TOPICS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9224, 28 May 1910, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Considerable comment has been pae*ed upon the confusion The .that has resulted in .Sovereign's regard to the obserBirthday. vance of King George's . birthday as -a hgliday. The King intimated that he does not desire any public celebration this year, and thereupon it was decided to keep all the Government offices open as usual on that day. But at the same time the Labour Department has stated that the Sovereign's Birthday, being a holiday specified in the avrards, must be so observed. Any work performed on that day must be paid for at prescribed increased rates, which the "Onions intend to demand. The decision whether a public holiday will be -observed is therefore left to the individual communities, and it will save confusion if it is decided to close for the day. The time is opportune for a general reconsideration of the holiday question. Every year there is discussion and uncertainty as to which days are to be observed. A list should be drawn up and rigidly adhered to. Then the public could make their arrangements with some degree of conid&ue*.

Judging by the state of affairs at the Manawatu Heads, it is The .. very essential that the Manawatu Foxton Harbour Board Bar. should be epeedily provided with the means to improve the bar. The depth of water on the bar has been eo unsatisfactory of late that steamers have been caught and delayed there, while others have, been compelled to go elsewhere, to unload, and it will thus be seen that shipping has been seriously retarded. About the middle of the present month the Harbour. Board • wrote to the Minister- for. 1 Railways pointing out the condition of things, and asking if the Railway and Marine Departments could not assist the Board in having the bar entrance improved. To this request the Minister sends, inter alia, s the. following cool reply:-—"lt would appear that the only way to raise funds to make the necessary improvements is to strike a rate in the district, as the Government is unable to provide the money required." The joke of. the suggestion lies in the fact that the Railway Department enjoys an income of about £3000 per year from the trade of the port, and the reply of the Minister, which is practically a refusal to assist, is another case of killing the goose that lays the golden egg. The Minister is well aware that the Board has no rating powers, and in the circumstances the Board lias no option but to bring pressure to bear upon the Government to do its duty in the matter. It. is preposterous that the Railway Department ehould take practically the whole of the revenue from the port and then say that the district should provide the money to keep the river open and the bar in good order.