The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1930 THE “HEAVIES” IN ACTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 959, 30 April 1930, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1930 THE “ HEAVIES” IN ACTION

ALL the big men in State affairs seem to be coming to Parnell except the Government Printer, who probably could tell the best , story about administrative extravagance. Half a dozen Ministers of the Crown at least are expected to take part in the by-election campaign and their shock tactics will be countered by the heavy artillery fire of former Reform Administrators, the Leader of the Labour Party and leading staff officers, and also by that of sputtering machine-guns as represented by the rank and file of all the rival parties in the light. Together, they will save the main combatants a great deal of personal effort which in itself possibly is merciful. The appearance of these “heavies” in political action xvill synchronise with the opening of a night shelter in the City for unemployed and distressed men. Since the Rev. Jasper Calder, City Missioner, has taken an active interest in the Parnell byelection fight on behalf of his friend Mr. Donald, he might well impartially exercise his spirit of kindness and invite to the dosshouse for one night only all the contestants and their distinguished allies, so that they could acquire real experience of the cutting edge of the social distress which unfortunately does not touch politicians. It would do them good in many ways, and certainly should convince them that, while they are, mostly at the expense of the taxpayer, enjoying the glamour and fun of an election battle, hundreds of men are being forced through bad politics to depend entirely on the bread and comfort of charity. And it has to be observed that neither the candidates in the campaign nor their loquacious friends have said anything worth while about remedies for unemployment and acute social misery. Hie best that they have been able to do so far has been nothing better than the old cry that “my party has done more for the unemployed than your party ever did.” Arid so on like nonplussed schoolboys bereft of argument. Then it might prove to be a useful and enlightening service on the part of the contestants for a vacant seat in Parliament and visiting Ministers if they would agree to address the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association and explain to its disillusioned members the Government’s delay in making public and putting into effect the recommendations of the Soldiers’ Rehabilitation Commission which took evidence here last November. This subject was discussed at the association’s meeting yesterday, m hen plain speaking was the order of the occasion. It may not be true, of course, that the Government has lost interest in the matter, but both Colonel T. H. Dawson, who raised the question, and Major-General Sir George Richardson, who supported it were justified in severely criticising the United Ministry for its apparent lack of sympathy for the welfare of unemployed eXsoldiers in the Dominion. - ’ With the association the public will view with grave disfavour the fact that the Government has nken no steps so far to put into force the recommendations of the Commission.” No one Avishes to be cynical about it, but perhaps the reason for unconscionable delay is merely that the war happened a long time ago. The flame of patriotism burns brightest when there is terrifying need of an ardent glow, and politicians are apt to forget past service and sacrifice. Still, too many returned soldiers are in need of generous aid, and no Government has the shadow, far less the substance, of an excuse tor neglecting them. So far the outstanding weakness of the Parnell bv-election test lias been the marked inability of the candidates generally and all the supporting speakers without exception to state plainly Mliat they and their parties intend to do this coming session of Parliament for the promotion and expansion of industry and the elimination of serious unemployment and poverty. There is no sense in traversing beaten party ground. If the best work of all the parties in the recent past were to be demonstrated in the clearest possible light it would appear as something not worth the pile of money that was paid and taken for it. With the rest of ttie disgusted country, the Parnell electorate wants to know precisely what the policy of the Government is going to be in respect of taxation and national finance. It is the duty of Ministers to enlighten the Parnell electors.

TRAMS TO NEW STATION

PROM the discussion of the question at the Auckland Transport l Board’s meeting yesterday, it was clearly to be inferred that a charge of twopence for the 52-chain section from the new railway station to Queen Street is contemplated. The general manager explains today, however, that the charge has not yet been definitely determined. At the present stage the board is merely making formal application for an Order-in-Couneil, axing maximum rates from which the board may recede, though it may not increase them. Though the board is applying for formal authority to charge twopence, it may not do so at all. But since a charge of twopence for a 52-eliain section is clearly unwarranted, it would have been a good deal more comforting to see the board take its courage in both hands and decide at once that the fare should be a penny. By its decision on this question, the board is going to do a great deal to make or mar the success of the new stat ion. Citizens looking at the new building as it has arisen in stately isolation three-quarters of a mile from the centre of business may, as it is, be forgiven for wondering whatever prompted the" Railway Department to erect its terminus at such a spot, particularly when a rearrangement of the plans would have permitted the erection of the station on the infintelv more convenient site now occupied by the goods sheds in Breakwater Road. Should a charge of twopence be levied on the hundreds who enter and leave Auckland by train every day, the popularity of the new station will be jeopardised from the oustet, and workers who can ill afford it will be faced with additional expense in getting to and from work.

Though the basis of comparison is not strictly a fair one, users of the new service wilf compare their 52 chains for twopence with the penny section of one mile nine chains in Victoria Avenue. It is not generally understood that, as the Victoria Avenue trams do not run to the foot of Queen Street, but onlv to the Wellesley Street intersection, the penny section on that particular route represents a special concession to minimise the cost of transferring from one car to another. Yet after all there are many other directions in which such a favour might be bestowed. Queen Street from Wellesley Street down should be made a “floating zone” for all routes, and not only for the railway station service, as Mr. Baildon suggested yesterday.