Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, APRIL 2l 1931 Dominion Politics.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3996, 21 April 1931, Page 4

Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, APRIL 2l 1931

Dominion Politics.

EVENTS iu Parliament are proceeding as well as can be expected, all things considered. The Government had a strenuous tinm in piloting the Finance Bill through the House in the lace of the Labour opposition. This, of course, was a gesture for the benefit of Labour supporters in view of the General Election at the end of the year. Mr Holland and his colleagues knew perfectly well, before the storueiwall had proceeded very far, that their tactics would have no effect on the fate of the Bill, so that they were merely wasting the time of the ilouse and the people’s money is so obstinately protracting the proceedings. Besides, they had no practical) constructive plan to offer as a substitute, and they showed clearly enough how futile it would be to place the Labour party in power inNcw Zealand, even if we did not have the example of the Australian Commonwealth and States to guide us 1 A great outcry was made about the 10 per cent cut in the Civil service, and while every sympathy will be felt for the lower paid men in the employ of the State, the course taken was impelled by dire necessity. Afterall, anyone who can come through the present crisis with no more than a loss of 10 per cent, in his income will be fortunate. The thousands of unemployed are an illustration of this|, not to mention the people on the land who have been so disastrously affected by the tremendous fall in the prices of our primary products. A spirit of self-secrifice and courage is needed at the moment, till we have passed ; through the period of adjustment, and prosperity again returns to the Dominion,

It is satisfactory to note that the Government has succeeded in passing a Bill to deal with immigration. In the past it has generally been the case that when depression affected a country, opportunities for obtaining work were provided in places abroad where prosperous conditions prevailed. Many years ago when a slack period was experienced in New Zealand trade and industry were brisk in Victoria, and each week saw large numbers of young men sailing from the Dominion for the Victorian capital. Now the depression is world-wide, and in many countries worse than it is in New Zealand. Australia is a case in point. In the Commonwealth a huge number- of people are out of work, hence the advisability of some protective measure here. Our unemployed problem is of the gravest. Thousands of men are looking in vain for work, and the Government and local authorities have to face a bewildering problem. In these circumstances, therefore, the Government’s Bill is entirely justifiable, otherwise the difficulties might be—almost certainly would be —considerably increased. The main operative clause empowers the Governor in Council “on account of any economic or financial conditions affecting trade or industry in New Zealand, or any other conditions whatever, which render it expedient to do so in the public interest, Ho make regulations prohibiting the landing in New Zealand of any persons of any specified nationality ox race, or any specified class or occupation; or limiting the number of any such persons that may land in New Zealand during any specified period.” The regulations may be made to apply to persons arriving from any particular country, port, or place and the Bill specifically states that the prohibition may be applied to persons of British birth or parentage.

One extremely important matter that is before the House at the moment is the Railways Amendment Bill. Its very desirable aim is substantially to lessen political control of the railways and to appoint a board of management of three commercial men whose endeavour - it will be to make the conduct of the railways conform to business principles. The chaotic position of the railways system, from the financial point of view, shows how desirable it is to have a radical change of methods. The Premier has made out a good case for his Bill. As he stated, the development stage has practically passed, and the railway system is more of a business concern than it was 1 formerly when the taxpayer could reasonably be called upon to pay lor development. Certainly, events have proved political management undesirable. Ministers and members have been besieged with requests, and as a rosunlt we have had constructed uneconomic lines, sectional pressure to reduce rates has frequently been successful, and no doubt excessive staffing has resulted. The change of control proposed is in accord with the recommendations of two commissions. The question is whether the Bill goes far enough in “depoliticalisation,” but it has been answered that where so much of the people’s money is sunk in the enterprise the State must keep a safe measure of control. Mr Coates has pointed out some of the weaknesses of the Bill particularly the absence of provisions

for the co-ordination of road transport, but it has been stated by the Hon. Mr Taverner that a draft Road Transport Bill is now receiving the attention of the Government. It can be said that the Bill is a step in the right direction, and no doubt further steps will be taken as the position becomes clearer and when opportunity offers* Another matter of interest is the question of the fusion of the Reform and United parties which has come under discussion again as the result of the activity of certain sections of the business community in Wellington. No progress is reported, however, and there still seems to be strong points of divergence between the two Leaders. There can hardly, it would be thought, be any insuperable barriers to fusion, and it is to be hoped that the efforts now being made will be successful. It would be deplorable if at the general election failure to amalgamate is responsible for Labour winning {seats because of the advantage of having Reform and United candidates opposing each other in constituencies which Labour is also contesting.,) .

The Queenstown Football Club held their annual meeting on Saturday. Report next issue. Meetings of householders for the purpose of electing school committees will be held in the various district schoolhouses on Monday, evening next. The committee of the Arthurs Point school advertise a dance in the schoolroom next Friday evening in aid of school funds. Supper will be provided. The prices of admission axe 2s 6d and Is. Leo Ceilings Motors.—An announcement is made in this issue regarding this new motor service between Queenstown and Cromwell, via Arrowtown. commencing Ist May. The service will be .a daily one, connecting three days a week with the Dunedin train services and on the other days with the motor services to and from Dunedin.

The . local annual Poppy Day appeal commenced last Friday and was continued on Saturday Last. The local committee ordered 400 popies from the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association and it is confidently anticipated that these will be disposed of. A good proportion of the proceeds af the sale will be devoted to the relief of local unemployment so that the appeal should receive whole-hearted support. The ball which is being held in the new Lower Shotover hall in celebration of the opening of the building on May 1 is now being talked about all over the district. Great preparations are being made for the event, which promises to be one of outstanding importance in the history of Lower Shotover. The floor of the hall is understood to be of excellent construction, so that it should prove ah that the best dancers could wish. The music and, the supper will be in capable hands,' while the decoration of the building wifi be a special feature.

Anzac Day will"be observed' on Saturday next. A combined service will be held in the Garrison Hall in the afternoon. All those willing to assist in the decoration of the hall are asked to meet in the hall on Saturday morning.

At a special meeting of the locai Borough Council last night J. Thompson junr’is tender of £ls 11& 3d per chain for building the fence on the breakwater was accepted. Three tenders were received.

Harvest Festival Services were held in St. Andrew’s on Sunday. The church was artistically decorated with seasonable foliage and flowers, and an abundance of fruit and vegetables struck a note of real thanksgiving. Electors iare notified that nominations of candidates for the Mayoralty iand for Councillorships for the Borough of Queenstown close with the town clerk )next Friday, 24th April,' not the 25th April as advertised lastj issue. The Railway Department advertise in this issue suspension of all trams in the Invercargill district on Anzac Day, 2fith April. Above the clouds the plane I guide The “cab” behind contains my bride; Such bird-like speed is sheer delight, ’Tis “Tempos fugit” in its flight I A birdman’s life and luck for me, And liberty o’er land and (sea— For colds and change of temperature, Bottle o’ Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. On Saturday McNeills, Ballarat St., Queenstown, commenced a sale of boots and shoes—men’s, women's and children’s. .slaughter is. reflected' fh ‘Why pairs' of children’s footw’ear being'offered at prices from Is up. Grown-ups’ shoes are being offered at 6s, 7fl 3d and other ridicu-, lously low prices—Advt. “When I’m real hungry for a smoke ” said a speaker at a social gathering the other day, “a cigarette is no earthly good to me. It’s like offering a fancy biscuit to a starving man. Even a cigar leaves me. cold. A pipe of good honest ‘cut-up’ is what I crave—New Zealand toasted for preference.” Most veteran smokers are like that. They prefer a well-loaded briar to the best cigar or cigarette. As to the New Zealand toasted tobacco, it has this to recommend it: the toasting rids it of most of its nicotine, and leaves it syeet, cool and pure whereas the foreign tobaccos are, often rank with nicotine—a deadly poison, bear in mindT Can stuff like that be good to smoke, day after day, think you ? There are only four brands of toasted: Riverhead Gold, Navy Cut No. 3, Cavendish and Cut Plug No. 10. They .are all famous for their delicious flavour and fine aroma. And you can smoke them freely even to excess. They ore toasted, and therefore harmless. ;

Breathe away that cold! Inhale “NAZOL” —the scientific remedy that disinfects and protects the circle of infection. 2s 6d buys the new double size which contains 120 full doses.