WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

NEW ZEALAND POLITICAL ASSOCIATION. URGES FUSION. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, December 22. The New Zealand Political Association, which claims to be wholly political and-mot- at all party—and in a considerable measure lives up to its. professions—continues to regard- fusion between the United Party and the Reform Patty as the one and, only panacea for the ills that beset-the Dominion. “In the interests of the country as a whole,” it proclaims, “the United and Reform Parties should abandon party differences and thereby conform with the generally expressed desire of the public.” This may or may not be the “generally expressed desire of. the public,” but the public should not be left with the impressions corn-eyed by the Association’s appeal that at the general election of 1928 the Reformers secured 37 per cent of the votes cast at the polls and the Uniteds only 30 per cent. As a matter of fact thirty-seven per cent of the votes were cast for Reform, thirtythree per pent for United and twentyseven per; cent, for Labour and three per cent Tor. Ifuicpeiutents. It- is- well to be precise; -about such matters. MINISTERS TRAVELLING; The “Ihhuinion” this morning takes the ,members of the. Cabinet severely to iff ask for "gadding about the country’.' when they ought to be sitting closely at their desks in Parliament; "Ministers nowadays-,", it says “spend more of their time-gadding about the country than thev devote : to their office- duties. In addition to their actual travelling expenses they draw allowances' while on tour and the total over the year, runs into a good round figure. A great part of this cost- to the country is wholly unnecessary. Many of the Ministerial trips are mere holiday jaunts for political purposes and would be indefensible at any time; but in these days of financial stress they call for the strongest possible censure. Comiplaintolias ■ been made often- ■ enough, fbdt.sb/;far wjfbout effect!'. .Complaints of this kind com© mainly from Wellington, where it is widely-held, that -Ministers, beads of. departments, the rank and file of the Civil Service and oven His Excellency the GovernoTGeneVal 1 should!-remain' - fast' in the Capital City. It is an idosyncrasy of the place.

U,THE RAILWAYS AND BUSES,!.; , .The railways, ’and? "$4 railway services are attracting a,' good \deal ;of attention just now from various spurges that are making their troubles-heard. Correspondents in the newspapers are reminding the leader of the Opposition that it Was largely due to the Reform Government's interference with private enterprise'.that placed Reform in the background at the last general election, Now the nial-cohtents are turning upon’; the Right Hon. G. W. ttorbes and his coleagues. "Why £oes not the Government,” a correspondent of the “Post” asks, "admit that it is not suitable to carry on the business? It is a well known fact that some of the bus owners offered £SOOO per 'year for the right to run ijhe buses. I have been assured that now £IO,OOO a year would be offered n the Government would call tenders. Would- its not be best for all if the Government allowed private enterprise, either by leasing the rights or selling the service by public competition?” Here is another menace from the public which cannot be safely ignored by the politicians. ECONOMY COMMITTEE. The Economy Committee set up by the Government lias not so far very greatly impressed the public. The peronnel of the Committee, which appears in this morning’s paper, does not include any striking financiers. Sir Apirana Nga.ta, the Hon. W. A. Veitch apd the Hop. R. Masters have courage enol^h! to pfpbe to the- bottom of probleiW"'as'u')hf'“ bo submitted to them; but they have not yet had exactly the experience required to cover the great Mid they have, to explore. The Secretary of the Treasury and the Public Service Cbmmisisoner no doubt have shares of figures they can submit' to their colleagues, but these are not all ;the material required. Had the Government seen its way to invite the Hon. W. Downie Stewart to accept a seat on the Committee he quite probaihly, judging from his recent utteronces, would have been ready to place his services at the disposal of the country in the present crisis. His presence would have been of the utmost value to the State and would have been welcomed by the whole community.