NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1916, Page 6

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

"CROWDED AREAS.'

(From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, April 2li. Wellington possesses slums, which the city fathers are wont to describe euphemistically as "crowded areas." The extent of the crowding tfliat has been permitted is illustrated by the fact that the City Council is talking now of adopting a 'by-law limited the number of houses on an acre of ground to fourteen! In other words, a residence may be placed on a section measuring 75 feet by 40 feet, and these pocket-handker-chief sections may be multiplied over large, areas of the city. Wellington Claims to be progressive in some directions, but it is in sad need of reform in others. It requires in particular a council courageous enough to deal firmly with unscrupulous landlords, such as the men who own and let wretched hovels in the unsavory quarters of the city, and who set about the creation of con- j gested areas in the newer subuvbs, where there is no lack of ground for j building punposei. ', EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARY UNION. 1

The members of the New Zealand branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association are meeting in Wellington today to select four members of the New Zealand Parliament to attend the proposed conference in London. The Association is an unofficial body which probably docs not exercise a great deal of influence on affairs of State. It has nothing at all to do with the Imperial Conference. Apparently there will be no difficulty in finding members who are willing to make the trip to London during the next few months. Several of _ the politicians, Mr. Wilford and Mr. Witty among them, have indicated that they feel it their duty to remain in New Zealand at the present juncture, but they are in the minority. Perhaps it would be ungenerous to suggest that any members Would be glad to be absent during the consideration of the Compulsory Service Hill and the other difficult measures of the session.

THE IRISH DISORDERS, The reports of disorder in Ireland confirm, certain rumors that have reached Wellington lately concerning the attitude of a section of the Irish people Irish soldiers have fought like heroes on every battlefield during the present war, and Irish regiments have earned for themselves fresh glory. But recruiting has flagged in some districts of Ireland, and th«re has been evidence that the memories of ancient wrongs are not dead yet. The economic stress caused by the war appears to have been particularly severe in Ireland; and there was keen disappointment over the delay in the passing of the Home Rule Bill owing to the outbreak of war. The ipossible connection between the disorders in Dublin and the attempt of Nthe Germans to land arms and ammunition on Irish soil is a subject on which it would be interesting to speculate.

THE BOARD OP TRADE. During their recent visit to Canterbury and the West Coast the members of the Board of Trade made extensive enquiries regarding the prices of wheat, flour and bread. They hav e since presented an interim report to the Prime Minister, who is President of the Board, on these subjects, but the report will not be made public until the members have visited the northern districts and made further investigations. The report, it is understood, contains some suggestions for preventing undue increases in the prices of flour and bread. During a visit to Kelson the members of the J3oard were asked bv the fruitgrowers to give some attention to the problem of improving the facilities for the distribution and snie of fruit within Xew Zealand and establishing closer relations between growers and consumers. This line of enquiry appears to offer an opportunity for effecting a decrease in the price of fruit to the general public, and the Board is paying another visit to Nelson for the purpose of pursuing enquiries on the subject. The war has aflected the export markets most prejudicially as far as the fruit-growers are concerned, and an improved local outlet for fruit is urgently needed.