WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE TASMAN FLIGHT.

! A RECKLESS ENTERPRISE

(Special to “ Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON. Jan. 19

Captain Kight, the third member of tne ill-fated Tasman flight party, who thought himsell unlucky, and still thinks himself unlucky, in being excluded by the toss of a coin from the crew that manned the missing plane, does not endorse all that has been said bv the “ Sydney Morning Herald ” in

regard to the preparations and the ffietf preparations, for the daring elite.prise. It is plain, however, that from this side of the great span of water Iving between Sydney and Wellington lie realises more fully than lie did at the other side that the preparations lor tiie undertaking should have been much fuller and more complete than they actually were. The third member of the party, and it is feared, its only survivor, does not blame anyone for what has happened, hut he insists, as doubtless both the New Zealand Government and the Australian Government will insist, that in any future adventure of the kind the preparations and the precautions must he the very best that skill and experience can devise. The most startling feature oi the recent attempt is the fact that Captain Hood and Lieutenant Afoncrieff were allowed to start on their nerve-wracking journey after being twenty hours without sleep. OK V I(TAL RESPONSIT?ILITY.

The “ Dominion ” in reviewing the position, does not omit to remind the Government of its responsibility in such matters. “A pioneer tlight of this kind," it says, " should he properly staged and thoroughly well organised under Government auspices, ft is the Government that is called on to hear the cost in the event of non-arrival

and expensive searching. No Government can escape a moral responsibility by officially washing its hands of an enterprise of this kind. It should he insisted that both men and machine satisfy every official expert requirement of efficiency and sutety. One cannot hut adrnirc and eulogise the courage and determination ol the New Zealanders whose non-appearance is now a source of such anxiety. The Tasman iliglit, however, especially in i>t pioneer stage, should he a mattei for consultation and co-operation between the New Zealand and Australian Governments. Unofficial enterprises, undertaken • at their own risk ’ should be discouraged, and. if possible, prohibited.” Similar views are being expressed by the public with considerably more emphasis and doubtless they will he heeded. Meanwhile steps are to be taken to make provision for the dependents of the missing men and to commemorate then* own sell-sacrifice. KAIL VERSES MOTOR. In the number of the “ Railways .Magazine ” just issued there is an article in which State service seems to bill defiance to private enterprise. “The operation ol railway buses.’ a paragraph runs. “is the feature in the present railway policy which has given rise to most discussion. This is a suburban matter. and the iashion in regard to suburban travelling lias changed. When the fashion changes everv progressive shop or warehouse changes its stock to suit the new demand, and the Department has just as much justification for offering buses for the conveyance when suburban trains go out of fashion as a dealer in woollen stockings has to change to si!' •when these become the rage. Any intor fere lice, with this ireedom to vary methods to suit modern demands wind not be tolerated as between one private 1 business and another. there iequallv no justification lor limiting the State's freedom under similar conditions." The writer appears to have missed the point at issue Private enterprise does not object to the l Hallway Department running buses, hut. it demands that the Department’s buses shall he subject to the same charges and regulations as are the private buses.

COST OF GOVERNMENT. The Right lion. Sir Robert Stout, who returned to politics lust year ut to; a quarter of a century ol distinguished service on the Supreme Court Iseuch. is not allowing the grass to prow under his feet during tlit* parliamentary recess. Relieved for the time being from attendance in the Legislative Connie! he is airing his views upon politics in general and the public expenditure in particular through the newspapers, [u one of his letters he recalls an incident in the Legislative Council last session which received less notice than it should .have done at the time. Sir Robert moved " That a return he laid upon the table of the Council showing tinamounts expended lor every year, and the credits received during the past filleen years m the High Commissioner’s Department, and also the amount voted for the year 1927-23. and in the same return the number ol clerks, permanent and temporary, employed in every year." The motion was supported hv the two tormer High Commissioners now sitting in the Conn oil, hut it was warmly opposed by Sir Francis Hell. On being asked for the reason for his opposition Sir Francis, quite genially, replied that Ministers did not give reasons for their opposition to motions for returns. Sii Robert evidently wishes to have this practice reviewed. He is a persisted' sort 01 person who otten gets his own way.

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