WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, 27 March 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

• o SAMOA.

THE DOMINION'S PART

Special

WELLINGTW, March 2(5

Mr Massey's expression of surprise, and indignation at the "Tost'- hav-'J& ing accused him of basing New Zealand's claim to German Samoa upon a "parochial aijd anti-Imperial absurdity" has brought the inevitable retort from the local evening journal. The editor flings bark at the Prime Minister a cablegram of January la*»t in which he was represented as declaring that "New Zealand would never give up to Gqrmany . . an island won by New Zealand's efforts." This is scarcely fair. Mr Massey has stated that he mentioned the loccupation of the island by Dominion troops merely incidentally atfd without any idea of urging it as a claim upon the Imperial authorities, and his word,, ought to be accepted. The incident, however, may serve as a warning to other public men who are to talk at large when distributing the credit for winning the war. THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK. The summary published in this morning's papers of the remarks concerning the political outlook by the Hon. G. W. Russell in Christchurch yesterday has set many tongues wagging on the subject. Usually well informed people predict that a general election will follow quickly, upon the n i return of the party leaders to the Do- f minion, probably within a couple of

months of their landing in Wellington, and that the familiar bones of contention will be revived in much their old form. It would seem that members of both parties have received hints to make rea;dy for an early contest, and though no party organisation can be undertaken by Ministers themselves without offending against the spirit of the ''truce," it is known that many of their supporters are getting their forces together. Possibly an authoritative statement on the subject will be made within the next few weeks. COST OF LIVING.

The wage-earners here, are taking heart of grace from the appearance *o£ the Government Statistician before the Arbitration Court. But for the very excellent work done by Mr Malcolm

Frascv those in authority never would have fully realised how hardly the in-

crease in the cost of living is pressing upon the average working man. Mr Fraser has put the case in plain ures for evcrvonc to read, and the

politicians- no longer can pretend to be ignorant of the facts. That they have faildd to apply any far-reaching remedy is a reproach of which they will hear much during the general election. In Wellington, in particular, exploitation and profiteering have

been rampant from the very beginning of the war. and the workers, at any ,rate, will be more ready to excuse the silence of private members than the inaction of Ministers. WELLINGTON'S BURDEN.

Kent is the principal factor in making Wellington the most costly place of residence in New Zealand. This item set" expenditure in the capital city is represented by the figure 1300. Cn VuckTanH <:ho

ugurc is

999, in Christchurch 943. and in Duncdin SB9. This means, roughly, thai" rent is 40 per cent, higluy in Wellington than the average in the other three cities. But not content with

this, Wellington seeks further preeminence. During the war its groceries have advanced from the index 1033 to 1673, 61.96 pe>- cent., while

Auckland's have advanced from 1001

to 1502, only 50.05 per cent. Groceries, which of course cover a wide range of foods, are substantially higher here than they are in Christchurch, anld yet Wellington claims, rightly, to bo the great distributing pOft for all imported goods included in this group.

In dairy produce again it is at the head of the list, 100 points above Christchurch, and only in the single item of meat compares fa.vourably with the other centres.