NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The Reform party would seem to have secured a much stronger candidate for the Suburbs seat than some people anticipated. Mit. Bell's ability to fight a vigorous battle in his own behalf was never doubted, but judging by his .opening specch at Ivarori last evening he is going to do something more than contest the Suburbs seat. He is going to add appreciably to the fighting strength of the party in the general campaign by the clear, and in some cases original, manner in which he presents the case for Reform. One of the most gratifying features in the election contests now under way is the keen interest which the younger generation of New Zealanders are taking in political matters. On both sides young men arc coming forward and offering _thcir_ services, and there is hope in this of better things. Mr. Bell is evidently well versed in the political questions of the moment and is refreshingly outspoken. Where there is so much balancing and trimming it is a pleasure to find a candidate frankly declaring his convictions on one side or the other. The Reform candidate for the Suburbs scat should set his opponents a merry pace.

Last night's Gazette contains the figures of the working of the railways for the four weeks ended September 16—completing the first 2-1 weeks of the railways year. For the four weeks the net result is much the same as for the corresponding period last year, tho improvement being slight. The figures for tho two systems (North and South) arc: — Net Net revenue revenue per milo i weeks. of line. £ .£ s. d. North 38,146 .12 11 G South 33,072 20 7 9 For the 24 weeks the results were as shown in this tabic: — 1910-11. 1900-10. je J: North 278,531 238,110 South 272,028 233,265 That is to say, at the point at which the North had last year just made up its winter leeway as the beginning of its overwhelming demonstration of its superiority to the South as a railway field, we find tho Northern system already clearly in the lead. It is already obvious that the current financial year will end with the users of the 1171-mile system in the [North Island contributing, over and

above expenses and interest, a greater sum than ever to make up the real deficit on the Southern lines. Under skilled management no doubt the South Island lines could be made to pay; but Mr. Millar has not yet got the man he wants in the Head Cilice. While the railways arc a political machinc nothing better can be hoped for. A most determined fight has been waged before the Local Bills Committee of the House of Representatives during the past -fortnight over the Wanganui Harbour Jimpowering Bill. This Bill proposes to authorise the 'Wanganui Harbour Board to carry out extensive harbour improvement works at a cost of something like a- quarter of a million sterling, and has aroused the strongest opposition from the country districts within the rating area of the board. This opposition has been ably conducted before the Lowil Bills Committee by Mr. W. J. Polson, representing the Wanganui County Council. Mr. Poi.sox, who, in addition to being a member of the County Council, is also a country member of the Harbour Board, submitted evidence in support of his contentions that the trade of the port docs not warrant the expenditure proposed; that the work cannot be carried out for the amount provided in the Bill; that export opinion casts doubts on the feasibility of the scheme, and generally speaking he argued that the proposal is unfair to the country and will do injustice in various directions. On the other luind the board, backed it is stated by a majority of the townspeople, want the work carried out, claiming that it will stimulate the trade of' the port and prove self-supporting. In face of the evidence of Me. Holmes, Enginecr-in-Chief, it would seem that the people of Wanganui are entering lightheartedly on what appears to be a somewhat risky proposition. The members of the Local Bills Committee do not seem to have been unanimous even in recommending that the Bill be allowed to prooecd, and when it comes before the Houso for consideration the strong case made out against it by Mn. Polson from the point of view of the country, is certain to carry weight with members, and possibly may secure its rejection, or at least material amendment in the boundaries of the rating area. It is a pity that the Bill did not come down earlier in the session when it could receive the careful attention which its importance deserves.