POOR OLD WELLINGTON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 972, 12 November 1910, Page 10

POOR OLD WELLINGTON.

Sir, —A few weeks ago tho Mayor of, this unfortnnato city, ivhen speaking in Parliament, in his capacity as the representative of one of waterside electorates and an ex-chairman of the Harbour Board as well as Mayor of the city, said that it did not mattor to him, nor did ho care, if the Auoklaud peoplo got tlie Vancouver mail service for their port. Now, this particular mail service belongs to Wellington just as much as the Han Francisco service belongs to Auckland, as this was tlie regular port of call for theso big steamers until Mr.. Seddon, a few years a.gOj allowed tho people of Brisbane to divert tlie service to their city. What ihe loss of tins sorvico amounts to .may lie realised.by stating that the head of the "Union Steam Ship Company said at a luncheon

in Sydney many years ago, that his company wus then spending £200,000 per year in i-hat city as a port of call for their steamers (of courso this did not include the large sums spent by passengers who visited the port in these steamers). Again Auckland (and all honour to it) .lias by the work and energy of her public men, secured tho distinction and profit of being selected as tho base for tho Imperial Jfavy of Great Britain in tho so waters. The profit may be estimated from tho figures given in a speech a few days ago by the ex-Pre-mier of New South Wales, Mr: Wado. Ho said that tlie British Government was spending £300,000 per year and the removal would mean .the loss of that amount to Sydney. What I want to know and X 'hope every ratepayer and citizen in the region around aUout will want to know Where does Wellington come in? .For all useful purposes we have the best harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, yet I do not believe that one public man lias lifted so much as his little finger on Wellington's behalf. I -suppose the most important and costly Bill passed by this Parliament is the Water Power Act, yet when this Bill was going through the Upper House one of the Wellington members said .'that, the Government was quite welcome to - begin these costly operations in Christ-church, and Wellington could come in afterwards. I understand that the Wellington city district and province are the heaviest contributors to" the revenues of this Dominion, .vet her member says from his seat in ]?arliainent that wo can wait till other cities and towns are served and then take what is left. _ Sir, there are sevoral other cases of this kind that I would like to draw your attention to, but space forbids.—l am, etc., SLEEPY WELLINGTON. November 9.