FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 87, 9 October 1937, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FROM THE

"POST"

POLITICAL SITUATION

"Major Atkinson's success in obtaining the support of Sir George Grey for any Administration that will keep the present Government out of office will greatly assist the effort to unite the Opposition on a common basis of antagonism to the policy of Sir Julius Vogel," comments "The Post" of this date fifty years ago. "It is evident that opposition to the late Government is to be made, if possible, the common rallying ground. This is all very well up to a certain point, but we do not see how it can serve as a permanent bond. Let us assume, for example, that the majority of the meeting of the Opposition urge Major Atkinson to proceed with the formation of a Ministry, and he fills up portfolios and formulates a policy say of protection, will the free traders support his tariff proposals? Certainly not. There can be no real political union except on the basis of agreement on principles, and we feel pretty confident that a large number of members of the Opposition will expressly reserve to themselves freedom of action until they know what the personnel and policy of the new Cabinet are to be. Some members will also exact an explicit pledge of retrenchment. It is easy to perceive, however, that Sir George Grey, representing the Radical section of the Opposition, and Major Atkinson, who has the confidence of the LiberalConservative section, having come to a mutual understanding, the chances of forming a stable Ministry are very materially improved, and we are inclined to believe that the party as a whole will prefer Major Atkinson to Sir John Hall or Mr. Ormond as a leader. Sir George Grey's support could never be counted upon if either one or the other of the suggested alternatives to the member for Egmont were at the head of the Cabinet." SIR FREDERICK WHITAKER. "Major Atkinson has already scored one important point in the political game in having induced Sir Frederick Whitaker to reappear, if only for a brief time, on the political stage. Sir Frederick Whitaker is one of the_ ablest, most experienced, and astute politicians in New Zealand. As a Parliamentary tactician he is unrivalled, and he has an almost intuitive perception of men's weaknesses. If any man can convert a minority into a majority, that man is Sir Frederick Whitaker. He has heretofore done soma wonderful things in this way, and although his advanced years and other causes have for some time past kept him in retirement, and rendered his reappearance a-matter of doubt, there is no reason to believe that he has lost any of his old skill. He will be invaluable to Major Atkinson as a counsellor in the present crisis, and there is no telling what may be accomplished with his aid and by his advice, especially as he may be presumed to represent large financial institutions which are supposed to take a good deal of interest in political crises in this colony." lighting for the city. "Those who recently admired the electric light as used by us for the purpose of displaying the election returns, and the number includes nearly all the inhabitants of Wellington, will be glad to learn that arrangements for intro*ducing the electric light as. a means for illuminating the city: streets are progressing satisfactorily, and assuming a practical and concrete form. It is, we believe, probable that, the City Council will at its next meeting have placed before it definite proposals for an experiment on a large scale, which will serve as a conclusive test of the practicability and cost of a "complete system of electric lighting. Mr. Walter Prince, the well-known electrical engineer, of Otago, has recently received from America a complete experimental street lighting plant, which includes five arc lights of 1200 candle-power each, 10 incandescent lamps of 16-20 candle-power, and a few incandescent lamps of 30 and 65 candle-power respectively. These lights are of different patents, so that the several systems may be compared with a view to selecting for the permanent installation whichever is most perfect and suitable. This plant, including dynamo, etc., Mr. Prince is willing to place at the disposal of the ' council at a nominal price for a month's use. In precise terms, we believe what he requires is that the council shall erect the installation under his supervision, and shall during the month's experiment pay the salary of an expert at £3 a week to manage the lights. If the council then calls for tenders for a complete system, and Mr. Prince obtains the contract, he will ask nothing for the use of His experimental plant; but should.he not secure the contract, he asks only for £50 as compensation for the experiment. These appear to be very favourable terms, and as we understand that Dr. Lemon approves of the proposals, we'trust the council will see its way to accept them at once, and thus, while Parliament is sitting, set an example-to the other cities of the- colony- by initiating a system of electric lighting in our streets. We have not seen the report which we understand is to be brought up for presentation to the council, but from all that we have been able to gather we believe it will be found to embody such proposals as we have indicated, and we must say that Wellington is singularly fortunate in having the opportunity of thus making a practical experiment in this important matter,, and on a large scale, at a very trifling cost." SPEAKER ELECTED. "The first act of the new House of Representatives yesterday was a wise one. In unanimously electing Sir Maurice O'Rorke to preside over the deliberations of the House, members have secured the guidance of an able Speaker, whose knowledge of Parliamentary law is superior to that of any other man in the House, whose impartiality has never been questioned, and whose firmness and tact are acknowledged on all sides." AUCKLAND AND ZANZIBAR. "The Sultan of Zanzibar's cession to England and Germany of the eastern coast line of Africa has, strange though it may seem, a very important bearing upon the welfare of New Zealand, and' of Auckland in particular. The town of Zanzibar is the chief market of the world for copal gum, an article which comes into direct competition with the kauri gum produced in Auckland. This copal gum is worth four times as much as kauri gum. It is not found on the island of Zanzibar, but only on the coast just handed over to England and Germany. The valuable deposits have not yet been worked systematically or industriously, but it is probable that one of the first effects of the new order of things will' be the more vigorous prosecution of that industry. One of Auckland's chief articles of export may thus suffer a fall in price through the development of the copal gum industry. The only drawbacks to the more liberal output of copal are the distaste of the natives for exertion, and the unsuitability of the climate for European labourers. Possibly our Auckland friends, therefore, will not find themselves ruined through the .ijijwotiity ,