NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1070, 16 July 1912, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

In conversation with a press representative on Saturday, the Premier said that both sides In the House had passed through a strenuous time, but he must say that speaking generally members of the former Ministerial party behaved very well. Specially must he mention the Hons. T. Mackenzie and A. Myers, who took their defeat like men. Mr Massey, asked if he thought there was a probability of dissolution, said such a contingency was very remote. Indeed, he replied, with a smile, “I am confident we have a working majority, and that we will be able to carry on without the least difficulty. I would like to take this opportunity,” Mr Massey added, “of thanking the people of the Dominion—l am speaking generally, and not from ■a party point of view—for the approval that has been expressed with regard to the change that has just taken place. There has scarcely been a word of adverse criticism regarding the constitution or personnel of the new Government, and I have noticed with a great deal of pleasure that even newspapers which supported the late Government, and along with other newspapers, they may be regarded as the mouthpieces of public opinion, are very strongly in favour of giving us an opportunity of putting forward our policy and afterwards giving effect to it, I feel confident that the time is not far distant when the people ot New Zealand will acknowledge what I have long contended, that the Reform party and the present Ministry are a set of patriotic and progressive men, who are actuated by unselfish motives, and that they are men who will give their very best to the grand little country whose public affairs they have been called upon to administrate.”

At a Borough Council meeting, held some time since, an endeavour was made on the part ot a Councillor to open a municipal coal yard. The idea was not approved by the Council ior various reasons submitted at the meeting. It may be interesting to Councillors to learn that the Woodville Borough Council has a coal yard in connection with the gas works, and, according to the manager, Mr W. McCormack, it is a profitable concern. Mr McCormack informed our representative on Saturday that the Council set aside in the first instance three days a week for coal customers, but the business has grown to such proportions that the Council now have the coal yard open every day. He said the coal came by rail from Wellington and was either delivered from the station yard or the gas works—situated nearby. He and an assistant manage the gasworks and coal yard. All orders were received and payments made to the Town Clerk. The cartage fee was 2s 6d per ton. He informed our representative that the gasworks were revenue producing and stated in this connection that the railway department was the biggest consumer. Mr McCormack, we may mention, was at one time connected with the local works.

Thk Levin Chamber of Commerce are to be commended for their endeavours to keep the pot boiling in respect to linking up the Main Trunk line between Levin and Marton, or Greatford via Foxton. Last mouth it forwarded a letter to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on the subject, and has received the following reply: “Your letters of the 27th aud 29th ultimo were discussed at a meeting of my Chamber held on Tuesday. I was instructed to say that my Chamber does not think that the present is an opportune time lor asking the Government to spend the sura of ,£250,000 011 the construction of the ptoposed railway line between Levin aud Greatford, via Foxton. 1 was directed to say that, while my council regrets it cannot on this occasion support the present suggestion of your Chamber, it still hopes to be able to co-operate with you in other directions.’ Since the above letter was written there has been a change of Government, aud it behoves all local bodies interested to get in early and to hammer away until this work, which is ot national importance, is sanctioned. We

hope the Levin Chamber of Commerce will not be left to play a lone hand, and would suggest that a conference representative of all local bodies interested, be convened to again discuss a plan of campaign.