WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

sat 10 a X ADM INISTR ATI OX

MR HOLLAND’S CRITICISM

(Special to “ Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON. Jan. 27

'Htc “ Evening Post,” to the length of a column and a quarter, in lighter vein, rebukes Mr H. E. Holland, the leader of the Labour Opposition in the House of Representatives, for differing widely from the Prime Minister in. regard to the Samoan question. “It is, it says, “ the function of an Opposition, whether Labour, Liberal, or Conservative, to oppose, and it is its custom. except on rare occasions of grave national emergency, to be led bv the interests of party and the zeal of advocacy into opposing good measures as well as had.” Having delivered itself of this familiar jibe, with more than the customary measure of literary grace, the evening journal proceeds to scold ’Mr Holland for not having accepted the integrity of the members of the Royal Commission, which never was in dispute, as an assurance that all the grievances of the malcontents would he probed to the bottom. Whether or not this was actually done only the members of the Cabinet have been permitted to know, and Mr Holland’s excuse for asking questions is an entirely laudable desire for information. To accuse the leader ol the Opposition of ignorance, as the “ Post ” does, is merely to adit the unexplained reticence ol the Government. OVERSEAS SETTLEMEXT.

The “Dominion” does not share the view of a section of the Home Press that the impending visit of Lord Lovat, the chairman of the British Overseas Settlement Commission, to the outlying portions of the Empire would be a waste of time and money. “ Immigration," it says, “ is a particularly difficult question and the more light we can have on the subject the better. We can think of no better use to which some part of those three millions appropriated to the Overseas Settlement Committee would be put than m on-the-spot investigation by a responsible representative of the fund. Dominion sentiment, no less than British public opinion, is not in favour of Imperial • jov rides ’ at the expense or the taxpayer, but a little reflection will convince most people that Lord Locals proposed tour does not fall within that category. The old adage, ‘nn ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory,’ bolds good here.” Lord Lovat, whose itinerary will include Canada and Australia, as well as New Zealand, and probably South Africa, cannot reach this country till late in the year and by that time the authorities here should be prepared with definite information for the consideration of the Imperial Government's representative. TILL WEATHER.

Wellington and its suburbs arc beginning to feel acutely the effect of the long spell "of dry weather, and if rain in some appreciable measure does not come within the next week or so the position in many localities will be really serious, In the little seaside holiday resorts across the harbour, where adequate water supplies have been long promised and long delayed, the conditions are much worse than those in the city and a considerable number of visitors are shortening their stays in consequence. Reports from other parts of the province are to much the same effect, and crops and stock in the country districts are suffering. The city papers, however, making the best of a had job, arc able to he thankful that “ the long spell of dry weather has bad the usual effect of drawing attention to the inadequacy of the water supply,” and that " the Government’s assistance saved a year’s loss of time in preparing for the establishment of a comprehensive metropolitan water supply scheme.” There obviously still are .Mr Maeawbers in the community waiting for rain to “ turn up.” but with empty tanks and withered gardens normal people arc unable to join in their cheery optimism. THE NEW -MINISTER.

There was a full meeting of the Cabinet yesterday, the first since the commencement of the Christmas holidays, and it was expected that the appointment of a new -Minister in succession to the late Hon. It. F. Bollard would he announced this morions'. The delay no doubt, is due to a necessary rearrangement ol portlolios, which has been under consideration for some time past and now can lie conveniently effected. Mr F. Hockley, the chairman of Committee, is the current "tip ” for the vacant seat in the Cabinet. and his appointment would he generally acceptable to the House and to a very large number of political people throughout the Dominion. The member for Rotorua is not n very ardent partisan, or at any rate, not a very aggressive one ; but he had views and opinions of his own. which he expresses with facility and upholds with convinced insistence. He has made a very excellent chairman of Committee, and though now ill his early sixties lie remains a particularly active and prolific worker. Though a farmer ,and a farmers’ representative, he has a good working knowledge of commerce and finance"and takes his representative duties very seriously. He would In? a distinct acquisition to the strength ol the Cabinet.