WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1929, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

HIGH CO Af A t ISS-lONE R SHL P

MB WILFORD'S APPOINTMENT.

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 15

In Wellington the appointment of 'ue Hon. T. M. Wilford to the office f High Commissioner in London is neeti"g with general approval. Although he has sat in the House of Representatives for thirty years and has twice occupied a seat in the Cabinet, he is not numbered among the Dominion’s foremost politicians. Perhaps he has been too busy with his own profession and with the divers:ons it demvids to give any prolonged attention to public affairs. Perhaps his heart never has been in their details. B’e this as it may, his thiry years of parliamentary life have 'eft him without the gift of leaderhip. But for this lack he has many compensations. A genial presence, a oleasant manner, a ready address, an acquaintance with the world at large, ' rare stock of miscellaneous infoiv nation and an unobtrusive confidence hi himself will go fa'* to make him Hipular with the people at Home and 'o facilitate his services to the Doninion.

Tf T fi SUCCfWOB. Though '* > s n °t expected that,MrWilford will resign his seat in ,the House and his portfolio in, the Min T istrv. until shortly before his departure next month, the question of his successor in the representation of . the T Tntt electorate already is being.eagerly discussed. At t|ie last two geur>i;al elections the Deform Party, no doubt for good and sufficient ■ reasons. d : d not. contest this seat: but Mr Coates is announced to meet the local representatives of the party at Pet one to-morrow evening and presumably the business of the gathering will bo the selection of a candidate to hear flic Reform banner in. the approaching contest. Candidates have been suggested for both the United and, the Labour parties, and doubtless a clash between these parties is the hope of Reform, but so far no definite decision has been reached. Mr W.. Nash. +’*e Labour candidate... who substantially reduced Mr A\ ilford’s maforitv at the November election would again poll heavily against any opposition.

THV GOVERNMENT AGAIN. The “dominion’’ this morning does not exactly hold the United Government- responsible for the drop in wool prices—indeed it admits tnat the results at the opening sale of the season yesterday were not quite so -nsatisfactory as had been expected—lint it reiterates its assertion that 'hr Joseph Ward and his colleagues ■re in a large measure responsible for the difficulties that beset Abe large oastoralists. “The set-back to the sheep farmer,” it says, “is aggravated byk'tlievGov’efinfifent’ii WctiolV in imposing on him additional land taxes, to which has’to ibe added in some oases the penal super-tax.- This burden has been added to a hard winter and a .declining market. It cannot be doubted that there will be much work for the Hardship Commission.” No doubt the hardship clause of the new Land and Income Tax Bill will* be faithfully administered, but’ it Can hardly be”expected that it can he solar stretched as to Cover the decline in wool prices. SUNDVY TRAINS.

The ze d of the Railway Department in providing trains for Sunday excursions is bringing the protests from the ’Churches that 'were inevitable. The Wellington District Methodist Synod yesterday recorded its protest against the innovation. It, declared that the Sundays trains “are the cause of many men being comnelled to work when they should be enjoying a. rest; that they cause, much Sabbath desecration; that the Synod is of opinion that the Government should recognise the high purpose for which the Sabbath stands, and that it should not lend itself to the lowering of ideals which are for the best interests of the nation!” So far the Government has made no reply to this appeal and meanwhile the Railway Department is advertising week-end excursion trains to Rotorua and other places at half fares. Sunday traffic of this kind has been a bone of contention for many years, and the universal use of the motor car has added enormously to the difficulties of the problem.