WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1929, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

PRIME MINISTER IN SOUTH.

' “A PLEASANT HOLIDAY.”

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, May 20.

Sir Joseph Ward returned yesterday from what he factitiously styles his “pleasant holiday in the South,” again looking none the worse for his com stant travelling and frequent talking and was at his office early this morning. He obviously enjoyed his trip, .whatever its demands may have been, and brought back with him heartening reoollections, not only of the welcome extended to him, but also of the promising prospects of the South Island. Sir Joseph has another tour on. hand beginning on Wednesday next, which will complete • his survey of tne other side of Cook Strait. After visiting Nelson, Motueka and Blenheim he will travel down the East Coast to attend a presentation to the Hon. D. Buddo and will return to Wellington on May 29. Three or four days later he will pay a: flying visit to Auckland and Rotorua and return to Wellington op June 10th. to complete his arrangements for the session of Parliament. 'The lot of a Prime Minister certainly is not' 'an easy one.

TARIFF REVISION. Though tariff revision' was not among the subjects generally discussed during the election campaign quite a number oi people are anticipating the new Government to do something towards reducing their burdens in this direction during the approaching session of Parliament. The farmers are protesting that they are suffering from the incidence of a protective tariff and the big companies are calling out against the rough and ready operation of the income tax, .while, every house wife in the Dominion is attributing her troubles to excessive Customs duties. The “Dominion,” referring to the subject this morning however admits that it would be unfair to expect Sir Joseph Ward to tackle this problem forthwith. “Just now,” it says, “the Government reasonably - may consider that it has, sufficient financial problems on, its; hands without embarking on the iordeal, jof.- tariff revision This seems a'reasonable view of the situation, all the circumstances being taken into account, and it probably reflects the matured intention of the Government.

daylight saying. Wellington workers of all degrees again are taking definite interest in “daylight saving/’ This year the controversy will rentre not around whether there shall'he put on half an hour or a whole hour. The tardy concession of half an hour hy Parliament last 3 ear finally established the main prineiple. Since then many additional farmers have come to realise daylight saving is as good for them as it is for tiie workers within the towns. Some of them, indeed, have discovered that'it is even better than it had been repiesented to be. They declare that daylight saving is of even greater value to them in the winter than it is in the summer, and have put on their clocks accordingh’. The prospects of a permanent measure are brighter today than ever before. The absence of IWr Sidey from the House in balanced by Lis presence in the Council. PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN. The business proclivities of the new Government is displa3’cd again to-da}’ by an announcement from the Hon. AY. B. Taverner the Minister in charge of tne Publicity Department to the effect that an officer from the department is to be sent to, Australia to advertise there the attractions and potentialities of the Dominion. The Commonwealth itself..has set an example in this direction by providing £IOO,OOO this- year for the .purpose, of making known to the world at large the has to offer to the holiday maker and .incidentally to the investor. New. Zealand has spent agood deal of money in this direction during the past few years, but it does not appear to have attracted the number of visitors it should have done nor to have produced all the good things it had promsed to those that did come. Mr Taverner’s idea is to make every visitor to the Dominion a canvasser for other visitors and for the good of the country.