WELLINGTON TOPICS.
ASIATIC IILUIGRATIGX. PROTESTS AGAINST ADMISSION. ('Special Correspondent.) Wellington. Nov. 22. The cable published tliis morning to tile effect that lily Jiast Indians have arrived at Suva on their way to New Zealand will-.nut tend to allay the indignation ol',' u large body of workers nt the iidniisioii of immigrants of this class. Probably this party of Indians left the East before the new law in regard to immigrants came into force, and in that case they will be subject to the old conditions, which impose only a rudimentary education test. But resoldiers in various parts of the Dominion are raising their voices in loud protest against the introduction of what they call unfair competition with white workers, and are obtaining a pretty general hearing. The Minister of Labor, however, has pointed out that the legislation of last session provides ample protection against an influx of Asiatics, and that there is not the least the country being over-run by undesirables. COST OF LTVINC BONUS. An impression has got abroad that the j trc vermnent, lias been exercising some ■ pr-ssurc upon tiie Arbitration Court in ' connection with the review of the new '■ cost of living bonus, and irresponsible j people are talking about Ministerial interference with the administration of the law and so forth. There is of course, no justification for this" kind of criticism. When he indicated tentatively the amount, of Die bonus, Mr •Tnrtice Stringer made it quite clear that the Court would be prepared fo hoar argument on the subject at its next sitting, and this presumably is what it h going to do. .As many branches ot the public service will be aftected by the Court's final decision, it' devolves upon the Government to Place the facts plainly before the president and his colleagues. It is reported that the employers are going to elinlienge the Government Statistician's cost of living figures, and if this is the case the review will assume very particular interest. - y RAILWAY DEVIATION* The agitation against the proposed railway deviation at Palmerston North which would save some 17 or 18 miles in the journey between Wellington and \ S" d ' ™" ki "K ?ut. from! I*\m to Circatfovd. while reaching its l greatest fervour in the dUtr ct iLC ! dately concerned, is finding a very em- I Pa ,c echo here. H is Ul £ cd 0 „ "t the present route that Palmcrsion -North i„ the natural centre of a i d.* net served by the Main Trunk line and that the deviation, while »ig the journey between the two bi» centres to some extent, won!,], be onor" mously costly and would give no J . Ponding advantage in work!,,. the railhat the outcome of the agitaii,;,, viil I be a protracted delay in effe, !i„„, ti .e much needed improvements at Palmerston North and that f'„e Mi „istor nf Public Works will welcome the excuse the contending parties are providing for postponing a work which would make a big inroad upon the funds at his disposal ELECTORAL REFORM. Various attempts have be?,, made here lately to turn public attention to the need for electoral reform, but so far the seed of proportional representation distributed by a zealous little band of workers in Auckland has fallen on barren ground. The truth of the matter is that politically Wellington is the most apathetic centre in the Dominion. Probably it hears and sees too much of politics during the session to take any burning interest in public questions during the recess. That, ai anv rate, is the only explanation people who deplore its attitude can offer. In the case of proportional representation, however, there always is the additional diffioukv that the party in orlice is disposed ,o he well content with the system of election that has placed it there. Then it is obvious to everyone that during the life of the present Parliament there is little prospect of any change from the existing system, and this in itself is sufficient to extinguish any enthusiasm that might otherwise be raised in the capital city.
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Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1920, Page 3
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676WELLINGTON TOPICS. Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1920, Page 3
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