WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

SI’ORTMANSHIP. PRESS TAKEN TO ACCOUNT. (Special to “Guardian”.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. It lias been left to Mr Joseph Brownlie presumably a relative of Mr Maurice Brownlie, to take the newspapers to account for having published a •scathing criticism of the captain of the All Black team of footballers now in South Africa from an anonymous correspondent. “My amazement,” he writes in the “Dominion” this morning, “arose from the fact that such a direct personal attack should never have appeared.in leading newspapers in New Zealand. Maurice Brownlie was elected or selected to captain the New Zealanders in South Africa. The choice having been made, the fair thing was to support him loyally while he was carrying through the duties allocated to him. Surely he might look for such a measure of ordinary loyalty from his own people and the Press of his own country. I do not believe his people have failed in this respect, but I cannot say the same of the Press.” Mr Joseph Brownlie emphasises In's protest at considerable length and local “sporting” opinion seems to be with him to a man. VOTE SPLITTING.

In his inaugural address to the fifth Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Political Reform League last week, the Prime Minister stressed the disastrous consequences of vote splitting. “A number of our best supporters,” he said, “are really a little inclined to think that their turn has arrived, nnd that they should have the preference for contesting some of the constituencies. Now, while they are excellent candidates, it would certainly make the lot of those responsible for the organisation very much easier if they were not quite so keen, and in that connection I sincerely trust that wise counsels will prevail. We have to remember that in 1922 four Government' seats were lost through vote splitting. That was brought about by there being two candidates each supporting the same party contesting the same seat.” Mr Coates’s concluding observation is a little amusing. At the last general election Government supporters polled 317,584 votes and secured fifty-three seats; while its opponents polled 354,357 votes and secured twenty-three scats. AYhere was the vote splitting? GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS.

The Wellington Employers’ Association in its annual report deals pungcntly with the question of Government and Municipal interference with private enterprise. “The Government,” it says, “shows no disposition towards curbing public trading activities which proceed apace. Rather, the Government itself is giving a lead in the matter by acquiring road transport, ostensibly with the object of protecting the railways system, 'file question of public transport generally is one calling for urgent and fullest inquiry. Private enterprise is being taxed to unreasonable limits in order that good roads may be provided nnd at the same time is being required to pay the annual deficit on the railways which is competing with them at unremunerativc prices. . . The matter is one which must lie tackled in earnest; not from the point of view of the Railway Department, or of private enterprise engaged in motor transport; but Irom that way of the general welfare ol the Dominion as a whole,” The Association has a growing volume of public Opinion behind its protest to which the Government cannot remain indifferent.

LIQUOR TRAFFIC. The discussion over the liquor traffic again has assumed a more interesting phase than is its wont in the newspapers. That very sane divine, Archbishop O’Shea, lent his countenance the other day to the Middle Way League by suggesting thnt a second ballot paper should Vie provided “for or against Continuance or the sale of light wines and beers and light ciders.” His Grace holds that it is the use of spirits and other strong liquors that, does the barm in the “Trade” and that the substitution of less potent beverages would go far towards eliminating the “drink evil.” Of course {lie executive secretary nt the New Zealand Alliance is ready with a. re.t"rt. Ho contends that the omsuivrtkn of light wines and beer would lead only to a craving for -trouser and strrm •*<>»• drinks. M hat light wines have done in France he illustrated by stating that while Grcai. Britain consumes only 0.07 litres cf absolute alcohol per head per annum, France consumes 22.0il litres. And the layman remains little the wiser.