WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Wheat Growing

Is It Urgent?

(Our Special Correspondent.)

Wellington, March 26 While tho Minister of Agricultare •is in the Santa urging the farmers of Canterbury and Otago to put every acre they can under wheat during the approaching season, the “Dominion” is suggesting that it would be better for New Zealand to concentrate its special efforts on the production of meat and wool, and butter and cheese, and rely upon Australia f,r its supply of foodstuff’. It admits that “the safest means of securing it is to grow it ourselves,’ but it contends that we canuot “produce all the wheat we want without losing men who a::o wanted in the fighting rankj.” In support of its suggestion it points out that in any case ihe great bulk of the wheat must be produced in the South Island and that from there to Auckland is nearly one-half the distance from Australia to thß northern city.

SHOWS AND WAR. The action of the Mauawatu A. and P. Association in dissenting from the proposal of the Hawke’s Bay Association that shows should be abandoned during the war is very generally approved here. The Manawatn Association, which represents one of the meat intensely patriotic communities in the Dominion, has very special warrant for speaking with authority on this question, and its lead is likely io be followed by all tb3 minor Associations in the North Island. Mr J. M. Johnston, the president of the Association, has made it quite clear, however, that if tho Govern-

ment thinks its desirable to discontinue shows during the course of the war Manawatn will cheerfully fall in with its view. Tois completes the propriety of its attitude, but there ie little doubt the shows will be he’d as usual this year even if the Germans should manage to prolong the struggle for another twelve months. IHE SAFEST POLICY. Of course, the contention that Nsw Zealand should confine its efforts to the production of those commodities for which its acil and climate are best adapted is by no means a new one. It ie a good deal older tban 'the war and will be reiterated long after the declaration of peace, Bat the “ Dominion’s ” adore i n thus the oafist polioy is to giow 'he wheat ourselves praotically confirm* all tho Minister has said on the subject. Mr MacDonald has not a-ked for a revolution in th 9 methods of the farmers. He simply want/3 New Zc.1 .....I' * i _ if _ 1 * _i. il. »

land to be sell'-reliant in the present crisis, not !o le*n on Australia for its supply o' wheat nor to impair by a single bushel the assistanoo the Commonwealth will be able to give the Mother Country in ca?e of necessity. THE ABSENT MINISTERS. The story tbit Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, i? they cocne back to New Zealand at. all, will return only to arrange their political and private affairs before taking up their permanent residence in London is agaia being persistently circulated. Sir Joseph Ward, according to the latest edition of the old tale, is to have a seat in the Imperial Council aud incidentally a place iD the House of Lords, .while Mr Massey, who is represented as being infatuated by the business side of London life, is to succeed Sir Thomaß Mackenzie as High Commissioner, with a much improved status and a higher salary. It may be- presumed that the absent Ministers’ colleagues would know something about it if any arrangement of this kind wars in coniempiatioUj but without quoting their opinion of tbe story it is safe to say that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance will be in their places when Parliament meets at the end of June.