Manawatu Daily Times “The Political Correspondent”

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6887, 17 April 1929, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times “The Political Correspondent”

TT WAS only just the other day that Sir Joseph Ward was shown a paragraph furnished to one of the South Island eveping news; papers by its “Wellington Political Correspondent (Stating in effect that the Prime Minister since his assumption of office had received some two hundred applications for seats in the Legislative Council and was about to make twenty appointments to the nominated bianch of the Legislature. Sir Joseph was much amused by the enterprise of the author; but he had to confess he had not been devoting a great deal of attention to the constitution of the nominated chamber. As a matter of fact he had not suffered at all from importunate applicants for seats in the Council and the “Political Correspondent’' and his employers might make their minds quite easy on the matter. Strengthening the Legisaltive Council was not the most urgent need of"the moment. Much graver problems were occupying the attention of the Government.

Chief Justiceship

V The “Evening Post" is concerned by the delay in the appointment of a Chief Justice to fill the vacancy occasioned by the much deplored death of Sir Charles Skerrett. Having explained that it has not referred to the subject before because it wished to avoid even the appearance of convassing so high an office; it urges that action should he taken by the authorities forthwith. The length of time which has elapsed since the office became vacant, it. says, ‘ has, unfortunately, permitted this canvassing to extend until it has found expression in the Press. To end this unsettlement, and above all, to check the widespread canvassing which cannot but be harmful to the dignity of the Judiciary, we hope that the Government will announce its nomination at the earliest possible date. Arrangements were made for the absence of Sir Charles Skerret., but not for his death. It certainly appears to the layman tnat the delay in filling the vacancy is undesirable.

Minister and "Nurserymen

Hon. W. B. Taverner, who came to Wellington one of the least known politically" of Sir Joseph Ward’s colleagues in the new Cabinet, has not been long in making himself acquainted with the details of the various administrative departments entrusted to. his care. Raihvnvs, of course, occupy the greater part of his attention; but as side lines to this important trust he has charge of State Forestry, Customs and other important branches of the State service needing constant supervision. At the moment he is engaged in a discussion with the Nurserymen’s Association, whose members contend that the State Forestry Department, which raises many thousands of trees each year for public purposes, should not sell its surplus supplies to private individuals. The Minister has agreed to standardise prices, which he regards as a reasonable arrangment; but for the present, though an ardent “private enterprise” advocate, he is not disposed to discontinue supplying trees to landholders needing them in considerable quantities.

Turned to Account

The Prime Minister’s residence in Tinakori road, Wellington, an historic edifice that has outlived its splendour and its utility, is at last to be turned to the definite service of the State, lhu new Transport Department, created by the present Government and sure to be a growing centre of administrative activity, is in need of a home for itself, and Sir Joseph Ward, and the Minister in Charge, the Hon. W. A Veitch, have decided that the big liouse and spacious grounds that have harboured many premiers and their families in the past shall be turned to the purposes of the new department. There is no accommodation for the department in the unfinished parliamentary buildings, which may not be enlarged for another decade, and the rent of suitable premises in any other part of the city would run well into four figures, even if such premises could bo The Tinakori block, on the other hand, is immediately available and can be easily shaped to meet the needs of the transport service.