TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 20, 23 July 1909, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

, — * Yesterday's deputation to the Minister for Railways did not get Feeling all that it desired, but his Way. secured some promise of improvement in the train connections between various points in the lower half of the North Island. The Hon. J. A. Millar, acting on his determination to prevent any increase in the present large annual loss in the working railways, declined a request which practically amounted to a desire for a second passenger train daily beI tween Wellington and Napier. His es- | timate was that the maintenance bill would be £17,000 a year, and the revenue would be far from justifying the expenditure. The Minister has applied himself to the tasK of eliminating dead running as far as possible, and to be consistent with his policy of trying to make the railways pay their way he could not well say "yes" to all the propositions that were, put to him yesterday. One portion of his reply was of general interest to the people of Wellington. He forecasted an extensive trial of steam motor carriages to satisfy the requirements of suburban traffic. This system has been worked successfully in other countries, and should be well justified in New Zealand, both from the viewpoints of departmental finance and the people's convenience. Another interesting), remark mentioned the department's desire to dodge the costly Eimutaka incline whenever possible. The department has already been "giving the slip' 1 to the hill, and this practice is to be extended. It is stated that it costs as much to send a train from Wellington to the top of the incline as from Wellington to New Plymouth. "The grade takes the heart out of the rolling stock," one critic has exclaimed. A member of the deputation suggested that even the Napier mail should go via Mnnawiitu, ana Mr. Millar, though he said that he did not think such

proposal had been considered, did not put the plea out of court. The Minister's attitude, on the whole, was a willingness to oblige people "so long as it did not involve increased expenditure." Since 1898 the number of days of horse racing at meetings regisToo Many tered by various clubs Race Days, has risen from 223 to 242, according to the table quoted yesterday by Sir George Clifford. He submitted that the increase in racing days under the auspices of totalisator clubs, had not been commensurate with the growth of population, but that is not altogether an unassailable argument. For example, a city's population may increase' from 50,000 to 100,000, but that is no excuse for the doubling of the racing days at the metropolitan course; one face meeting there can serve 100,000 about as well as 50,000, if the transport arrangements are adequate. In ten years the totalisator clubs have added nineteen to their field days, but the total for registered non-total isaor clubs has, according to Sir George Clifford, decreased. Smaller clubs and pseudo-clubs, which do not register their meetings, have yut on more days of racing, and are ever increasing the tally. To arrive at the days devoted to racing proper, trotting, and pony events, a large figure must be added to, the 242 given by the president of the Racing Conference. The grand total for all sorts and sizes of meetings, registered and unregistered, must be formidable. The Racing Conference does, not think that the days sacred to the totalizator should, be diminished, but is distressed, by the contemplation of the increase of unregistered meetings. Parliament is not at liberty to interfere with horse competitions, provided the Gaming Act is not infringed, but the conference hopes to reduce the unregistered accretion by a more stringent enforcement of the disqualifical.ipn incurred for participation in unregistered meetings. When flhe Gaming Bill was going through • the House of Representatives, Mr. T. H. Davey secured an amendment providing for a reduction of one-sixth in the number of totalisator days, bufc this desirable clause was thrown out by the Legislative Council. The Prime' Minister committed himself to approval of a decrease in the days of totalisator racing, and the onus is therefore on him to make another attempt to induce the Legislative Council to respect the wishes of the people's representatives. The present number of racing days is far too great a tax on New Zealand's people in time and in money. i The aged but not venerable Dominion J Museum has some valuEarly able souvenirs of early Wellington, and the Petherick Museum has a few, but the collections are possibly more notable^ for what they have not than for what they have. Time here is rapidly changing the city's aspect, and is scattering or destroying the relics of other days. For the benefit of this generation and others to come an effort should be made to piece together the book of the past for easy perusal by the successors of the pioneers. Some time ago a- beginning was made with the establishrueuc of an "early Canterbury" department in the Christchurch Museum, and a telegram to-day mentions that the movement is pleasingly fulfilling the hopes of its promoters. Books, documents, and various material interestingly linked with the founding and settlement of the province are being collected, and the treasure house is steadily gaining fresh wealth. The activity of ,Christchurcn and the adjacent country districts should not pass unnotiqed by Wellington. Now is the lime for any enthusiasts here to organise a campaign co secure records and relics that are in danger of destruction or lying screened away from all men's eyes in forgotten nooks aiid> corners. The National Museum, which is to be built, on Mount Cook, is t» be concerned with New Zealand's history, natural and industrial, and the structure that was designed for a gaol is to furnish' strong rooms for vaiuanle documents, but the Wellington people should interest themselves in aiming at the furnishing of a special department to cover the early years of the city and the province. Mucn of Wellington's early history is, of course, very important New Zealand aistory, and that fact should make the present inhabitants all the more eager to have ancient evidence suitably displayed now.