WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1931, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS

HISTORY ASTRAY. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, March 21. Speaking at the great meeting held in the Town Hull on Wednesday evening organised by the combined State Service organisations to protect against the proposed 10 pi*r cent, reduction in Civil servants salaries, Mr L. Mellvride, representing the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, declared it hat if the proposal were carried “the writing on the wall for the fall and extinction of the United Government would be at band.” By way of emphasizing bis confident prediction. Mr Mcllvride told the malcontents that the Atkinson Government hack in the eighties had introduced a ten per cent, salary cut and that as a consequence it never had been heard of again. Following loud laughter and hearty acclamation, Mr Mcllvride added that if the Forbes Government did not drop the proposed salary cut it would go ,the sauie* way as the Atkinson Government had gone. And so a venerable story ended amidst appropriate applause. But as a matter of fact it was not the Atkinson Government that conceived the 10 per cent, cut of 1881. It. was an independent member, Mr Alfred Saunders, who carried the Hall Government off its feet and paid for his triumph by seven or eight years exclusion from Parliament. The Atkinson Government made three subsequent appearsnces.

THE RAILWAYS. The Hon. AV. A. Veitch, the Minister of Railways one of the hardest worked members of the Cabinet, goes about his business with little fuss and no display. The general trade depression, he itold the House yesterday, had the effect of seriously reducing the traffic and consequently the revenue of the lines. Apart from the men engaged on special work, or as casuals on capital work, it was necessary (to reduce tlii* number in. the department. Economies were adopted in the locomotive branch and certain service conditions and privileges were withdrawn. One of these related to over-time. The effect of this economy was that men accustomed to draw overtime now drew only their ordinary week’s wages. I)iliiunities in regard to railway matters were not peculiar to New Zealand. They were universal. There would be substantial losses on many* lines for years to come, and on some for all lime. The more he looked into the accounts and the more he studied railway affairs, however, the more he realised “the absolute certainty that the railway would be much less costly in the near future.” Mr Veitch, happily, is an optimist; but even an optimist, if he wishes his dreams to come true, must see they have opportunity for development. Therein lies success. BUSINESS AND POLITICIANS.

Never before in tl»e history of New Zealand , has the presence of business men of wide knowledge' and broad view been more urgently needed in the Parliament of the country than it is at the present time. Yet the Hon. H. Atmore, the Minister of Education, and one of the most alert members of the Cabinet, stated in the House 01 Representatives this week that the “cry for more business men iri Parliament is about the most foolish id that could lie raised.” One cannot help thinking that the business men Mr At more has encountered dmi u his long political career have been strangely lacking in the qualities usually discovered in the captains of in dustrv who shape in a large measure the destinies of trade and commerce. Years ago the Dominion’s Parliament contained a much larger proportion () t capable business men than it does today, and the country was substantially better tor their presence. The “Evening Post” says, very truly, that t.hn present day Governments take little thought for the morrow so long rus funds are available for to-day. It wants to see a greater infusion ot business methods into politics. And that is the desire of the taxpayers.

A SPIRITED PROTEST. Mr C. A. Wilkinson, the Independent member for Egmont, who modestly described himself as a small factor in the commercial world, when resuming the debate on the Finance Bill yesterday turned pointed attention ifo Mr Atinore’s allusion to business men in Parliament. “The Minister of Education,” he said, “went out of hi" way to attack the business community, and he said business men were not wanted in Parliament if it were to function in the interests of the people. That seems to be a serious reflection upon the business community coining from a gentleman holding such a responsible' position as that of a Minister of the Crown.” Warming up to Ins subject, with point and emphasis, Mr Wilkinson reminded his victim that there were four business men in the Cabinet, and suggested that they at least were the equals of their colleagues. “If business men are not wanted in Parliament,” he emphasized significantly, “surely they are not wanted in Cabinet.” And the’ Minister, always tile most alert of speakers, was not ready with a retort. The member for Egmont had scored.