WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

SAMOAN AFFAIRS. iIEASSURI XG REPORTS. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, A! arch 10. Having deliberated long and earnestly over the mail news received by the warship Dunedin last week the Prime Minister is able to publish this moraine; a reassuring statement concerning the tondition of affairs in Samoa. While he cannot take the public into his full confidence, he wishes the people of New Zealand to understand that the alarmist reports that have been recently circulated from unofficial sources in Samoa are greatly exaggerated. “Provocative and ill-informed comments on the position arc not, of course, helptul in maintaining peace.” he goes on to say, “ hut lives and property in Samoa are to-day not in jeopardy. I can see uo reason why in the absence of mischievous interference any breach of the peace should occur.” All this is satisfactory as far as it goes ; hut one may be pardoned for wondering bow the alarming Press message received Imre last week, implying the existence of verv grave unrest in Apia, came to escape the censorship of the Administrator. who is clothed with the most comprehensive powers in that respect. Tt is unthinkable that he can have approved of the distribution of such a Fabrication. THU EK-COKNEU <_'< iNTESTP. People in Wellington who have given some attention to the vagaries of the Dominion's various electoral systems smile broadly at Mr G. \Y. Forbes's assumption that three corner contests under the existing law are no peril 1o majorities. “Many thousands of Liberals who have lieeit voting Reform nr Labour in the past,” said the member for lluntmii. speaking in Dunedin the oilier day as the leader of the National Party, “through lack of Libera! candidates in the elections, will welcome the candidates of their own polij ties who will ho contesting the seats | this year. All the ridiculous sugges- | tions from the present Government I that this would tend to strengthen I Labour’s position will not deter these gentlemen, who know different.” The Deform Party. .Mr Forbes declared, was simply raising a bogey when it protested that the presence of a third party in the field would tend to give Labour a victory. Everyone who knows anything about the operation of the New Zealand electoral system, however. realises that the presence of a third party in tile field will practically assure the return of Reform at the approaching general election. ANOTHER REVOLT. A considerable number of (lie apple growers in the Nelson Province, representing. it is said. 150.00(1 cases ot exportable fruit, arc seeking permission from the Control Board to sell their produce at this end, “ free on board,’ as the term goes. They have an oiler which would yield them a profit of some 3s -Id or Us fid a ease and they are very eager to accept this opportunity tu free themselves from the inevitable risks of the Home market and the circuitous methods of tile board. Rut so far the board lias shown no inclination to accede to their recpiest, fearing. no doubt, that, the concession would moan, ultimately, the institution of a free market, with very proper supervision. as in the case of the Dairy Board. The eager growers are petitioning the Government on the 1 matter, and they have the support of a verv large volume of public 1 opinion. Their request is all the more urgent in view of the l act that the* London market'floes not look particularly attractive at the present time. The buyers c-aillicit bo expected to leave their offer open indefinitely. TRANSPORT SERVICES. ! A good deal of uneasiness is being, i expressed in regard to the uses the State and the municipalities are making of the transport services they have acquired during the last year or so. It is roundly stated in some quarters that tile resignation of two members of tiie Railway Board was not altogether unconnected with the Minister's insistence upon the Department entering upon a number of road services and still making the lines pay. The Minister's own confidences concerning the preparations that are being made to “ meet competition ” are not. reassuring to tile taxpayers. Tile new services arc hound, as Mr Coates himself admits, to result in heavy losses for “ a. year or two,” and by the end of that indefinite time the whoic conditions may have entirely changed. As for the stops the municipalities have taken in this respect they seem to have been designed rather to cripple private enterprise than to provide additional facilities for the ratepayers. The Wellington City League has been discussing the position and appears to have reached the conclusion that the authorities are clearly hindering the development of the city.