TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 84, 10 April 1911, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

In the view of New Brighton and Sumn-er, which deOnly Half a sire , the fatherly Million, a Year. Government to improve 'the scenic .attractions of those seaside resorts, tho jpower of tho Government's purse (theoretically, the taxpayers' purse), is unlimited. It is a sad reality, however, to th-o deal, generous, hospita-ble Government that the power is limited. This is a. real grief—one of the sorrows that pain the altiuistic Ministry. For example, when the Hon. R. M'Kenzie was caught by a deputation at Pahiatua•on Saturday night, and wa« told about tbe Makuri " white horses " that were frothing for electrical harness, he was sympathetic, and sadly said that, the •Government was limited, "at present," 'to £500,000 a year far the development of water-power. He had kind hopeful words for the "boosters" of Makuri. It is a Scotch Ministry, and if other things are equal (or even a little less) the pretty name Makuri may appeal to 'Cabinet. Towards tho end of last session, just when the Government, waa booming its scheme of electricity for J the million, repiesenlativea of local bodies had a conference in or ,near Pahiatua. One afternoon they drove out to have an inquest on Makuri y they viewed the great body of water, droveback, and resolved that Makuri should be brought to electrical liio with all possible despatch. The Minister, too, says that he is " satisfied, from what he knows of the Makuri scheme, that there is good powei there." It is just a pefctyy detail, of course, that Mt. M'Kenzie is -not aaa electrical export. The important detail is that be is Minister of Public Works, a.nd that a general election will take 'place inside nine months. * I Here and there a candidate is announced ; here and there a Peaceful political speech, or a Politics, promise of such a speech, is made, but no notable breach of the peace occurs. The mild duel between Mr. Buddo and Mr. Massey has not mattered 'at all ; New Zealand has not noticed it. Perhaps tonight Mr. Ilerdman may furnish a thrill, but he will need to use live wires if he hopes to galvanise the body politic. In the far south his chief has spoken, and a telegram conveys the doubtful compliment of " a patient hearing accorded." The people may be too languid to ponder over the question whether the phraso was meant to please or pain. Can we hop© that in thte peaceful recese

Ministers will take the opportunity to gut helpfully familiar with the contents of their portfolios? Will they forego the old luxuries of opening bridges, post offices, schoolrooms, and the thousand and one other things which they are diplomatically invited to set going? Wul they slacken off in the old pastime of "discovering the needs of the country?" One may hope and hope, but the pael prompts one to despair. The restless wind_ seems to blow a wander-lust into Wellington. Somehow a tack grows up from the Minister's chair here, and ho must be off. Where? Anywhere.