WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS

PARTY FUSION. REFORM RENUNCATION. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, December 11. “Speaking at Hastings yesterday to a large gathering of women the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, supported by Mr J. A. Nash, the member for Palmersto n North, and Mr H. M. Campbell, the member for Hawkes Bay, returned to the recital of many reasons why the Reform Party should not “fuse” with either of the other parties in the present Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition attacked the question rather as if fusion had been urged upon him by the present occupants of the treasury Benches and as if he were anxious to let the world at large know he had no intention of doing anything of the kind. As a matter of fact he did, after the unexpected debacle of the Reform Party two years ago, offer very frankly to assist Sir Joseph Ward in keeping the affairs of the country in or. der; hut no one has .suggested that so chivalrous a proceeding committed him and his party to the renunciation of their independence. ‘‘WIDE DIFFERENCES:”

There appears to be a general disposition on the part of the Reform members of the House of Representatives just now to scatter abroad a notion that the members of the United Party are hoping to strengthen their position by any sort of alliance, Reform or Labour. Of course a similar .story might be told of either of the other parties, with more or less truth; hut the United Party at any rate, does not appear greatly perturbed by the prospects ot the future. Meanwhile Mr David Tones, the member for ; mid-Canterbury iddressing a. meeting of his constituents at Methven while his chief - was speaking- at • Napier, struck a note which suggested real alarm. “The first thing needed in connection with salvation,”'he -said, “is repentance. There must be repentance on the part of the United Party and the forsaking of- its spending and borrowing policy before we can discuss fusion.”, Here is extravagance which suggests that at least one good Reformer is alarmed for the future. CARRIERS AND RAILWAYS. A deputation representing the Wellington master carriers waited the Hon. W. Veitch, the Minister r..f Railways, yesterday with a complaint that they were being harshly treated by the Railway Department and practically threatened with expulsion from heir business. The Department it seem ad, had actually attacked the small man in the business a lid now was preparing to deal with the big ones. The big men had bteil asked to fall in with the needs 6f tilt) Department and they felt it ivas tilnfe fo tall ft Halt in this respect. In the past the Department had helped the carriers, hut now it was aiding the merchants, In reply Mr Veitch stated that the successful competition with the railways being carried out by private enterprise between Wellington and Palmerston North has led to the, new system.. The Departmenthad been compelled to reduce the prices to hold its on. The Minister admitted that the carrier had “played the game” with tlie Department throughout and personally he was a believer in cO-ordination as a solution of the problem. , FARMERS’ ENEMIES. 1 -Mr L.'o. H, Tripp ,th'e president of tlfo 'Wellington Acciiimrtikatioii .Society who for many years past,,has been looking after the interests : of farmers, as well as/after the interests of sportsmen is appealing to the authorities to remove sfoftjts, I weasels and ferrets, from the list of pests still enjoying the protection of the law of the country. The secretary of the Farmers’ Union has informed him that the branches of his organisation in ‘favour of the removal of the protection are Wanganui, Pelorus, North Canterbury, Mid-Canter-bury. and Marlborough, and that those opposing the removal are Wellington, Central Southland and Oamaru. The Otago branch has not yet made up its mind about the matter, but the general opinion is that it will fall in with the determination of Central Southland where the canny Scotchmen take no unnecessary risks. Mr Tripp has suggested to the Minister of Agriculture that each individual district should be allowed to settle the matter for itself; but there are obvious objections to such an arrangement, and it seems probable the pests will be with us for some time longer,