WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE CAPITAL CITY. ITS PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. (Special to •* Guardian WELLINGTON, July IS. Mr G. A. Troup. Wellington's new mayor, speaking at the opening of the Winter Show on Friday, turned to account with happy facility his opportunity to extol the enterprise and achievements of the capital city. He declared that Wellington enjoyed pride of place a mono the four largo centres of population within the Dominion, nol only in location and beauty, hut al-o in trade and commerce. As repaids location and heaitty. Mis Worship's claim noil might be challenged: hut. as regards trade and coinittorce. if figures count for anything, it is in-

disputable. The fit-slums duty collected in Wellington last- year was more than £IOO.OOO ahead of that collected in Auckland, while Lyttelton was a million and a half further behind the capita! city, and Dunedin a million, and ihree-fpiartors behind. In shipping Wellington was a million tons in hunt of Auckland, a million and a hall in front of Lyttelton and two million.- m front of Dunedin. In exports Wellington was more than three millions ahead of Auckland, nine millions ahead of Lyttelton, and just upon twelve millions ahead of Dunedin. No douhl transhipments and other loading necessities affected the figures to some extent ill favour of Wellington, hut roughly Mr Troup's claim in regard to trade am! commerce rests on linn foundations. The “Dominion” this morning. with its eye on Auckland, reminds its readers that it is not population alone that counts. ‘•PROTECTION.” For some time past the high cost of

many of the simple requirements of life lias been shaking the popular faith in the beneficence and efficacy of the Dominion’s protective policy. In the House of Representatives the other day the Hon 0. ,T. Anderson, the Minister of Labour, a not very recent convert front free-trade to protection, admitted that local industries could not he allowed to lean indefinitely upon the Customs Tarilf. Observations to the same effect were being made by thinking people long before Mr Anderson over dreamed of entering Parliament:, bur somehow the long-suffering taxpayers have continued to carry hopeless industries upon their hack, year alter year till the burden, it would seem, had come to he regarded as a dispensation of Providence. The Prime Minister. however, appears to have realised that it i- time something was done to relieve the public of a fruitless tribute to an illogical sentiment. In endorsing Hie view expressed by Mr Anderson. he said it certainly would have been hotter for tho public and for their promoters had these futile industries never been started. The same conclusion is accepted on both sides of the House, hut unfortunately there are many members pledged in help to the best of their ability and opportunity enterprises, which would have no hope of surviving were they deprived of the spoon-feeding h.v which I hey were brought inti existence. ROUGH PLAY. In football circle-, and beyond, the action of the Wairarapa 'Rugby Union and the Hawke’s Bay Union, respectively. in •'exonerating” the two players who were ordered off the field in the recent: shield match at Mnsterton for rough plnv is being discussed with considerable en.phn.si-. IP ill Unions imply that the referee was. unjustified in the course he took and the Hawke’s Bay Union goes the length of saying “that his action towards both the players was unwarranted.” The refer ee. if this judgment is e uilirmcd. will have no alternative in the matter and the game will he the poorer for the loss of his service-. Other witnesses, however, stand by the referee and maintain that lie was more than just ified in ordering the men off and deserving of warm oouimondat inn for having dared to deal drastically with two highly popular players. The .statement made by Dr G. }[. Utley. the principal of the Wnirarapn High s'cliool, to the effect that after witnessing the game tie would have to consider the advisability of introducing .Soccer into his own school and of advising hoys not to play Rugby. seems to leave little doubt about the character of sume of the play. Rugby is not going to lose its hold upon public favour by tin occasional display of this I kind; hut it is of the first consequence that exhibitions o[ wilful roughness should he promptly cheeked and adequately punished. IJ CENSING LEG I STATION. The extremists on both sides of the liquor question continue to air their views with persistent iteration in the local newspapers, their particular hone of contention just now being the three ballot papers. The Moderates, as the liquor folk still style themselves, insist upon the retention of the three papers, though they would like “Corporate Control” substituted for “State Control. ' while the Prohibitionists, who will accept no compromise, demand the clear cut issue of “License or No License.” Neither side is quite frank about the matter. The Moderates want the three issues retained because under the present system of voting “State Control” helps to divide the votes east against. “Contimiftn.ee.” The Prohibitionists, on the other hand, want only the issues of “License” and “No License’’ because they believe a majority of the “State Control” votes would come their way. Tf either party were really concerned for the settlement of the question upon ail equitable basis it would seek the retention of the three issues with a provision under the system of preferential voting, which would ensure a decisive result one way or another. 'While both sides refuse to submit to this test they are not entitled to prate of their devotion to democratic principles and their desire for majority rule.