The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland. N.Z. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1927. NO FLOWERS FOR LABOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 173, 12 October 1927, Page 10

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland. N.Z. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1927. NO FLOWERS FOR LABOUR

AN echo of the tumult of delight at the defeat of the iiieom- ** petent Labour Government in New South Wales lias been carried gleefully to this country by touring Australians. It is reported that they are jubilant over the prospect of securing wholesome government and a constitutional cure for political lunacy. It way he said, however, that by far the most exhilarating news about it all is the announcement that the Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang (who lias been aptly described as the champion political gold-brick merchant of Australia.) will resign next week without incurring the humiliation of meeting the new House. It is to be regretted that the routed Ministry lias the technical right to linger in office for even as long as another week. Still, the fact that a disgraceful band is certain to be dispersed at last will console those who would wish it scattered like dust. It ought to be noted in fairness to the Premier-elect that much greater things politically arc expected from him than he is likely to provide or perform. Indeed, no one need envy Mr. T. R. Bavin, a former New Zealander who has marched laboriously to the highest place in his adopted country. His prospective position is not one to be coveted lightly by any conscientious man. It is true that he is the administrative heir to a great responsibility, but the legacy that has been left to him by the Lang Government is more suited to a man with a mnek-rake than to an immature, but courageous administrator. But it is reasonable to anticipate at least a satisfactory record of straight government by the Nationalist-Country Party, whose majority in the garnished Legislative Assembly is sufficient to enforce the will of honest men on the political service of the State. The new Ministerial party’s policy is a very moderate one in the circumstances, and probably most pleasing in its lack of humbug and glaring political lies. Perhaps it was inevitable that prospective reform should take a cautious course at the outset, but there would have been more cause for jubilation had the working policy of the Pact against Labour been less timid and more free of pretentious platitudes. After all, however, the test of the Bavin Government which is to be, as compared with the murky story of Labour misrule and riotous profligacy, will be in the reaim of State finance. In this field of administrative activity the Lang Government, to say nothing about its blundering predecessors, has out-borrowed any other impecunious Government in the world. Throughout the 59 years of constitutional government in New South Wales before the war the State borrowed £116,000,000 in round figures. In the dozen years since the war, it has raised, excluding Commonwealth war-expenditure, over £106,0100,000. Last year, Mr. Lang borrowed £15,000,000, and then could not show a satisfactory result. It has been estimated that it will take a loan expenditure of £10,000,000 a year for a long time in order to bring State enterprises to the interestpaying stage. No wonder that the Labour Government will be buried soon without flowers.

MOUNT ROSKILL AND THE CITY

SO far, the suburban boroughs and road boards that have 1 joined the city have done so unconditionally. Mount Rosk ill is more cautious. The deputation that waited on the Mayor of Auckland yesterday to ask that its district should find shelter under civic robes required several assurances. As to the first request, £4,8100 was raised by the vote of the ratepayers for a crushing plant; the district needs a public hall, and there should be no reason why the money should not be used for that purpose. The question of raising- £83,000 specially for Mount Roskill work is different. If the district comes into the city, its roading requirements will have to be considered in with the needs of other suburbs. Then there appears to be a difficulty in regard to rating. The people of Mount Roskill voted to have rating on unimproved values; the city rates on improved values. Will the majority of Mount Roskill sink its principle in this respect for the sake of being linked up with the city? As for tram extensions, tramway matters are in too great a condition of uncertainty for the making of promises.

And as. a matter fact, the city will make no promises. The Mayor reminded the deputation that other local bodies had received no assurances of special consideration, though he claimed that all had been fairly treated. “You would have to take the city’s word for a great deal,” observed Mr. Baildon. which meant (since he would pass no promise) that Mount Roskill would have to take its chance of the city doing the fair thing. It will be on this condition that the ratepayers of Mount Roskill will go to the poll on the question of amalgamation; but if they decide to become part of Greater Auckland, there is little fear that their interests will be neglected.

TROUBLE IN THE SOLOMONS

INDICATIONS are that there is to be a “brisk little war” in the Solomon Islands. The massacre at Malaita of District Commissioner Bell, a white cadet, 15 native police and the crew of a steamer, has been followed by that excitement which bloodshed always arouses in the natives. The Solomon Islanders are for the most part a bloodthirsty lot with an unenviable history of headhunting and cannibalism. There are 150,000 of them, and while those on the coast may easily be dealt with by a warship, to reach those in the interior will be a much more difficult matter, involving long and costly operations and not unlikely the loss of European life. „ The cause of the massacre is said to have been the imposition of a tax of 5s a head for the upkeep of a steamer whieh is alleged to spend three-fourths of its time in Fiji—“an iniquitous thing,” the late Commissioner Bell is reported to have said. It was while collecting this tax that he was murdered with his following. But whatever the cause of the rising, the authorities are taking a serious view of the situation and are preparing to deal! with it in force. Australia, whose assistance has been asked by the British Government, is dispatching the cruiser Adelaide to the scene. There are nearly 700 Europeans resident in these islands; they may be in very desperate danger, and the dispatch of armed aid cannot be too greatly hastened,,