WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

REFORM MEETING PLACE.

AN INNOVATION

(Special- Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, - November 14

The opening of . the Reform Club in the very commercial heart of the city yesterday was quite an impressive proceeding. Mr H. F. Johnston, -K.C., the most promising platform recruit-Re-form has gathered to its fold for many a long day] occupied the chair, • and played the part of host, while the Right Hon. J. G. Coates did mpst of the talking in his very happiest vein. The Club, it seems, is to be the headquarters of Reform, social intercourse 'min- • gled with politics and party propaganda. Mr Co&tes, in his ' cheery 'way, took the opportunity, to tell his friends that he was convinced ■ Reform at the present titne was more united, more compact, More confident, more loyal nnd mor# determined than it ever had been before. It had reaped the benefits of adversity and would go to the polls next year knowing who were its friends. : . RAILWAY CONTROL. The "Dominion” this morning grows angry over the neglect of the Hon. W. A. Veitoh tp hißid the railways forthwith over to non-political control. "Fresh from pledging himself nne\y to the system of political control of the railways", it almost shouted, "M 1 Veitch attended on Wednesday evening a lecture by Professor Murphy /who marshalled argument after argument showing, why the railways would be much better if divorced' from politics. It may be that the Minister had been preparing against the Professor's logic by a sort of ; Coueism, repeating to himself that every ■ day and in every way the are , getting better and better under Ministerial; control;. By, that, of' course, Mr Yeitch means his own control.” In the circumstances, ;one would think, it was a courteous proceedings on the part of the Minister to attend the professor’s lecture; but his critio seems to imply that he was in attendance merely to support his [own views of railway management, ■'V A BIG PROBLEM. V As a matter of fact neither the Government nor Mr Veitoh stands pledged to, political control ' of the railways. The problem is too big to be solved in a half-hour chat, and Mr Veitoh has had it before him only a little longer. The political control of the railways—Government, control, that is, iin place of official control—was instituted away hack in the ea'rly nineties of last century, and for many years it seemed to give satisfactory results'. Sir Joseph Ward, when Minister pf Railways, made the lines pay as they never had paid under official control; but he was not hampered by the number of unpaylng branch lines and uncompleted trunk lines which now burden

the country. These are the problems ■which await solution and no doubt Mr Veitch and his colleagues would be glad enough to be relieved of their responsibility at the earliest possible opportunity. UNEMPLOYMENT. The Hon. S. G. Smith, the Minister of Labour, reported yesterday that last week there was an increase of 352 compared with the previous week in the number of unemployed in the country. The increase is not actually alarming, since the weather was not suitable for outdoor work; but it is stated from the agricultural districts that many additional men could be employed if they were prepared to accept conditions which are satisfactory enough to the employers. Unfortunately many of the men are utterly unacquainted with farming operations and would require a week or two to acquire enough knowledge to be worth their earnings. in the city is scarce—or rather the number of men out of work is in excess of the number required—but in the far suburbs and the industrial areas labour is not overflowing. A few miles further out jobs may be waiting for weeks. Perhaps organisation is required. »