WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

PRICE OF BUTTER

AN INDIGNANT MINISTER

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, July 8

Tin* Hon. W. T). S. MacDonald, who just now is holding rjiiit-e a bundle oi portfolios in addition to that of Minister oi Agriculture, is showing no dis]H)sition to modify his criticism of the action of the National Dairy Association in sending delegates to Australia io induce the butter producers of the Commonwealth to join with those of New Zealand in raising the price on the Imperial Government. He thinks it unfriendlv, inequitable and even disloyal. The‘ imperial Government, he reiterates, in addition to providing the necessary, shipping facilities, has treated the Dominion most generously in fixing prices, and ensuring prompt payments. , To demand still higher rates from the Mother Country in the hour of her sorest need and to induce the producers of Australia to follow the deplorable example was surely a poor way of showing our devotion to the Empire and our gratitude to the people who are bearing the bitterest burden ol the war.

PUBLIC OPINION. Public opinion here is entirely with the Minister and emphatically against the butter producers. The •'Evening Post” after, [minting out that last year the Australians sold at 151 s per cwt. and were quite satisfied, mentions that now they are demanding 180 s while the New Zealand producers are asking 1965. It asks if the Government cannot do something to restrain the rapacity of the dairymen. No doubt it could refuse to carry on negotiations with the Imperial authorities on such a basis and if Air. MacDonald had his way it probably will. In that ease the Imperial Government, having control of all the available shipping, coulcl prae tie-ally commandeer the butter, but he is: anxious for the credit of the Dominion that the producers should take a more decent view of its obligations to the British consumers. PROHIBITION AND COMPENSATION.

When the Secretary of the New Zealand Alliance stated that- with a view to an immediate and final settlement of the liquor question the Alliance had decided to waive its objection to compensation it was generally assumed that the official Prohibitionists were prepared to accept the .recommendations of the National Efficiency Board upon this point, but it seems now from a further statement made by Air. Dawson that his executive still has to consider the amount < f compensation to he paid to the Trade. The Efficiency Board, presumably without going into precise details estimated the amount at four arid a half millions, rather less than most people expected; hut it is'said many Prohibitionists regard it as outrageously excessive and are prepared to continue the old fight rather than submit to such an exaction or tolerate the continuance of any part of the. business un der State Control. Jn these circumstances a settlement does not look very close at hand.

THE WANGAXUI ENQUIRY. The deputation from the United Federation of Labour which waited upon the Acting Prime Minister and several of bis colleagues on Saturday with various requests in connection with the enquiry info the management of the -Wanganui detention barracks came away only with the assurance that the .Magistrate conducting the enquiry would have a free- hand. Sir James Allen could not see how the investigation could be conducted i:i public, but there would he no objection to a counsel being employed if the .Magistrate thought it necessary and the official report would lie published. This is all the deputation obtained from ihe .Minister and apparently it is all he will concede. A high military authority has slated that the only objection he has to a public enquiry is that a wider knowledge of the good time, enjoyed by the conscientious objectors might encourage many other Reservists to fall into the same perverted frame of mind. Tin’s officer has inspected the Wanganui barracks and professes to know all about its methods.