Manawatu Daily Times Party Puzzles and Political Gossip

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6536, 17 February 1928, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times Party Puzzles and Political Gossip

It is a matter of club and street-corner gossip in Wellington and elsewhere that a week or two before the beginning of the Christmas and New Year holidays a deputation representing a considerable body of restless Reformers waited upon the Prime Minister with a request that he would let his political friends know where he stood upon the questions of public expenditure, taxation and the Government’s continued interference with private enterprise. The deputation was very courteously received, so the story runs, but was sent away without having its curiosity satisfied. Mr. Coates listened attentively to the various speakers, appeared to make notes of their statements, suggested they should reduce their representations to writing and asked them to sec him again. That was nearly two months ago. In the interval the Government has proceeded cheerily with its expenditure, has collected its taxation and has extended still further its business operations. It is reported now that the deputation is prepared with its written representations and is awaiting the pleasure of the Prime Minister as to the date of another interview.

Departmental Influence

One outcome of the “ conversations ’’ between the Prime Minister and his restless political friends is a conviction among the latter that the big mon of the Civil Service are largely responsible for the socialistic proclivities of the Government. “These men,” one authority said to-day, referring to the heads of departments, “ know a great deal more about legislative and administrative tactics than their Ministers do, and their knowledge enables them to get their own way. They sec in the Government’s entrance into business, an opportunity to glorify themselves and their offices, and the temptation is irresistible." : There may bo some colour of truth in this assertion, but it is hard to sec what tangible advantages either Mr. Coates himself or his advisers are going to secure by their excursions into trade and commerce. So far their efforts in this direction have been the very reverse of encouraging, both from a party and an economic point of view, and, at best, must have cost the country many thousands of pounds that never can be recovered.

The Government’s Citadel

Notwithstanding all the difficulties that beset the Government at the present time, the hold of Mr. Coates and his colleagues upon the Treasury benches looks even more secure than it did three years ago, when, as it turned out, they were on the eve of a sweeping victory at the polls. The United Political Party, which aimed at attracting both eager Nationalists and disgruntled Reformers to its fold, seems to have made only a poor beginning with its active campaign at Auckland last week; the Independent Liberals, the custodians of great traditions, still are wandering leadei'less in the wilderness of long deferred hope, and Sir Joseph Ward is ploughing his lonely furrow without any intention of adding to the confusion of parties. The only possible alternative to the continuance of Reform in office for another three years seems to be an accession of strength by Labour that would impress the other progressive forces. But this at the moment seems as far beyond the range of probability as does a working arrangement between Mr. Coates and Mr. H. E. Holland.

•‘Tim uanks have adopted the practice lately of entering numbers in pass books instead of names,” observed the Honorable Mr Justice Ostler in the Supremo Court yesterday. “It makes it very much harder to follow bank books.” At the Supreme Court yesterday the Hon. Justice Ostler granted an order appointing the Public Trutee as executor and trustee in the estate of the late Mr Augustus Spacer Easton (Foxton) with Messrs Sydney John Easton and Augustus Percy Easton as advisory trustees. Counsel engaged at the hearing were Messrs W. L. Eitzhorbert and J. P. Junes.,

A fire at Masterton last night destroyed a motor truck valued at £2OO and the shed in which it was housed. Both were the property of E. W. Spackman, carrier, of Masterton. The motor shed was insured for £IOO, but the truck was uninsured. It is understood that the tire was caused through a leaky carburettor. It is estimated that 5,500,000 women go out to work daily in the United States. Thirty years ago the number was 4,000,000. Thirty years from now tho New York Times estimates there will be 10,000.000,