NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1926, Page 11

NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL

DRIFT OF THE AWARUA “AN ERROR OF JUDGMENT.” RESENTMENT OF THE PUBLIC. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Nov. 12. The indignation of Wellington’s public in general and its seafaring people in particular at the "error of judgment” of the captain of the mail steamer Makura in neglecting to go to the assistance of the Awarua when the little craft called to him for help is by no means assuaged by the imposition of a fine of £lO upon the offending master. The evidence given before the court on Monday showed beyond all possible doubt that the Awarua’s signal for succour was received by the liner and reported to the captain. The only question in doubt — and, after all, it was not very material—was whether or not the rocket distress signals which followed closely upon the morse call were seen from the Makura. The cry for help had been acknowledged before that, and the captain had sought only to ascertain the name of the suppliant. This was not in keeping with the traditions of the sea, and both the public and the seafaring people protest that a £lO fine was not a sufficiently impressive reminder of the fact. The Arawua, abandoned by the efficient hdp within her call, passed through many critical adventures before she was picked up by the searching warship, and there were troubled hearts ashore. WELLINGTON’S WINTER SHOW. The New Zealand Times, with its warm, confident heart, welcomes the pibspect of the Wellington Winter Show being “stabilised” on one of the city reserves. "The project offers many benefits,” it declares. "These are the benefit of a full exhibition of the city’s fine manufacturing power, the promotion of a good understanding between town and country, the securing of a splendid playground, a fine meeting place and a perpetual encouragement of civic spirit. Best of all, the financial basis is good. It has no connection with mere aspiration. “The Winter Show is a thing of substantial profits, proved under difficulties once apparently insurmountable. That profit must increase largely in a building properly planned for purposes of the show that has taken on. The said profit is the guarantee offered. The guarantee is considered by the promoters good enough to validate an offer of paying eight per cent, on the necessary debentures. . . The scheme of the Winter Show is worthy of a good city and a self-reliant people.” The meaning of this somewhat incoherent outburst seems to be that Wellington is to have an annual winter show at the cost of a municipal reserve and an issue of debentures of more or less indefinite value. The executive of the Manawatu Show has cause to be alarmed by the city’s dream of greatness. THE MAYORALTY. The handful of Wellington-ians, apart from Labour, who take more than a languid interest in municipal affairs again are wrangling over the choice of a candidate for the mayoralty who will be sure to hold the chair against the assaults of the “Socialists” and “Communists.” Mr. Norwood, who has held the chair for safety during the last two years, is ready to devote himself to the interests of the city for another term, but he has not made such a splash as chief magistrate that the municipal electors are regarding his presence at the head of the council table as absolutely indispensable.

Then there is Mr. George Mitchell, who for one term served Wellington South creditably in the House of Representatives, and now announces his intention to contest the mayoralty if Mr. Norwood does not seek re-election. Finally on the antiLabour side there is Councillor Troup, who regards the right of succession as his, and will not be put aside lightly either by Mr. Norwood or Mr. Mitchell. Meanwhile Labour is looking on complacently, but not indifferently, and later on probably will come into the field with a candidate that will have a great chance of success if the opposition vote is divided. Big city men are no longer seeking distinction in this direction, and the material remaining is not impressive. SAVING THE PENCE. » The Hon. W. Downie Stewart has not allowed the additional duties imposed upon him as Acting Prime Minister to divert any of his attention from those associated with his own office as Minister of Finance. It was to Mr. Stewart that Mr. Massey turned for advice and assistance four or five years ago when he had pledged himself to substantially reduce the inflated post war expenditure of that time., . The Reform leader made no secret of tlie invaluable services rendered to the country, and incidentally to himself, by his young colleague. Now Mr. Stewart has to deal with a somewhat similar state of affairs himself without any ready and equipped helper at hand. During last financial year the gross public debt of the Dominion was increased by over twelve millions. This year the increase must reach at least ten millions, and may considerably exceed that amount. This means, in effect, that the Dominion has been spending all its ready cash and borrowing to pay the interest on its public debt. A country that persisted in that sort of thing speedily would find itself well on the road to insolvency. Mr. Stewart has had charge of the Treasury only for a few months, but he has summed up the position, and the exercise of economy of the very strictest character is going to be lhe result.