WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1929, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

LA HOUH. PAH TV. “ UNITED AND -UNDISMAYED.” [Special To The Guardian ] WELLINGTON, April I. Judging from I lie enthusiasm displayed liy the delegates at (lie annual conference of tin; Labour Party in Wellington this week they arc in no way dismayed by the results ol tinrecent general election. 'Their parly lias lost the kudos of being the Official Opposition in the House mf Representatives; hilt it has gained five seats ai:.i has driven its opponents, Reform and Liberal, closer together. To the latter achievement it attaches much significance, and predicts that at the next general election, provided the present Parliament runs its full feim. Labour at last will come into its own. The prediction is one lor which ii" unbiassed observer can see any solid foundation. Careful observers, indeed incline to the idea that a fuithei icvival off Liberalism, whether under itnew name or its old, is among the more likely developments of the near future, and that Labour is again out in the wilderness for a considerable period. SUNDAY EXCURSIONS.

There is a good deal of sympathy here with the Council of Christian Congregations in its protest against the Hail way Department providing trains and cheap fa res for Sunday excursions. So long as the exclusions were confined to the suburban areas, to Upper Hutt and even to Otaki, they did not provoke much comment; but now that they are being extended to Palmerston North and even to stations about Mount Egmont at much reduced fares, easy going Subbatliarians. as well as good church people, are begum ning to protest against this further in tension upon the day ol rest. On the other band, there are a considerable number of folk who do not patronise the Sunday trains, taking tlie view that if the Sunday excursions were stopped the traffic would be immediately taken up bv motor cars, which might- prove oven a worse evil than the trains. The Minister off Railways is now considering the matter. HIGHER EDUCATION. The time surely is approaching whenthe authorities will insist upon university students observing some measure of propriety in the public celebration of their various festivals. The “ Dominion ” returns to the subject this morning, taking as its text the rowdyism at the Easter inter-college debating tournament at Christchurch. Ts if not possible,” it asks, “for the Students’ Associations of flic various colleges to set a new tradition for their members in respect to what eonstituto? gentlemanly conduct. The Uimcisit> Ts an educational institution, and should recognise that part off its dot' is to instil the principles of good behaviour and good . citizenship in the minds of the students as well as on-, forcing them through the examination mill.” A professor rtf manners perhaps would be beyond the conception of the controlling bodies; hut some such authority, clothed with disciplinary powers, would be n very valuable addition to the Dominion’s education system. THE VACANT SEAT. In political,circles here little interest is hein»- displaced in the impending l>yeleetion in Ray of Islands. Colonel Hell, who entered the House ol Representatives as an Independent Libera' in 1022 and was returned as a somewhat luke-warm Reformer in 102-j amagain in 1928. is now deprecating the importance given to party names ami assuring the eiocto-s that there is impossible chance of Mr Coates moving r vote of no-confidence in the United Government during the life of the preseiil Parliament. Mr Rushwortli, the other candidate in the contest, who sat lithe House during the short session l<>> lowing upon the November election, and assisted in voting out the Reform Government, is a representative of tinCountry Party, with ties, it woiilo seem, almost as flexible as these tha restrain his opponent. In the oiroum stances neither Sir Joseph Ward nor Mr Coates appears to have any particii Jar reason for taking an active part u the contesit.