WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1928, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

DAYLIGHT SAVING. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE APPROVES. (Special to ” Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, April 7. Judging from the letters dealing with the subject which have appeared in the local newspapers during the last month or two the casual reader easily might have assumed that at least three fourths of the people residing within the Wellington province were definitely opposed to a. renewal of Mr Sidey’s Daylight Saving Rill. Certainly not more than twenty-five per cent, of the correspondents have had a good word to say for the measure. A paragraph appearing in the annual report of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, however, expressing warm approval of the innovation has greatly encouraged its local supporters in the hope that it will be reaffirmed. ‘‘The opponents of the measure, ’’ ihe paragraph runs, “prophesised loss of production; hut instead there has been increased production during the time ‘daylight saving’ has been in force, and exjKirt. figures especially confirm this, while the medical profession endorse ifs benefit to the general health of all classes of the community. The great bulk of the community have from this trial experience been fully converted to the advantages of the adoption of ‘summer time’ and hope it will be permanently re-enacted during next session of Parliament.” This emphatic endorsement by the representatives of the business community has much cheered Hie supporters of the measure. LESS GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS The Wellington Chamber of Commerce luis given a timely life to another movement of first importance to all sections of the community. This is the crusade against the private Government’s intrusion upon lousiness, which, initiated by tlie New Zealand Taxpayers' Federation some four or five years ago, lias now gathered an impetus which Ministers cannot much longer resist. ‘‘The excursions of Government and local bodies into trading ventures,” the chamber emphasises in its annual report, “still give great concern to private enterprise owing to the unequal nature of this competition and the relief that Government and local body trading enterprises enjoy from general taxation and local rating. Business people have expected that this problem would have received a larger share of attention from n Government whose election was greatly influenced by the slogan ‘less Government in business and more business in Government.’ ” The deputation of business men from nil parts of Dominion which waited upon the Prime Minister in connection with this subject a week or so ago evidently made a considerable impression upon the head of the Government, who, in a sub.-.0-quent quent interview, stated that lie and his colleagues were earnestly considering the facts submitted to them with a view to doing justice to all the interests concerned.

MAG I,ST E RIA L I>l SCRIM IN A Til >X. The leniency of Mr E. (?. (.bitten, one of Die Auckland stipendiary Magistrates, in prohibiting the publication of the inline of the young doctor who came before him last week on a charge of drunkenness while driving a motor car could not have helped the defendant at all materially even if critics on all hands had not raised their voices in protest against the exercise of such clemency. A magistrate may. decree the suppression of a name in such eases, and there are occasions when this may he done with perfect propriety. but it is certain, in every instance of tlio kind that a number of people will he in possession of all the personal particulars. The name of the Auckland offender was known in Wellington long before the two doctors in tin' northern city had expressed disapproval of Mr ('niton's consideration for the erring member of their profession. When the Labour Party raised its protest, the name became common property, and the delinquent’s case immeasurably worse than it would have been had he been denied (Tie magistrate's eonsideraton. That Mr Cutton was imbued with the very best of intentions, no one will doubt, but as things turned out he rendered n poor service to a young iiirui whose lesson necessarily was a hard one. approaching a general ELECTION.

The Hon. A. T>. McLeod. in addition to bis burdens as "Minister of Lands, Minister of Industries, and Commerce, Minister in Charge, of Electoral. Valuation. Soldiers’ Settlement, and Scenery Preservation Department, also carries the great load of "Reform Party Orgnnisor-in-Chief, and bears it with very conspicuous distinction and success. His methods are those of the late Mr R. J. Seddon. and the results he obtains much the same as those gathered by the great Liberal leader. He lias announced that all the sitting members who have been pledged previously to the Reform Party will carry the Reform banner again at the approaching election. What the candidates’ constituents may think about the matter apparently is not to be taken into account at all. Hence the “Now Zealand Herald.” the frankest as well as the most influential of tiro Reform newspapers takes the Minister of Elections to task. “However convenient it may be for party managers and gratifying to party nominees.” says the Auckland journal in protesting against the ministerial edict.-“the custom is objectionable because it denies to electors the right t i select their representatives. it virtually makes loyalty to party pledges the only qualiiiention for election to Parliament.” The opinion of so potent an ally can scarcely be disregarded by Mr McLeod and bis colleagues.