WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1929, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

AGGRESSIVE REFORM

NO MALI.*' MEASURES. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 2. Mr H, E. Johnston, the Reform candidate for the vacant Hutt seat is not mincing matters in his denunciations of the United Government and all its works. Speaking at Day’s Bay during Ihe week-end he reiterated with emphasis his previous assertions that the Prime Minister’s extravagant election promises were “ impossible at their birth”; that the “whole thing is a misrepresentation from the beginning”; that the “ spendthrift expenditure of borrowed money is not what the Dominion wants at the present time,” that “ keeping the present Government in office is nullifying the effects of the prudent administration of .the past,” and so on and so on to the delight of friendly audiences in the smaller centres. Mr Johnston speaks particularly well—as do, indeed, the whole three of the candidates in the field—hut his reiterated “abuse of the other side” is not the very best of tactics in the circumstances. It already has provoked suggestions that he should tell his audiences something about his own

party. MR COATES AND THE BONUS

Speaking at Day’s Bay on :Friday night, Mr Johnston certainly dhUmake a valiant attempt to place his political chief n on side” in regard to wlmt ho was pleased to call the“hundred pound grab.” Mr Coates had refused, timo and again, he said, to allow members to restore their salaries without first seeing that the Civil Servants received their Restoration too.- Mr Coates was aware of the facts,' and certainly would not have made this statement on his own account. The main grievance of the Civil Servants.was that the Reform

Government, with a succession of surpluses, amounting to some six millions, found it possible to reduce taxation and charges by three millions a year, but made no effort to restore the Civil Service cut. Sir Joseph Ward, taking office in December, with only three months of the financial year to run, inherited a deficit of hfilf a million odd and the best he could do was to undertake that the salaries of the Civil Service Would be ; 'considered during the current year. OLD. HANDS.

Mr J. Kerr, the United candidate, and an old camnaigner in Mr Wilford’s interests, and Mr W, Nash, the Lahour candidate',; knpw a great deal more’ about practical political nns election til'*tics than does;-their Reform^opponent. Mr Jphhston, however, has the advantage ?of an unsplit party?; vote, and it is ‘possible-,, though not probable, be will ioipj’ithe eighteen minority representatives , ah'eady, constituting., the backbone of the Reform Party in the House. Mr Kerr, who\ probably would have rather remained a Liberal than become a United, knows the ness of electioneering from beginning to end. and a good deal of politics as well; - is ’perhaps the most popular figure of the trio; but Mr Nash adds to a wide business knowledge an intimate acquaintance with public affairs and a student’s mastery of sociology and economics, which even in these days may serve some useful purpose. The Hntt constituency has a wide .selection of representatives, and, whatever its choice, Mr Wilford will have no reason to he ashamed elf his successor. PR ACTICAL EDUCATION.

Meanwhile the Hon. H.. Atmore, the Minister of Education, who was wont to lie in the forefront of every party encounter, is applying himself with un ahe ted enthusiasm and energy to the revision of the country’s educational svsteiu. “ I have been more than ever ’mpressed since T have had thejionour to occupy mv present position,” he told o mayoral reception in Palmerston North at the week end, “ with the fact t - 't the education svstem has been tending away from the great nrrricul-t’u-d industry, and has been drafting "'to the ranks of the professions. That is wrong, and I have no hesitation in d eel a rin" that this is the reason for th<> incidence of unemployment. The onl'- remodv is closer settlement on siift-iMo land, and then T feel quite sure that we will he able to rid our-, solves of the greatest evil in New Zonh"'d to-dav—uneniplovment.” This simv.Jv is » basis on which tlie parties, h"""o’ their n"tty differences aside for the time, might very well unite with substantial advantage to the whole community.