NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 69, 14 December 1928, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The high hopes raised by Sir Joseph Ward’s electioneering propaganda will be somewhat damped this morning by a perusal of his speech on the first instalment of his policy proposals. Accession to office has brought the Leader of the United Party face to face with realities. The millions of money to be scattered broadcast amongst settlers and workers at the alluring interest rate of 4| per cent, are tapering off. Sir Joseph Ward was not very clear on some points, but it is evident that there is no early prospect of loans to settlers and workers at 4J per cent. It is quite clear, too, that those farmers and workers who had hoped to share in the borrowed millions 'of cheap money to pay off existing mortgages are to be disappointed. The Prime Minister left no room for doubt on that point. It is only new borrowers who are to benefit by whatever money may be available.

So far as his railway construction schemes are concerned, Sir Joseph Ward has “toed the mark” satisfactorily enough for those districts immediately concerned. He is going ahead with the lines promised, and proposes to make provision for the initial expenditure. It is fairly plain, however, that he has reached a hasty decision in this respect and without a full knowledge of the costs and the prospective returns from the lines in question. We are confident that an investigation by an independent and competent Commission would show that the proposed expenditure on the completion of the South Island Main Trunk line and the West Coast line is not justified. Mr. Coates was able on the short notice given him last evening to show that the Prime Minister was astray in his estimated costs of certain of. the lines, and his suggestion that before any commitment is entered into the report of the departmental experts as to the prospective earnings of the lines should be looked into deserves serious consideration.

It is true, as Sir Joseph Ward claimed, the Government should not be finally judged on this first instalment of its policy proposals; but this does not render it immune from criticism. The country was led to believe that the Leader of the United Party had his plans prepared and a scheme ready for flooding the country with cheap money. There was no indication in his speech last evening that there is any early prospect, or indeed any prospect at all, of the hopes raised being fully realised. Sir Joseph Ward said the money was to be raised in England, and he mentioned the millions that were available there each year for investment. Now he is talking of borrowing some at least of the money in New Zealand — diverting local money from the ordinary channels of investment. Certainly he is somewhat apologetic on the point, but it is significant that the confident note which characterised Sir Joseph Ward’s election promises is much less in evidence now. It is not possible, however, owing to the hour at which the proposals came forward for discussion to analyse them at all closely in this issue.

We have long since left behind those easy-going days when a smart map might combine the duties of politician and Mayor and still contrive to live a sane life. To-day is an era of efficiency, an era of specialisation, when Jack-of-all-trades sees the errors of his ways. Even politicians claim that their duties take up practically the whole of their time if they do them conscientiously. In a country on the verge of adolescence the Mayor of a growing town must be for ever at the civic plough, guiding the furrows straight for sound progress. It would be manifestly difficult for a member of Parliament to carry out the job of Mayor side by side with his political job. One or the other would suffer. Under the circumstances it would be still more difficult for a Cabinet Minister to attempt the dual role, guiding with one hand the destinies of a large city, whilst with the other he nursed our sick railways back to health. It may be assumed, therefore, that Mr. Taverner will relinquish his office as Mayor of Dunedin, though it may perhaps suit Dunedin City that he should nominally fill office until his term y.xjvjres in fiext, thu§ avoid the expense of an election, .