THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, JULY 25. 1924. N EXTRAVAGANT REQUEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19233, 25 July 1924, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, JULY 25. 1924. N EXTRAVAGANT REQUEST.

Tiie citizens of Wellington appear to have nothing to learn in the gentle art of asking that the State should provide them with civic assets "which they are not sufficiently energetic or sufficiently public-spirited to provide for themselves. They make use of the word "national" with an easy assurance which implies an ineradicable conviction that it possesses some special magic in application to a project connected with their city. The representations that are being made to the Government with a view to tho establishment of a "Dominion" Art Gallery at Wellington furnish an illustration in point. This movement to secure a national art gallery for Wellington dates back many years. Apparently the inspired idea is to be accepted in explanation of the absence of any fruitful endeavour on the part of the citizens to provide an art gallery of some pretentiousness for themselves. The position might be more amusing than otherwise were it not for the fact that this attitude of tho enthusiasts for art in Wellington in hanging expectantly upon the skirts of the Government threatens the taxpayers of the country as a whole with a heavy cost. As it happens, a stage has been reached at winch the national art gallery project has become very deftly linked np with-the requirements of the Dominion Museum. Tha conjunction is a subtle one. Tho deputation of Wellington citizens which interviewed tho Prime Minister yesterday on the subject was not lacking in selfconfidence. It coolly asked that in order to enable a dominion museum and art galloiy "worthy of the'country to be erected in Wellington" the Government should increase to £IOO,OOO a grant of £75,000 previously promised, should contribute £IO,OOO a year, and should provide portion of the cost of a site. Small, wonder that Mr Massey confessed that he was somewhat staggered by the request, and that ho bethought himself of the unfinished parliamentary buildings and of the necessity of finding the funds for the completion of them in tho very near future. Tho Minister might have cited other undertakings of magnitude which will entail tho expenditure at no distant date of very large sums of public money in Wellington. One of these is the construction of a railway terminus that will eliminate the present unsatisfactory state of affairs in respect of the railway stations and facilities at Wellington. While it will be most costly, this will obviously be an essential public work. Another is the vcbuilding of the departmental offices at Wellington. This step is long overdue. In the circumstances the proposals for the endowment of Wellington with such a costly luxury as a national art gallery at tho expense of the whole coun- j try is so mudh tho less entitled to seri-1

ous consideration. Responsibility for the Dominion Museum the Government has to shoulder, and the need that the valuable contents of the, museum should be housed in a new and adequate building must he recognised. But that should be a matter quite apart from the claim for the establishment of a Dominion Art Gallery in Wellington, and if the Government has encouraged the idea of hanging a project that is non-essential upon one that is essential its complaisance is unfortunate. In Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin very creditable art galleries have been established by private enterprise, without assistance from the State. It has been open to the citizens of Wellington to demonstrate their practical interest in art in a similar manner. They appeal, however, to the Government to make amends for their own neglect, and by way of argument glorify the object of their desire with the appellation of a ‘‘national” undertaking. Manifestly their interest in obtaining an art gallery is none the less parochial. There is no need for a dominion or Rational art gallery in New Zealand. And the opinion of the not disinterested citizens of Wellington should have no weight as a reflection of the opinion of the dominion as a whole respecting the propriety of the expenditure of public money upon such a project.

FARMERS AND POLITICS. As President of the Farmers’ Union Mr W. J. Poison naturally surveys the world around him from an agricultural standpoint. That-is looked for by those who expect him in a presidential address to throw light upon the problems in which they are particularly interested. Upon the relation of farmers to politics they will, however, not all accept the views expounded by him- The sincerity of Mr Poison’s complimentary references to Mr Massey and to the regal’d in which the Prime Minister is held by the farmers of the dominion is made clear by the apprehension which he has been at pains to express respecting what may happen when the day of Mr Massey’s retirement is reached. “It is with the effects of that retirement, whenever it may take place,” observes f Mr Poison, “that wo are immediately concerned,” It is suggested that only the influence of Mr Massey has prevented the farmers in New Zealand from imitating their fellow-producers elsewhere and declaring that the time has come when they should have a political party of their own. Among members of the Farmers’ Union Mr Poison lias been one of the most active advocates of political action on the part of that organisation. "VVe are tempted to suggest that in this respect he supplies an example of zeal rather than of discretion. Those representative of sec tional interests who attempt to play a political hand are very apt to have cause for repentance. The adoption of the policy favoured by Mr Poison and others would mean the creation of another political party in this country, and consequently the dissipation of energies that might usefully be concentrated and directed in opposition to political extremists with whom the farmers have nothing in common and from whom, as a class, they have nothing to hope. The view that the Farmers’ Union would be able to accomplish more in the interests of the producers than it is doing at present if it were to abandon its non-party complexion and enter the political arena is based upon assumptions for whiyh encouragement is not offered in experience elsewhere. Surely Australia has provided illustrations in plenty of the dangers that are associated with the existence of purely agrarian parties to furnish a warning to the farmers in this dominion. Moreover, the introduction of political partisanship into an organisation such as the Farmers’ Union must have only one effect, and that of a disruptive kind, upon the organisation itself.

A largo number of immigrants wore passengers by tho express from Christchurch to Invercargill yesterday. Some of them left tho train at stations between Christchurch and Dunedin, and othera alighted here or went on to Invercargill. Many of them were farm labourers.

The Christchuxch-Invercargill express yesterday was late in leavinig Christchurch and did not reach Dunedin until 5 p.m. Her belated departure was accounted for by the late arrival of the ferry steamer Maori at Lyttelton. As tho result of a recent disagreement in one of the Wellington women’s clubs in connection with which legal proceedings ore supposed to be pending, it has been decided (reports our correspondent) to establish another club. With this object in vtow a very well-attended meeting of women was held in Wellington yesterday when those present decided to form tho Wellington Women’s Club. A committee was formed and about 150 women have agreed to become foundation members. Tho following statement has been issued by Cr J, S. Douglas (chairman of the Tramways Committee) in connection with tho inquiry held by the tramway manager (Mr W. 11. Mackenzie) into the circumstances of tho derailment of the Maori Hill oar at the City road curve on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 16. Tho report is as follows : —ln view of the fact that statements had been, made by a newspaper and elsewhere that students had interfered with the trolley pole, it was thought advisable that four students should bo asked to attend the inquiry. .From the statements made by the students, and also by the witnesses called on behalf of the niotarman, no support was obtained for the allegation that the students bad interfered with tho equipment. A letter had been written to Mr K. E. Hall, president of the Students’ Association, by the manager, to tlio effect that tho evidence given by the four students was entirely satisfactory, and completely refuted the misleading statements that had been made. Their ericlonoo was corroborated by many of tbo witnesses who wore called on behalf of the motorman, who were in a position to see what had happened, as they were on tho rear bumper of the car, right alongside the trolley pole rope. If the trolley pole had been interfered with, or had corno off accidentally, the working of the brakes would not have boon interfered with in the least, as the magnetic brake acted independently of the overhead wire, and obtained its energy from tho motors revolving. When tire magnetic brake was applied tho power had to lx> shut off. In tho face of these facts there was no basis for tho fear that had been expressed that a oar was rendered unsafe when tho pole cam© off. The accident was caused by the fact that the car was travelling too fast when approachiing tho curve, and consequently could not negotiate it. The speed as laid down in tho regulations, had been exceeded, and the mot-orman, in consequence, has been dierated from motonuan to conductor. Dredge 222 is at present in tbo old dock at Port Chalmers for her annual repairs and is undergoing a very thorough overhaul. Her hoppers require fairly extensive repairs and tho cost this year is estimated to run into something like £ISOO. Though tho dredge has long done excellent) service to tho board the alterations carried out by tho superintendent engineer make her sicapable of doing all tho work required of her and of dredging hard sand that does not lend iteelf well to pumping.

The Postal authorities advise that 81 bags of English and Australian newspaper® ex the Matin’a, from Vancouver, at Auckland, are due hero to-night, and will be delivered to-morrow morning.

In connection with soldier settlements, the secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr A. C. Loingfl, has been advised by the Dominion Revaluation Board that its work has boon completed on the North Otago and Kelso settlements. Melville Park and Crossbill Settlements were being dealt with this week, and Tokoiti, Pukoawa, Teviot, Dalmain, and Westoott were under oomaidaration. The report on the Poplar Grove Settlement had not yet come into the board’s hands. Mr Laing stated that great anxiety was being felt at the present time by soldier settlers who had not had the board’s findings communicated to them, as July 31 was the end of the half year, and on August 31 another half year’s rent fell due. The settlers wore anxious to know where they stood before making payment of a further six months’ rent

To-morrow will bo the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival at Port Chalmers of the ship Mairi Bhau which, then on her maiden voyage, brought to Otago from Glasgow 453 fines' and immigrants together with some saloon passengers. On the same day there arrived at Port Chalmers the well-known ship Peter Dermy, with 365 immigrants from London. There was a somewhat smaller attendance at the Octagon Hall yestreday for the weekly community sing than is usually the case. This was probably due to the col< weather. The hall, however, was curtained off in such a way as to bring the singers together, and when those present finally became settled it was evident from the volume of sound that they were making up for lost time. Mr V. T. Drew had charge during the first half and his place was then taken by Mr W. R. Sinclair, Miss Bit Holmes presiding at the piano and their combined efforts were instrumental in making the “sing” a very successful one. The secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr A. C. Laing) yesterday sent fhe following telegram to Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., dealing with the question of houses for soldiers: —“The Financial Statement says that £391,100 has been advanced to 507 soldiers fox the erection of dwellings. Can you ascertain the number of town and also the number of farm dwellings, the respective amounts, and also the number and amount for Otago?” It is understood that, the association is calling a general meeting of all interested to discuss the question early next week. The street paving that is being done m Lower. Rattray street near the Harbour Board’s now ehed was estimated in the first place to cost something like £2OO, but with all the facilities now required the figure has been altered to £SOO. The buildings of two business firms still remain to be moved back before the street can be widened tor give more satisfactory access to this port of the wharf.

The Musselburgh School Committee is faced with big expenditure in asphalting, grading, and draining the school playground. After a few days’ rain the playground has the appearance of a lake, and it cannot be claimed that it is healthy for the children. Instead of organising concerts or bazaars, the head master and committee are appealing to the householders to contribute the amount required by direct giving, and a circular has been forwarded to 'each householder soliciting donations, [t is estimated that about £2OO will be required, of which the Education Department will contribute two-thirds, on condition that the local residents contribute one-third. Any resident who is doubtful concerning the need of this expenditure should pay a visit to the school playground. The head master and the school committee confidently anticipate a generous response to their appeal for donations. An indication was given by Mr Massey, when replyinig to a deputation yesterday (says a Press Association menage), that the Government will vary soon have to commence the completion of the Parliamentary Building. Ha said that the old Government House, which was now part of Parliament Building, was no credit to Parliament, the country, or to Wellington. The new wing should be completed without delay. The present wooden building was not a fit place to entertain, distinguished visitors. The completion of Parliament Building had been allowed to stand over; but ho did not think it could bo delayed much longer. The rainfall registered at Trotter’s Greek for the past few days (writes our correspondent) was 80 points. A meteor of great brilliancy passed through the northern sky about 9.30 on Wednesday evening, and was followed after about three minutes by the sound of a distant rumbling explosion. Recently the secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr A. C. Laing) wrote to the Minister in Charge of State Advances pointing out that numbers of applicants for advances to erect booses had been compelled, owing to the delay in granting loans, to proceed with the erection of their houses, and had been compelled to arrange private finance pending the granting of the loan. The suggestion was made that if the erection of a dwelling was completed within a reasonable time prior to the application being considered it should be treated as an application to erect. The Minister (Mr Massey) now advises that where the dwelling has only recently been erected it will be regarded by the Advances Board as an eligible security for a loon. A unique song and story entertainment arranged by Miss Freda S. Warner in aid of primary work at the United Congregational Sunday School will! bo given at Stuart Hall to-morrow night.' Port Chalmers. —J. Watson’s winter clearing sale, general drapery, clothing, furnishings, boots and shoes, now proceeding. —Advt. A, E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt. Save your eyes.—Consult Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F.L.0., London, consulting and oculists’ optician.—“ Peter Dick,” jewellers and opticians, Moray place, Dunedin.— Advt.