NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

Wellington wharves are better equipped mechanically for the handling of goods than those of any other port in the. Southern Hemisphere. Yet the loading and unloading of ships sometimes taxes longer to-day, ton for ton of cargo, than it did twenty-five years ago. The Harbour Board recognises an obligation to keep mechanical equipment up to the mark; the human equipment on the wharves makes its own pace.

The Prime Minister was talking straight at some of the more troublesome of his own extra-political supporters when he dwelt upon the topic of democracy in industry at his civic farewell in the Wellington Town Hall on Wednesday night. “If democracy is to live in New Zealand,” said Mr. Savage, “we want the assistance of. all engaged in industry, wage-earner and employer alike, to see that things are kept running. We are not going to solve anything by stopping the machinery of production.” Put more bluntly, this means that illegal strikes and go-slow and general irritation tactics arc not. only a drag upon industry and upon the economic welfare of the Dominion, but also an attack upon the very vitals of its political freedom. Moreover, in imperilling the progress and security of the country, they undermine the authority of its Government. That explains Mr. Savage’s reference to being “crucified in the house of our friends.” One may find these enemies, however, without leaving the Cabinet room. The Minister who ran round the hotels of Wellington in a taxi, looking for two defaulting seamen, in order that he might abet them and their fellows in defiance of an officer, was not contributing to the sweet and efficient running of industry. Nor was the same Minister when he condoned wholesale trespass by the stay-in strikers at tlie Auckland freezing works, refused the services of the police for lawful ejectment, and finally trampled over the Arbitration Court by “directing” the employing companies to concede demands in excess of what the Court's award had allowed only a few weeks earlier. “Those responsible for the machinery of production.” says Mr. Savage, “have a responsibility that is no less than the responsibility of Ministers of the Crown.” Very true; but when Ministers set an example of irresponsibility, what can be expected of the humbler creation ?

Additions about to be made to the State Fire Insurance block will mark a new departure in Wellington city building. Underneath the office accommodation, and below the normal street level, a large garage is to be provided for the stowage of motor-cars used by the State Fire Office, and tenant departments —and presumably also, as far as accommodation may be available, for the cars of, their employees. This announcement by Mr. Jones, the Minister in Charge, follows closely upon a discussion by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce of a suggestion made by Mr. W. B. Matheson —that the basement of the new central library in Mercer Street should, be similarly used as a garage. In its application to the library building. Mr. Matheson's suggestion is unlikely to bear fruit, as it is intended to use the basement for library purposes; and there are structural and engineering difficulties in the way of an alternative proposal that the garden area which is to surround the library should be underlaid with motor-cars. Tn its representations to the City Council, however, the Chamber of Commerce looked further than one building: it suggested that accommodation should be provided for tenants’ cars in the basements of all large buildings to be erected hereafter. Thanks to the initiative of the State Fire Office and its advisers, the idea is to be tried, which will give the engineering department and by-laws committee of the Wellington City Council an excellent opportunity . of estimating the practicability of requiring subterraneous parking accommodation in new buildings. Before long something diastic wil have to be done to prevent the streets of Wellington becoming, blocked by their miles of parked cars, and to date no better suggestion than this one has been put forward for limiting further encroachment.