WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

NATIONAL WAH ME.MOJ.IiAL. COYEiLNMENT AWAITS CAPITAL'S SUIISCIM PTION. (Special to •' Guardian ”.) WELLINGTON. Jmy Jl. Wellington lias another grievance

against the Government. Some weeks ago a deputation representative ot the capital city waited upon the Prune Minister with a request that (I) the

National War Memorial, </-') the National Museum, ‘,3. the Dominion Art Gallery, and (•!) the Wellington

War Memorial Carillon should he coni' liined and erected on Mount Cook site. Meanwhile, it should he mentioned. Wellington is without a war memorial of any kind, and on each recurring An/.ac Day has produced a painted wooden hox some ten feet high, dohhed it a cenotaph, and laid at its lent and about its waist the citizens' ilorai' wreaths of remembrance. Mr Coates, promised to consider the request ot the deputation anti on I uesday his icpK was delivered to the Mayor. " I have to advise, ’’ the substance of the missive ran. •' that the whole position has been carefully reviewed by Cabinet, and it has been decided that the original undertaking must he adhered to. namely, that the subsidy of L'IOO.OCO w ill be provided when the citizens of Wellington Tiave subscribed a like sum." The Prime Minister and hicolleagues oh\ ioilsly knew their puiiiic well. They realise that it the State provided its Ll.oo.onil in advance the coldrihution of the eiti/.ens ol Wellington would he 1 url hcomiitg very slow Iv. THE CITIZENS' PPOTEST.

The •' Evening Post." which -peaks with authority lor the great majority of the eiti/.ens ot 1 Wellington, thinks the Government lias given " a most unsatisfactory reply " to a reasonable request. " Pules- we misunderstand the Prime Minister's letter,” it says, “ the whole amount must he subscribed before any part of the subsidy can

be paid. This condition must hinder progress, since it prevents the commencement of building betorc the whole sum is in hand. 'I he reply re-

garding Mount Cook site is also unsatisfactory. The Government merely states that a report is being obtained as to the cost of preparing this hind for the proposed building. 'I he Consideration that a valuable site will be secured by removal' of the present museum is ignored: and no assurance is given which would enable the citizens to put their project in definite form. No reply whatever is given to the proposal that the Government should embody its National Mar Memorial in the scheme.” With withering scorn the " Post ” asks if there is to he no National War Memorial in New Zealand, such as those in Era nee and Palestine and Gallipoli, to mark the sympathy, the gratitude, the pride and the determination of the people of iliis Dominion. The Government well may reply that these sentiments are best expressed at first, hand. PEKOE.M INDEPEN DENTS.

The members of the Heform Party sat in caucus for a couple of hours yesterday morning and from till accounts found themsciYes in harmony

on nil questions of liny consequence within the span of the political horizon. There were several missing lace. l from the happy gathering, however and though their absence was explained. it was not wholly condoned. Mi \V. S. (dcnii, the member for Rangitikei, though still pledged to vote with the Government on a ” no-conlidence ” motion, is asserting his independence quite frankly and appearin': to enjoy his new role. Speaking in the Samoan debate on Tuesday he did not mince matters at all in lotting; the Jlouse Know exactly where he would stand when it came to a question of policy or party'. “ If the Government desired to meet the position fairly and squareVy,” the “ Post’s ” summary of his remarks runs, “it would enable members to peruse the documents being laid before the House so that they could then discuss the subject with clear knowledge, ft was not fair for them to be expected to speak and vote when they did not have the necessary knowledge. He would vote against the Government if he was not satisfied about the treatment of the natives.” The Samoan trouble is far too grave a matter to be made a party affair, but the member for Rangitikei is not a man to be easily driven. RK FTC RICKS A XT) UXTOXS. The developments in connection with the ‘‘ ordering-off ” of Quentin Donald and Maurice Brownlie in the Ranfurly Shield match at Mastcrton last week seem likely to place both (lie Hawke’s Bay and the AYnirnrapn t'nion in an awkward position, and even to cast some passing discredit upon the Rugby game itself. The statement made byMr H. .T. McTvon«ie. the referee in the game, when tendering his resignation to the AVairarapa Referees’ Association. was quite explicit “ Donai’d,” the summary of his remarks appearing in the “ Dominion ” runs, “ had been warned during the first serum or two for punching in the front row, and also in the line out. He was eventually ordered off, together with Maurice Brownlie, for assuming a pugilistic which was misconduct within the meaning of the rule. Anyone who saw Donald on the line-out knew that blows .wore struck. Ho objected to the Wnirarnpa Rugby Union taking the case in committee and with failing to ask Donald any questions concerning his attitude after being ordered off.” Mr McKenzie is too widely known byfollowers of the game to have his story doubted for a moment, and it now remains to ho seen what the unions will, do next.