THE WEEK, THE WORLD, AND WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9141, 17 July 1908, Page 7

THE WEEK, THE WORLD, AND WELLINGTON.

(By Frank Morton.)

The Capital Fakce.—Some Gkaver 'CoNaiDHBATioNS. —The Counter's Debt. —MISMANAGING THE TIIAMS. A week of beastly weather, clear- * ing up on Saturday, and blossoming :into a perfect Sunday. On the whole, we have no reason to complain ■of the weather this season. It has been -what you call (in Wellington) a line winter. There has been a little cold, and comparatively few wet v days. Dunedin has a better climate ;at any time, and Chriatchurch an incomparably better, and a travelled man told me the other day that Nelson (where the jam comes from) has *a climate only second to that of San Francisco. Wellington, at any rate, is far better than second worst; so "that we've still got something to be thankful for. I am moved to recur to this matter of climate by the fact that Parliament has again been per- _ discussing the desirableness* of moving the seat of Government to a better site. Mr Tom Ma:.kenzis somlemnly suggested Waikou•ati, and so rather spoiled the debate by introducing the element of farce. Waikouati is near Waitati, and Waitati is the place to which the cob- ' webs of Dunedin repair occasionally opileasant Saturday afternoons to sihr their secret sins and get stimulus for tiie next wet/k's fly-cacching. For the site of a capital of this Dominion,, Waikouafi is about as suitable as the Ktrguelens or Invercargill might ba. Personally, if there were any idea of removing the seat of Govern - me it, it 3eems to me that the weight of evidence would lead one to favour either Port Underwood, Nelson, or Ptdmerston North. Wellington is probably the natural commercial centre of New Zealand; but it was never suited for a seat of Government. We ■have to build new Government offices soon, and a new Parliament House has to be built almost at once. It would corft no more to build them on another site than it would be to build them in Wellington. The value of the land to be used in Wellington would more than suffice to build them anywhere Unhappily, this matter seems to be quite outside the pale of the diverting labyrinth that is astonishing paradox called practical politics. Otherwise, I should Jive in joyful hope. I should greatly rejoice to see a capitul at Palmeraton .North, for instance. The altitude is good, and all the outlook spacious. The air is invigorating and clean. You've had the Budget ad nauseam by this time, one' way and another; and I am not going to bore you *' about it now. There is no doubt—l never suggested that there could be any doubt—that New Zealand is j>ros- ' "parous just now as concerns its present mcorr.e and its immediate nteds. But anv man with nerve and sufficient ilack of scruple can pledge hi* credit and heap up embarrassments for hia future, in order that he may live like a prince for « week. 1 have simply contended, and I do moat seriously contend, that New Zealand's public debt it an ominous menace to the future of this country. If we are always as prosperous as we seem to be now, the debt may be wiped out in time without any grave hardship to anyb'jiY. But if the tide turns, if prosperity gives way to slump, that debt may speedily become an abominable incubus. It grows from year to year. Year after year, Minsiters •of the Crown, ignoring their twelve months' borrowings, talk glibly . about their surpluses. How shall it profit a man, i! he dishonestly Eaves .£SO from his income and adds £IOO to his accumulated debts? Permanent happiness and security were, never yet found in any foolish paradise. It must be obvious to any.man who takes time to think that New Zea- . land, prosperous as it may be in this July of 1908, has a terrible burden of debt to complicate the problems of the future. If you should hear of any city, ' town, village, or mining camp that I has anv idea of laying down a tram- j way system 7, send the responsible | pioneers to Wellington. There may .be seen a fairly convenient system that'is the worst managed in the '*world. The citizens of Wellington put up a record for meekness and resignation The trams are a disgrace. No provision is made to meet the public convenience during hours •of pressure, and the crowding that results ia as dangerous as it is disgraceful. On wet days the nuisance becomes abominably acute. I have seen delicate women waiting on a > '■ damp street corner for an hour, unable to get footing on a tram. Jn the trams, the discomfort is scandalous. If any proper provision were made for short-distance passengers on thej city sections, a vast imm of conditions'could at once result. There is a reasonably well managed system at Christchurch, and ■•a vAvwell managed system at Dune■dinn>ut the system at Wellington is ■■a farce of mismanagement.