TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1929, Page 10

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Too much attention is being given in the Hutt by-election to hypothetical no-confidence motions. "How would you vote on a no-confidence amendment moved by Mr. Holland?" has been asked, and without waiting for the answer the questioner proceeds to make a political classification on the basis of this assumed vote. Want-of-confidence amendments are, of course, of first importance. A candidate by his pledges on such points can be classified; but the three-party position in the House of Representatives makes a simple classification impossible. The Leader of x the Labour Party some years ago produced a pamphlet, with a collection of division lists, "How the Liberals Voted," designed to show that the Liberals were neither so liberal nor so independent as they professed to be. Last session Mr. Holland and his followers had to do the explaining. They realised then that division lists do not furnish a full explanation. The lists of last session might be used, up to a point, as a proof that Labour had gone cold on its Socialistic principles and had even missed opportunities of defeating a non-Socialist United Government. Mr. Holland's explanation is that Labour had to choose between recording a vote for some principle which it supported and keeping Reform out of office. Labour considered it most important to keep Reform out.

These facts and instances are mentioned, not because we are intensely interested in party manoeuvres, but because there is a bigger principle behind the votes. The public are not greatly concerned with the party meanings, which may be drawn or twisted out of a series of divisions. But the public are concerned with the principles which guide the parties. Sooner or later the political position must be re-defined. United and Reform must consider whether they will fight each other for mastery right to the end, while Labour stands by ready to take advantage of their preoccupation. If the fight is continued, it may come to such a pass that a minority Labour Government will attain office because the other two parties cannot forget their jealous rivalry. The question for non-Socialist voters and candidates now is: "Do you wish party bickering to be carried to such an extreme, or will you help to x secure a settlement of minor differences so that a strong Government may be formed not subject to Socialist pressure or dictation?"

A special rate, earmarked for reserves, was suggested'by the chairman of the City Council Reserves Committee. Only by such means, he said, could sufficient revenue be obtained to effect all the improvements desired. It was not exactly clear whether Councillor Burn proposed the rate as security for a Reserves Loan (which would require ratepayer sanction) or to provide a revenue surplus which would be used each year for new works. We'-can see objections to the latter proposal. If the Reserves Committee obtains money from a special rate, it is quite possible that the Council will say: "We need not giv6 so much for reserves out of the general fund." This is by no means impossible. At present there is a Bpecial Library rate, and it was increased this year. But out of that Library rate the Council actually demands and takes over £1100 for rates, rent, and services. Until this unjustifiable raid on the Library funds is ended (and some recompense made for the past) citizens will be chary of consenting to the levy of new special rates.

"Market dull," or "quiet,", or "slow" have been the reports from the London dairy produce market during the past month, and the outlook for one of the Dominion's star industries is far from bright. Cablegrams to-day are to the effect that the usual Christmas demand for butter has been negligible, and the tendency of butter and cheese prices is downward all the time. The price for new season's New Zealand butter opened at Ist December at 164s to 170s per cwt, and this was a fall of 5s per cwt on the week. To-day the price is down to 160s to 1645, and this compared with 182s to 186s, the rale ruling this time last year. Cheese is in the same plight, steadily declining, New Zealand this week selling at 88s to 90s per cwt, as compared with 91s to 92s last week and 97s to 98s last year. As indij cated in the cablegrams to-day, there appear to have been larger stocks of New Zealand produce held over from last season than the Dairy Board's returns indicate, for, in both butter and cheese, stocks in store to-day are almost the same as they were at this time last year. The Board is advised by cablegram that, notwithstanding the weakening of the wholesale market day by day during the past week or so, London retail prices are unchanged, so that but little relief is to be looked for by way of stimulated consumption. Competition with foreien butters in the British market

continues to be severe, to say nothing of that as between the overseas Dominions and Ireland in this market. Fortunately production in New Zealand, so far as the season has gone, is 4£ per cent, higher than that of last season, and a butter-fat record output is expected. With lower returns than were expected, however, there will naturally be restriction in local purchasing power, unless such economies in cost of production and distribution have been effected as will mitigate the depressed prices. For all the increasing quantities of butter supplied to Canada, the United Kingdom is still New Zealand's best dairy produce market, and its condition has a very marked influence directly on the dairy industry in New Zealand, and indirectly on the trade and industry of the Dominion as a whole—a point that should be kept well in view.