Untitled

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16464, 17 June 1919, Page 2

Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have been given a farewell luncheon in London by the High Commissioner, so we may suppose that they are really setting their faces homeward and that they will be hero before the end of July. The difficulties caused by their absence would not have been nearly so great had the Cabinet been allowed to carry on in spite of tho absence of the two leaders . It seems improbable that cather Mr. Massey or Sir Joseph Ward wished tho machinery of Government to be altogether idle during their visit to Europe, but the members of Cabinet seem to have decided to mark time till tho return of the loader’s. This attitude has clone a great deal of harm to tho prestige of the Coalition Ministry. Reports from the Commission on the Intiuneza Epidemic and from the Board of Trade on the coal industry are botli hold up, apparently because one or other party hopes to secure an advantage in the political contest from their publication. In most other things tho Cabinet has shown masterly inactivity, and the leaders will return to find that tho credit balance of the Coalition Ministry in the country is considerably overdrawn. This state of affairs is not justified, for the Ministry lias accomplished much good work and New Zealand stands high in the estimation of the Empire, both on account of tho patriotism of its people and tlie efficient management of its military forces. AIL this has been forgotten because there have been a number of minor causes of friction for which the Government have been blamed and which tho Ministers left behind have done little to correct. At present each party is manoeuvring to put tho blame on the other party of the coalition and it is doubtful whether the loaders are either of them capable of giving the country the lead it needs. Much will depend on tho course of events during the session, and it is to be hoped that members will take wide views and abandon the petty bickering of which we have seen too much in the past.

On the invitation of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Mr. Peter Cheat, president of the Auckland Railway League, will visit New Plymouth tomorrow for the purpose of addressing jr public meeting on tho question of railway construction in the northern half of tho North Lsland. There has arisen from end to end of the Dominion a demand for more vigorous prosecution of new’ railway works, and unless Taranaki keeps its requirements in this direction w’cll in the limelight it stands a chance, of being left out in the cold when tho railway construction votes are dealt with by Parliament. Mr. Cheal is addressing a series of Meetings in tho Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki district® with a view tu' bringing about their co-operation with Auckland in pressing the claims of the whole of the northern half of the island to consideration. It seems to us that there are three railways in particular which the provinces may well unite in supporting with all their weight. AVo refer to those uniting Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay with Auckland and that of linking up Auckland with tho extreme north. These are all national and in no sense local lines, and therefore may fairly claim to be considered on equal terms with the Otira tunnel or any other lino'. It will bo an advantage if Auckland, Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay can pull together, and there is no reason why they should not do so in respect to these particular lines. But it is essential that Taranaki shall not he a. sleeping partner; it must not allow Auckland and Hawke’s Bay to exercise more than their share of tho weight of the combination. The Stratford Main Trunk line must be treated as of equal importance to the East Coast line or the North Auckland line, and above all Auckland must not be allowed to place tho eastern end of the lino in front of the western end. This is a lino of very vital '.importance to New Plymouth, for it will bring the Oh urn trade here, to its natural outlet. Mr. Cheat must not be allowed to go away from here with the idea that New Plymouth is indifferent on the subject and that the Auckland Railways League can make uso of Taranaki in furthering the construction of tho eastern end of the line to the neglect of this end. In days long gone by Mu’. Cflical was wellknown in New Plymouth, having been a surveyor. here and his association with the district is perpetuated in the name of tho Cheal. Road, Ngaere. The meeting will be hold at te Good Templar Hall at eight o’clock to-morrow evening, and the Mayor will preside.