WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 305, 26 December 1930, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAYS.

PROVINCES NOT IN HARMONY. PROPOSED WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED. (From Our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Nelson and Blenheim, according to the reports that come across Cook Strait, are not in harmony concerning the continued extension of the. South Island Main Trunk railway. Nelson is threatening to do all sorts of things that would be disagreeable to the Government if it does not push on with the West Coast lines, which, by some means of grace and association, have attached themselves to the Main Trunk. Marlborough, on the other hand, sees no particular reason why the West Coast should not wait awhile for its roundabout connection with the East Coast.

Wellington, for the most part, it would appear from the tone of its newspapers, takes little interest in the development of either coast of the South Island, and places its faith uppn the steamer services. The ultimate outcome of it all, probably, will be the indefinite postponement of the West Coast construction and but tardy progress with the East Coast line.

Managerial Difficulties. At the annual pre-Christmas jubilation of the railways head office staff, Mr. H. H. Sterling, the general manager, touched lightly upon the difficulties he and his staff had encountered during the closing year. "It is some year we have come through," he said, "a year carrying more strain than any other the Department has known. ... I knew that you would not let me down, and you have justified my confidence. I hope that 1931 will not be another such hard year, but, if it be, I know that you will face it and respond 'to the call."

Just now the future management of the railways is a subject of wide discussion, and Mr; Sterling is fortunate- in having a staff that can be trusted to stand by him. That his troubles are not yet over is plain enough, and they are not likely to be finally overcome until Parliament has had its say.

Harvesting Cocksfoot. A suggestion that the members of the great army of unemployed might obtain substantial relief from their sore straits by gathering the neglected cocksfoot harvest does not.appear to have aroused any enthusiasm either among the unemployed or among their genuine sympathisers. This is due to the fact that the great majority of city people know Uttle about cocksfoot itself and nothing at all about its gathering. Interested people, however, are writing to the papers about the matter, and it will be the fault of the Unemployment Board if this opportunity is not turned to account. The seed harvest has been much delayed by the wet weather of the spring—about Wellington, at any rate— and two or three weeks must elapse •before the scattered crops are ready for the sickle. Presumably the Unemployment Board would be ready to assist the harvesters, and the public certainly would approve of the undertaking.

Mr. IL J. Wagliorn, writing to the' "Evening Post" with practical knowledge'of cocksfoot growing and gathering, warmly supports the suggestion. "Over the length arid breadth of New Zealand," he says, "along roads and railways, around patches of bush, over countless lightly-stocked paddocks and runs, in closed sections, among shelter belts, in parks and reserves, and in almost every ungrazed corner, in the city as well as in the country, will be found a promising growth of cocksfoot. In and about this city alone are. numerous patches of cocksfoot that would well repay thq harvester for his labour."