WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1931, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE DOMINION’S SYMPATHY. TOWARDS THE MOTHER COUNTRY. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, August 24. During tile last few days tne attention of tne “Capital City” has been turned rather towards the developments in the Mother Country than towards the happenings in this remote part of the Empire, ’ihe Prime Minister, in the midst of hi s ojyn accumulating dm.eu.ties, has expressed very happily the Dominion’s appreciation of the me patriotism of Mr Baldwin, tiie leader of a strong Opposition in the British House or Commons, in accept.ng office .under the leadership of Mr MacIDonald, the Labour Premier,' who probably is terminating a prominent career by placing the needs.of country before the opportunity of party. It remains to be seen what New Zealand politicans will do in view of this example of self-effacement by British statesmen. In the circumstances Mr Forbes cannot enlarge upon this a pect of the situation, but he ha s ventured to say that the readiness of these big men to sink their personal and party ambitions in the interests of the Empire has beeii an inspiration and an impetus to tile whole community.

road and rail. The Hon, W. A. Veit eh, having handed over the Dominion’s railways to a . non-political Board, in terms of the legislation of last year, finds his time and experience fully occupied with the demands of the Transport department, which seems to be even a more compiehensive institution than are the railways themselves. “While rail transpoit business during the year showed recessions in both the passenger and grods branches, as well as in total opei siting ie venue,” runs a paragraph in the Minister’s report, “qrganised motor transport showed substantial gams in the volume of goods business and total revenue, and a slight decline in the number of passengers handled. . • • The plain fact appears to be that organised road motor transport is rapidly gaining ground, while the rail and coastal shinpina facilities are scarcely holding their position.” The Minister’s review of the situation runs into many pages of m- ■ teresting matter —letter-press, diagrams, • and print—and conveys what cheer it may for the future ; but it does not suggest that the transport nium is at hand. SAVED TIME. Thanks to the good taste of the later speakers, and to the tact of the Pr n.e Minister, the debate upon the Fill! tic al Statement was.biffiught to it s ir.eyitable conclusion a little earlier than ivfts expected yestel’day. Mi* Forbes himself in closing the talking, which had run. into some sixty-six speeches of vary lug merit, expressed appreciation of tlw hearing they would maintain r'urirg the remainder of the session which promised to be of great national importance. There is a feeling abroad in many quarters that the work of the Economic Committee would he much expedited were Parliament adjourned for a fortnight or so, as was done during the forming of a National Ministry in an* early stage of tl;g Great War. The Labour Party, however, is opposed to this step and the Reform Party is no L •seeking a quarrel with Mr Holland and his colleagues just now. Perhaps latci on unanimity on this point may he reached. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. Mr C. H. Clinkard, member for Rotorua, in the present House of Representatives.’ brought with him at the opening of the current session a !>ill providing for the institution of “preferential voting” Vin the election of members of the lower branch of the Dominion’s Parliament. Notice of the oro- * duction of the Bill was given vary promptly but matters of more urgent consequences having engaged the attention of Ministers it hag not vet surmounted even the first hurdle tow aids the Statute Book. In the circumstances 3lr Clinkard might very reasonably suggest that in the event of other measure’s being held up by the business of the Economic Committee Ms Bill might be submitted to the waiting j members of the House, if only to keep them out of mischief. “Preferential voting” is not the soundest system of electing members of Parliament hut even a knowledge of. its defects would open the eves of all intelligent people to the need for reform. At any rate r the fact tint just one half of the present members of the House were elected bv minorities should set them tliink-