NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 300, 19 September 1928, Page 10

NOTES OF THE DAY

A common form of political attack practised by the LabourSocialist group is to seize a fact and so present it as to suggest by inference or innuendo some impropriety or misconduct. lhe Government receives a deputation from business inteicsts. It is hinted that there must be some unworthy purpose behind such a step. The Prime Minister succeeds in adjusting by mutual agreement a dispute between the flaxmill owners and their workeis, which results in finding employment for many hundreds of unfortunate unemployed. It is a device to lower the standard of living and injure the workers. Proceedings in Parliament yesterday afternoon were typical of this inference method so frequently adopted by the Opposition. The Holland Party spent the greater part of the time insinuating that the soldier-settlement policy had been a hand-in-glove job between the Government and wealthy land owners. Naturally, all the officials in this branch of the Civil Service would be included in these wholesale veiled inferences. But the Labour-Socialist group were careful to avoid anything that might be taken as a definite charge of corruption. Nothing, of course, was further from their thoughts. & * * * *

The member for Ellesmere came up against this point when he tried to nail down the Opposition to something tangible. In an instant they were on their feet on a point of order, and Mr. Jones found himself promptly muzzled. All the same, it is curious and refreshing to observe that tire Opposition’s insistent attacks on the subject of soldier-settlement really mean nothing at all. For they assured the House, when Mr. Speaker put the question direct to them, that corruption was the furthest thing from their thoughts, even misconduct and mismanagement apparently were also not even inferred. They were merely spending the time, it would seem, in a mild attack on what they choose to call the “general ineptitude” of the Government. However, it is doubtful if they would really mind the subtle poison that dripped from their inferences from soaking into misguided electors. *** - *

There is one subject touched on in the Civic and Eastern Suburbs Leagues’ reply to the City Council on matters of transport in which the public is vitally concerned. 1 hat is the inadequate tram service to the suburbs. Overcrowding occurs on at least a section of every route during rush hours, while an unexpected shower of rain or an attraction of outstanding interest almost invariably finds the trainway system unable to cope with the situation. On certain routes the position is more acute than on others, but at certain hours the capacity of the whole system is seriously overtaxed. It is the common experience of many people who require transport at certain hours to be unable to gain entrance to a tramcar on account of its overcrowded condition. The lack of provision made for through passengers may account for part at least of the chief ground of complaint. When passengers over all distances are compelled to use the same trams, overcrowding is inevitable over at least a portion of the route. The problem of suburban transport admittedly is a difficult one, but the present conditions might surely be improved on.

Yesterday's meeting called by the Mayor of Wellington for the purpose of considering the formation of an Aero Club has paved the way for further action. The meeting was not sufficiently informed of matters to formulate concrete proposals, and the Mayor was wise to enjoin the meeting to hasten slowly. Ihe committee which has been set up, however, can now explore the situation and find out by what means the progress of aviation may be aided locally. It is, of course, desirable that Wellington, with its central situation, should not lag behind other parts of the Dominion, and that every means should be exerted to provide proper air access to the City. The proceedings of the newly-formed Aero Club will, therefore, be watched with considerable interest.