WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

A NEVf CONCEPTION

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 29.

The last days of the expiring year find the capital city, for the most part, keeping high holiday festival. The Christinas trade turned out better than was expected. Though people did not spend so ’much as they had done in previous years' on flimsy toys and trivial nick-nacks, .they spend more on useful articles for themselves anil lor their friends. ’flic change, shrewd shopkeepers are saying, js as much due to the improved tost? of. the public as it is to its necessities. The tendency towards utilitarian gifts was noticeable before the war, andJias been accentuated by the increased cost of living. It is economically sound and to the great majority of grown folk entirely acceptable.’ The children still will have their toys and their pretences, but their elders are making unmistakably lor a saner conception of the Christinas

spirit. EXPENDITURE AND PROHPKIUTY. Probably quite as much money has been spent on presents and holidays and recreations during the present Christmas season as during any Christmas season that has preceded it. The politicians and the financial experts for months past have been preaching economy as the first essential towards the salvation of the Dominion, .and the public has given its silent acquiescence to the general principle; hut never before have the trams and trains and steamers been so crowded, the

holiday resorts so densely thronged, the race meetings so largely patronised, and the places of amusement so closely

packed. No one seems to know exactly what the decline, in the purchasing

power of: the sovereign means—perhaps because in these days so few people catch a glimpse of a gold coin—hut there is evidence everywhere that there is plenty of money in the country.

THE NEEDS OF THE TREASUR Y. But with all the funds available for holiday-making and amusement of

every kind, the Minister of Finance still is appealing for the lastmillion of his soldiers’ settlement loan. It looks at the moment as if be would have to exercise the compulsory powers with which he is endowed to obtain what he wants, and though this might result in a more equitable distribution of the burden than would be obtained from, voluntary subscriptions it would not open up a very encouraging prospect for the future. The pessimists, hastening to meet trouble half way, are suggesting that the buge decline in the price of wool and the insecure position of some other products have seriously impaired the resources of many of the “big” men and that their failure to subscribe to the loan is not due to lack of will but to lack of ability. CHANGING HORSES.

On the top of Efiis disconcerting suggestion comes the rumour that there will bo a further reconstruction of the Ministry shortly, made necessary by the retirement of Sir Francis Beil and Sir William Herries, the two strong men among his colleagues to whom Mr Massey always can turn for sage advice on financial matters. Sir Francis Bell, in particular, is a tower ol strength to the Government in this respect and bis absence from the Cabinet table at the present juncture would be a national as well as a party calamity. It is to be sinceic-ly hoped bis services will be retained till the Dominion readies smoother water. Tiie early retirement of Sir AA’illiam Herries for personal reasons, seems to be inevitable, and with labour difficulties perplexing the Administration and a revision of the Customs tariff in contemplation it will be, to say the least of it, particularly inopportune.