WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1929, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

NEW YEAR GREETINGS.

PRIME AIJNISTER OPTIAfISTJC

fSoecial to “Guardian”.)

"WELLINGTON, December 31

The Prime Alinister’s New Year message to his “fellow citizens” is a good augury for the administrative methods of the new Government. Sir Joseph himself is in some measure responsible for the discursive character of such messages in the past; but lie has made ample amends for his own sins in this direction by adding to his seasonal greetings of less than six lines only a paragraph, little longer, of good cheer. “ There are solid grounds lor predicting prosperous time.for the Dominion,” he says, “ and in this prosperity I sincerely hope that all may share. 1 need hardly say that no effort will be wanting 011 the part of myself and my colleagues in the Government to. do everything possible to advance the well being of all classes of our people.” 'Fbe Christmas holidays seem to have emphasized Sir Joseph’s prediction of prosperous times ahead and the Now Year is opening full of promise.

PROGRESS OK AVIATION. The “Dominion” while agreeing with the Minister of Defence that newly-fledged civilian clubs should not be allowed .to risk giving a set-back to local aviation by lack of reasonable preparation and precautions, points' ort that nothing would be more undesirable in this respect, than over-cautious Government control. “ Such control,” it says, “is a disease that can b< guaranteed to sap the vitality but of much more vigorous babes than on* now-born aero clubs. Whilst unnecessary risks should lie cut out at the very beginning wo do not want to see 1 repetition of the motherly hen trying to cluck her family of duckling* aivay from the terrible dangers of the village pond. Every encouragement should be given to these clubs, iov ( : ew can denv that New Zealand is deplorably beliind-hand in aviation when compared to the rest of the world. The Alinister of Defence, no doubt, will take an early opportunity l" express his agreement with ibis view.

FRUIT CONTROL. j Just before tlic' Christmas-New Year holidays representatives of a section of the Nelson fruit growers waited upon cbe Lion. O. W. Forbes, the new Alin lster of Agriculture, with a reqlies' that they might, tie allowed to accepi an offer that had been made for them for the purchase of some 30.000 buxo‘ of apples for export to Germany. At; All-.-Forbes could do for the willin vendors was to refer .their request t the Fruit Control Board with a personal recommendation that it slion!• bo considered by the members of that body. Tho Board promptly refuse- 1 permission, alleging that further ship ments to northern Europe would pro judice the arrangements it already ha made. The producers concei bed *n ( much incensed by the attitude <>f tie Board, which seems likely to involv them in a heavy loss, and are pledg ing themselves to renew tlieir effort for the removal of “compulsion” and die institution of a free market.

THE AVEATHER AND THE

TOTAL.ISATOU

Wliile the Canterbury people are complaining of the wet weather impelilling the grain crops and lessening l‘.c feeding values of the pastures, Auckland and Wellington people are deploring- the losses continuous rain has nrought upon, their racing clubs. The first two days’ racing at Auckland’ 1 principal race meeting resulted in r decline of £63,749 in the totalisatoi investments, aud the three days racing at the Manawatu meeting in a decline of £20,717. These figures represent very large inroads upon the Club’s revenue, and do not include al the losses they sustained on account Of the weather, the gates, stands and other sources of income also bein' affected. .There are many race-goer? in the North Island' however, win hold that the popularity of the totalisator in its present form is on the decline and that given even the best o! weather its business will continue 0 decline. This tendency is attributed to the over supply of racing and to tin heavy taxation imposed upon investor by tlio racing clubs and the State.