ANOTHER SCORE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2298, 31 October 1914, Page 6

ANOTHER SCORE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER

-It must be very depressing at times to those noisy people who arc constantly shrieking maledictions at tho Massey Government to find Ministers calmly pursuing the even tenor of their way and doing tho very things. they are accused of neglecting. The latest example of tho Government's industry and enterprise came to light yesterday, when tho Prime Minister informed the House of Representatives that he had made arrangements with the Prime Minister' of Canada for the purchase of 250,000 bushels of wheat to relieve the shortage that exists in this country. The Government, despite the exceptional pressure Ministers have.been working under, is thus in a fair way to complete tue task which it undertook some time ago of staving off what threatened to develop into a very serious situation. _ Before the fact that a shortage existed became generally known Mr. ' Massey took time by the forelock and purchased as much wheat as was obtainable in Australia. The quantity, obtained, though fairly large, was insufficient to make good tho deficiency in the; Dominion, and further supplies from tho same source are. cut off meantime, because the doubtful prospects of the next wheat crop in the Commonwealth ' impose upon that country the necessity of husbanding its existing resources. The Canadian purchase, which has now been effected by tho Prime Minister, is therefore very timely, and will go a long way towards bringing available supplies of wheat in this country up to their . normal level. The deficiency was estimated at about twelve thousand tons of flour, and the 250,000 bushels of Canadian wheat will produce something over five thousand tons of flour. The position is further improved by the fact that considerable importations by private firms are in prospect. Upon these, in view of the exceptional circumstances that _ obtain, the Government has decided'to remit the duty, so that it is quite likely .that tho deficiency, may be wholly wiped out. It is the' intention of tho Government to sell the wheat which it is importing to millers at slightly less than post, so that any increase in tho price of one of the Btaple food-stuffs'_ may be as far aa possible obviated. The fact that wheat instead' of flour is being imported will, of course, provide a certain of employment within the Dominion. It is quite evident that in coping with the difficulty that arose the Government arranged ovory detail with prudence and forethought, and its enterprising action in this and other matters of the kind Bhould effectively discount tho'vague and unsure ported slanders.—born of political venom—of which it has recently been made the target in connection with thq regulation of food prices. No Government we venture to think has been more foully and unjustly attackcd i by its opponents at a timo of national crisis than tho Massey Government has been during tho past few weoks. Its actions have been twisted and distorted; it has been-cruelly assailed with innuendo arid false suggestion ; its offorts have been hampered by unfair criticism, whereas its opponents, if they know their duty to the country, should instead be striving by evcrv means in their power to lend Ministers assistance and lighten the heavy burden of work and, worry which they are carrying in -these momentous ,days of grave, omargencica and weighty responsibilities.