WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3479, 6 May 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PRINCE’S VISIT.

THE CAPITAL EN FISTE.

(Special Cox;-espondent.)

WELLINGTON, May‘ 5.

Wellington‘ has decked itself with much hunting and greenery for the reception of the Prince of Wales, and at ‘the moment the weather is gloriously fine. A disagreeable Government meteorologist has predicted strong soiitherlgr’ winds and cold, changealble, showery Weather, but a loyal public is refusing to credit him and is dressing itself in its best. The Royal guest will arrive by train at Lambton Station at 7.30 this evening, having travelled from Napier by way 0-f the Wairarapa, rejoicing the hearts of the country folk en route, and will proceed to Government «House, through the decorated and crowded streets, for the first night’s rest he has been permitted to enjoy since leaving Auckland. After that, the deluge of entertainment. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Colonel Mitchell, the much alive new member for Wellington South, has not contented himself with merely condemning the dilatory methods being employed in the development of the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme. He has obtained a report from a well-known firm of electrical engineers. endorsing his’ statement that Mangahao will no-t provide sufficient power for the city and his suggestion that a. standby and supplementary power should be obtained from the Hutt river. This scheme could be completed in three yearsat a comparatively small cost and while ensuring a constant and reliable supply of electricity would make the erection of additional steam._powe_r in Wellington unnecessary. With the authority of the engineers behind it the scheme is bound -to receive ofl“1cial attention. A THE COST OF LIVING. '

Speaking to a deputation from the Post and Telegi"§if')"h Department,‘ which approached him yesterday witha request for an -increase in pay, Mr] Massey said no power on earth could i have kept the "cost of living down after such a war as the world had‘-I experienced. But in this respect New Zealand had -done ’better than any! other country, ‘Australia alone having figures that were comparable withl those of the Dominion. He instancedwi sugar as a commodity.in which -New} Zealand had stood pre-eminent during‘ the course of the war—onlitting to mention, by the way, the factor of duty——-and predicted that though any increase in price was inevitable Newt Zealanders would continue" to'havel the cheapest sugar in the world.

MORE TAXATION. Pressing -his. point, Mr Massey appealed through the deputation to the whole community to do its duty. “We cannot go on as we are doing without arranging for additional revenue from the revenue-producing ;Departments of the State, 2' he said} ‘_‘l am -satisfied of that, though I had’ thought it might be avoided. It is only right we should do anything we can to pay you salaries in keeping with the increase in the cost of living. I lay that down as a principle on which we have stood up to the present, but I am afraid we shall have to arrange for more revenue from the Post Department and from any other revenue-.pl-oducing Department.” Tn plain Words this means more it:-nzation and an inevitable increase in ‘she cost of ;living. This is the prospect with‘ iwhich the country is faced to-day.