WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1928, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

CITIZEN’S AVAR MEMORIAL. CONCERNING THE SITE. * (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. AA'ellington, which hopes one of these days to have tho national war memorial resting on one of the beautiful sites it has to offer, just now, is exercising itself over its own local memorial It was generally assumed that tho design and the site of this commemorative pile were finally settled when the Government, after much influential pressure, dedicated for the purpose the little strip of land abutting on Lambton Quay at tho foot of Parliament Grounds; hut the other day. Mr Hurst Meager, the well-known Christchurch . architect, pointed out the disadvantages of the position and suggested the memorial should Ik? erected at the Basin Reserve, the most conspicuous of the city’s playgounds. Tho suggestion lias caught, on with a majority of the people who take any interest at all in (he matter, and it seems likely it will he finally adopted. One grave objection to the Lambton Quay site is that the memorial there would block the extension of a thoroughfare which already is too small for the city’s growing traffic. RAILAVAV FREIGHT RATES The Railway Department in further extension of its policy’ of meeting motor opposition with lessened charges has announced n generous reduction in freight rates from AA’ellington to Palmerston North. For consignments of three tons or over the charge lias liccn brought down from G4s 2cl per toil to 42s 3d )ier ton, and for consignments of loss than three tons to 52s 6d per ton Further the restrictions formerly imposed iqxm carrying companies preventing them consigning on one note parcels of goods for different consignees have been withdrawn. The reductions were announced at tlie meeting of the AA’ellington Harbour Board last night and the chairman pronounced them to lie a source of much gratification to the board. The members of the Board were practically unanimous in expressing approval of tho action of the department, which they were satisfied would lie of great advantage to the port of AA’ellnigtmi, hut one member urged, apparently finite logically, that the reductions should he made universal if the department really wished to meet effectively the growing competition of road transport. RATLAA'AY TRAVEL. Side by side with the announcement in this morning’s paper of a reduction of the railway rates between AA’ellington and Palmerston North there appears a letter from a traveller telling liow lie fared in an attempt to make an expeditious journey between Feilding and New Plymouth. “Last week,” the victim writes, “I left Feilding by a mixed train which is due out at about 7 a.in. approximately, but owing to the down limited running 20 minutes late, my train was accordingly late. My intentions were to travel by train to Marton and then catch a service car to New Plymouth, which arrives in New Plymouth at 1 p.m. My train being late I missed tho service car and decided to carry on by train, and eventually arrived ill New Plymouth at 7.20 p.m.. which made 12 hours’ travelling, and unable to have , breakfast, lunch or dinner.” The traveller goes in to indicate other grievances,, sonic of them, one would think, even more exasperating than the foodtess journey to New Plymouth, and indicating that reforms are needed on the passenger side as well as on tho troods side of the service. DAYLIGHT SAVING

Tt i< obvious now that there will be very bitter opposition to the perpetuation of the Slimmer Time Act of last session, and that if the friends of “Daylight Saving” wish to retain the advantages they have enjoyed during the present summer they should bo preparing for a stiff fight in the constituencies and in Parliament. Though the farmers are put in the forefront of the opposition to the measure, it is plain they have strong forces bellind them more capable than themselves in organisation and in the exercise of political pressure. Til a letter addressed to the Dairy Farmers’ Union, Mr .T. G. Elliott. ALP., makes a fervid appeal to its members, which is characteristic of the literature that is being distributed broadcast throughout the country. Mr Elliott assumes that “ninety per cent of the farmers of the Dominion are opposed to the measure” and declares that “it imposes hardship oil farmers’ wives and is detrimental to the well-being of growing children.” If Air Elliott Ims evidence in support of his assertions, it is quite time the other side began moving.