The Star. MONDAY, MAY 24, 1926. A RACE BETWEEN CITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17854, 24 May 1926, Page 8

The Star. MONDAY, MAY 24, 1926. A RACE BETWEEN CITIES.

Interest in the census figures for Christchurch lies chiefly in the question of whether the City of the Plains will take second place to Auckland in the matter of population. Although the Wellington figures arc not available, it will not be surprising to find that Christchurch has forged ahead. The Statistician, whose estimates of population are usually accurate, reckoned that on April 1, 1925, the Wellington urban area had a population of 118,490, and Christchurch 118,2/0. However, of Wellington's total only 21,120 represented the suburban area, while the corresponding Christchurch area was estimated at 35,023. This point is of some significance in estimating the growth of a city. A survey of Christchurch, from the Port Hills, shows how the city is growing over an extremely wide area, with unlimited room for further expansion. The actual population of the urban area is 123,097, using the 4921 figures for Sumner, in the absence of the latest figures for that borough. In round figures, Christchurch, on April 1, 1926, had a population of more than 5000 beyond the Statistician’s estimate a year earlier. It will no doubt be found that Christchurch and Wellington are still racing neck and neck for second place, but in view of the special advantages Wellington enjoys as the seat of Government, it is a matter for congratulation that Christchurch is not losing ground in the race, and it is certain that the very great natural advantages of Christchurch, from an industrial as well as a home-building point of view, must carry it ahead of its Cook Strait rival in a very few years’ time. But Christchurch people must show a greater sense of civic enterprise if they are to make their city worthy of those who planned it, and a forward movement in the matter of roading and industrial expansion, to mention only two urgent matters, would help to consolidate and improve the very satisfactory position already attained.

The appointment of Mr R. A. Wright as Minister of Education and of Sir Heaton Rhodes as temporary leader of the Legislative Council will put an end, for the time being, to speculations regarding Cabinet reconstruction. It may he that a further appointment will he made to relieve the Prime Minister of the responsible portfolio of Public Works, but in the meantime Ministers will be able to carry on comfortably enough, and there may he no further changes until Mr Coates leaves for the Imperial Conference. Whether he will make a further addition to the Cabinet, or merely readjust portfolios, is not stated. Mr Wright has earned his position fairly. He is easily the most vigorous speaker in the House, in a physical sense, and his talents in this direction are likely to stand him in good stead against a noisy Opposition. He is a tireless worker, and has studied educational problems deeply enough to ensure success in his new undertaking. Sir Heaton Rhodes’s appointment and the transferring of the Attorney-Generalship to Mr Rolleston will strengthen the belief that is held in some quarters that Mr E. P. Lee may lie nominated for the Speakership, unless he is to become Chairman of Committees. The possibility of a change in the Speakership is interesting because it would deprive Labour of the position of official Opposition, but it may suit Mr Coates’s book to let Mr Holland have his chance, and in that case Mr Lee would have to wait for the preferment which is considered to he his due.