WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE DOMINION’S s» WELFARE. ' ■ - v ♦. y... f * * GOVERNOR-OENERAL ’ S VIEWS. ■ * , .-v /« #■ - ■■ ■ ; •**■ ' , <i*> ' - (Special Correspondent.' 1 t WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. Speaking at the Rotary Club’s luncheon on Tuesday on the subject of “Town i. and Country” Lord Bledisloe again demonstrated to large and interested audience his wide, knowledge of practical affairs affecting the Dominion. “In the first'place,” 'he said, referring to the perils confronting the country, “there is too great-dependence upon the Government to undertake tasks which are more appropriate to: individual enterprise, and in the second place there is the drift of population from the countryside to the towns.” These of course, are two features of the Dominion’s development which have been strongly deprecated by politicians and business men and which ought to* be receiving the earnest attention/of Parliament. Such bodies as the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Federation and the Associated Chambers of Cohimeree have been calling out for reforms In these directions for years past and surely now that His Excellency the Governor-General lias so emphatically endorsed their . appeals these bodies will not have protested; in vain. Parliament too.Jong has neglected their appeals. ■ .■>, •• y WOMEN’S INTERESTS. Miss E. Melville whoso repeated failures to secure a seat in Parliament remain as a reproach to Auckland in general and to the constituency of Roskill in particular, is at present in Wellington delivering lectures on bt- ; half of New Zealand trades and maim-, factnres,. which, it is scarcely neces-/

say to say, have secured an except-: jonaliv gifted advocate. In the course' of an address to an audience consisting mainly of her own sex the other, evening she declared that women were, the ,purchasers of from 80 to 85. per cent, of the goods sold from shops arid; that it was their business to see they 1 obtained full value for their money. The point she ultim; tely enforced was tli at locally made goods were better values than imported. She also emphasized; the propriety of spending money so that it .might directly bene-, fit local factories and local workers. These and the rest of her contentions were enforced with a measure of fluency and grace that went far . towards conviction. THE MAORI VOTE, There was ail animated little discussion In the House the dther day In gard to the Maori franchise and the Maori vote. The subject was raised bv Mr T. Makitunara, the member for the Southern Maori District, who maintained that “there was no roll at Native elections” and that “ih hundreds of cases votes were recorded more than once.” The Right Hon. J. G. Coateg challenged this statement, and Mr Samuel, the member for Thames, ridiculed it; hut Mir Makitanara stuck to his ground and was supported to some extent by Mr 0. A. Wilkinjjpri, the members for Egmont, Mr HvpT. Armstrong, the member for Christchurch East, Mr W. J.,' Poison, the ■ member for Stratford, and other members. The Hon. H. Atmore, the Minister in charge of the Electoral Department, did not think some breaches as had Been mentioned nnd implied could occur,’ but lie would investigate the matter. In the lobbies and in the street stories of irregular voting are rampant. / THE SESSION, It was predicted at the beginning of the week that the present session of Parliament would close early next month and members might count con-,; fidently upon their long vacation extending beyond the customary eight months. A glance at the work in sight suggests that the Government intends to hold over the great bulk of its labours until next session, when, of course, it will be concerned rather with the approaching election than with the magnitude 1 of the work that has been delayed for a more convenient season. Among the measures of consequence that are assured of being given some attention during the present session is the Gaming Bill now in the custody of' Mr li. S. Williams, the member for Bay of Islands, who to the suavity of its previous custodian, adds a measure of persistence that may carry the cause of the racing clubs a . long way. Public opinion, however, has not been quickened towards the Bill, and it is not unlikely that it will be again delayed.