gamblers and an additional nuisance to the secretaries of racing clubs. The removal of the dividend tax and the stake tax, or even their substantial rcductjpn, associated with a stringent administration of the penal clauses of the Act, would go further than would the adoption of any of the other proposals to remove the troubles that beset the racing dubs.