TOPICS 0F THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 8

TOPICS 0F THE DAY

Three proposals were adopted by ihc Chrislchurch Conference which considered the unemployment problem1:' (1) recommending the problem to the immediate and continuous attention of the Government, local bodies, and ciLizens; (2) recommending the Government to consider a great permanent roading scheme, using loans the interest and sinking fund on which would be met from the petrol tax and other available funds; (3) establishing a committee to assist in finding work and relieving distress. A fourth proposal, recommending the Government to convene a special national conference as' suggested by Sir Charles Fergusson, was held over pending publication of the report of the special unemployment committee which has been at work on the subject for several months. Of the three proposals adopted the third is likely to be productive of the greatest immediate benefit. If local bodies, other organisations, and citizens will face the issue in their own areas, they can do much to relieve distress. < A national roading scheme is more easily suggested than put into operation.- In the first place, the petrol tax and. other road funds are not freely available to cover loan charges. A large part of the money is already allotted for maintenance subsidies and secondary road improvement schedules—works which cannot properly be done out of loan moneys. Doubtless the interest and sinking fund for a substantial loan could be found, but then a second question arises: Is it advisable to put in operation ambitious national roading schemes which may complicate our transport difficulties? Already we suffer daily loss through extravagant duplication of transport facilities, invited and encouraged by the construction of permanent roads parallel with railway lines. Before the tangle is properly unravelled we may have to write down a great amount of transport capital. We do not wish to increase that amount, and we should heed the warning given to Great Britain by Mr. Winston Churchill when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer: that it was not good national economy to render the railways prerAaturely obsolescent. That warning applies particularly to New Zealand, where the railways are publicly owned. Before expanding our road-making plans we should inquire whether the result will be ultimately beneficial, or whether it will be heaping up more trouble for the future.

We can understand the Christchurch Conference hesitating to recommend a national conference until the report of the unemployment committee is published. That committee, having taken time to study the subject thoroughly, may submit suggestions which can be put into operation immediately. There is the more reason, then, for expediting the publication of the report. The first report made by the committee contained some useful suggestions. The second report, according to the Minister of Labour, is also valuable. But reports of this kind are valuable only in so far as they lead to action. Up to the present there has been no marked activity in following up the

first report. It remains to be seen how far the second report will be adopted as a basis for action. If there is no such action the labours of the committee will have been for nothing.

Mention was made in ■ a "Post" paragraph this week of the formation of a nine-hole golf course at the Mount Cook Hermitage. The plans for Tongariro National Park development also include the provision of facilities for golf and similar sports. To pioneers in the exploration of our mountains and scenic resorts such developments may appear little short of scandalous vandalism; but we think there is another view. Not all the people who would visit the mountains are physically fit or otherwise inclined for strenuous tramping and climbing. Yet they wish to benefit by the mountain air and, while enjoying this, desire to occupy their time. Lounging round is tiring, and aimless strolling palls. To meet the needs of the less energetic people sporls facilities may well be provided. The provision need not be made at the cost of destroying the natural attractions of the mountains. Indeed, these attractions cannot be destroyed. One cannot reduce Aorangi to the height of a bunker, and at Tongariro there is ample space for links without cutting into the bush. After all, if the National Parks are to be used and enjoyed by all the people, there should be some alternative to strenuous Alpine exercise without having to come down to knitting or bridge.

A regional planning scheme for Auckland (according to a message published last night) was rejected by a conference of delegates. Metropolitan representatives favoured the scheme, but county and outer suburban delegates were hostile. It would1 appear that the opponents were either apprehensive of extravagance in putting the plan into operation, or that they lacked the usual Auckland optimism in envisaging the probable future progress of the city. We trust that when regional planning comes to be considered in Wellington there will be greater foresight. Instead of following the Auckland example, the local authorities here should accept the advice of the President of the Institute of Architects and look well ahead. The President spoke of the growth of New York and of preplanning operations which'cost millions. Replanning in Wellington has already cost many thousands, and it is not yet finished. Much of the reconstruction has been unavoidable, for it was scarcely possible that the early pioneers should have foreseen and provided for the great development by reclamation* But with the past to guide us we are in a- better position now to assess the requirements of the future. Succeeding generations will rightly blame us if we prove too shortsighted or too timid.