WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1930, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE RAILWAYS THEIR FUTURE. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, October 23. Although the discussion upon the reports of the Railway Commission and the Select Committee on Railways Construction did not reach any definite conclusion in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night it went some way towards further informing the public in regard to the transport problems confronting the Dominion. The Railway Commission had placed blunt facts before the House, claiming in effect that the adoption of its proposals would result in an addition rtf some £(500,000 a year to the revenue derived from the Hues, and though the Hon. W. A. Veitcli, the Minister of Railways, was not disposed to subscribe in full to the estimate of the Commission, he admitted that a very considerable sum might be obtained by a general revision of the rates and charges on the lines. He now stand's committed to a movement in this direction. Rates and charges on the English and Australian lines generally are substantially higher than those prevailing in this country a lid the Minister is pledged to review the situation.

CONSTRUCTION. The question of railway construction now. in progress is likely to occasion much more heated discussion than will the question of rates and charges. Already the three Reform members on the Railway Construction Committee — Mr C. E. MacMillan Mr D. Jones, and Air Waite, who constitute only a comparatively small minority—are demanding that work shall he immediately discontinued on the Gisborne-Waikokopu, the Wharanui-Parnassus, and the Kaw-atiri-Tnangahua lines and, of course, they will have the support of members of their party who happen to have their chief interests on this side of Cook Strait. The leader of the Opposition, the. Right Hon. J. G. Coates, who is less impetuous than are some of hits followers, would have a commission appointed to determine the fate of these railways. There is something to say for his suggestion, but in these days an impatient public hesitates to give commission precedence over its Parliament, and its atitude is not unreasonable. Democracy prefers the multitude of counsellors. ‘“I - " THE INTELLIGENT FEW. The “Evening Post,” which does not often speak harshly of the country’s legislators, treats itself to a candid paragraph concerning their lack'iof financial knowledge. “At this time,” it says, “When the importance, ofteconomy is evident, the weakness df.Parliament as a controlling power is lamentably clear. Intelligent and constructive criticism is given by one or two members, but the majority cover their incompetence as financial critics'by gen. eralised statements, and are definite only in dealing with expenditure or taxation which affects their districts or constituents. They have not that ‘clear and comprehensive picture of the financial position’ which Sir Otto Niemerer holds to be essential, and they are quite incapable of giving the lead in public economy which, should come from them. The failure maV be corrected in part b.V alterations in financial methods, but for. a complete correction there must be a higher standard of attainment in Parliament.” The sting about this aspersion is that it is mainly deserved.

ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS. The Associated Chambers of Commerce, which has assimilated the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Federation and the Nineteen Twenty-Eight Committee, lias its first annual meeting generously noticed in the local papers to-day. The Associated Chamber appears to be aiming high at the advancement of trad and commerce, and if it abstains from party politics, as the very useful Taxpayers’ Federation did under the guidance of such leaders as Air J. B. MacEwan, Air G. Fitzgerald, Air W. D. Hunt and Mr AV. S. Bennett it cannot fail to go far in stimulating both lTirliament and people as well as commerce The danger of such institut ns i.s the tendency to drift towards political channels and to become the instruments of a section of the community ratliJr than a guide and an impetus to he whole. The promoters of the Asnssoeiation, however, have started out with good intentions in this respect, and it is to be hoped these intentions will he fully realised. Such an organisation is needed.