WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE lII' U( I FT DELATE. MR WII.KURD'S AMENDMENT. SPECIAL TO or AUDI AN. \\ El lIXUTUN. Nov. It'. \s was generally nut icipa led. Ihe di vision mi Mr Will "id's amendment to the lVnne Minister’s motion Lm going into Committee of Supply, was taken last night and was rejected by the substantial party majority of fl. to -1There was no particular significance about the debate or about the division, unless it was the appearance of improving relations between the Liberals and the Labourites. The lines that divide the two parties appeared less and less pronounced as the debate P” 1 - oressed and last night there seemed from their speeches little difference on questions that mattered between the views of Mr Uenrge Forbes, a typical farmers’ representative and tlmse of Mr K. .1. Howard, one of the most, progressive. as well as owe of the most capable of the Labour members. Mr Howard, by the way. strongly resents the general assumption that the Labour I’artv is hostile to the interests of the farmers. ITe claims that no other party recognises so fully as the Labour Party does that the prosperity of the whole country is vrnpjKxl up in the prosperity of the men on tin* bind and that no other party is so anxious to promote their welfare. THE FARMERS’ FRIENDS.

The discussion of the new Customs Tariff already is presenting difficulties to members of the House who wish to help the Government through its troubles and at the same time to stand well with their constituents, .sir John I,like, (be member for 'Wellington North is one of tbe faithful followers of Mr Massey who arc finding themselves sadly perplexed in this connection. Sir John Hants protection for certain city industries through the tariff and last week he turned angrily upon the-coun-try members who did not share Ids aspirations. Tbe butter subsidy, be said, lad. been paid to help the farmers. It was more camouflage to say that tbe subsidy bad been intended to make tilings easier for the consumers. Tbe subsidy was assistance for the farmer lrinisclf. Naturally this brought a. storm of angry and derisive protest from tin' country members. Tbe fact is. of course, that the subsidy was paid to the farmers to secure a supply of butter for heal consumption at a lower price than tbe one tbe Imperial Government was paving for the Dominion’s exportable balance. Tbo subsidy was not to help the farmers in any way. but to enable the consumers to obtain cheaper butter. A FAMILY 0FA11I1ET;.

Nn doubt Sir John Buko has been 1 nkf'ii to task by liis party loader folios “astounding mis-statement of Dio facts” as his attempt to score off the farmers for the benefit of his otvn constituents lias been described by one of his critics. But this tins not prevented the whole system of subsidies being brought- under review again by people who arc anxious to make party capital out of their payment. The lull ter subsidy, according to the available futures, cost tlm countrv £273.438 in 1 ill9-2(1, £310.803 in 1920-21 and is estimated to cost C 012,897 in ’,921-22. Here is a total of £1,096,430 for the three years and a very large part of it remaining to be paid during the current linnn< in] year, when the Minister of Finance is finding the very greatest difficidiv in laving his hand upon money to keep the machinery of State moving. By and liv someone will ask for a return showing exactly how the subsidy money was expended. hut meanwhile there is no ground for Sir John ] .tike’s assertion that it went into the pockets of the farmers as extra profit. KKBOSKXR. Very strong protests against the in-<-reus'* of the <loty on Kerosene ami similar oil spirits are reaching ttio Ooverimient from various ipiarters. It is lining represented to Mr Massey and 1 1 is colleagues that the duty is a class fax which is not going to fall upon the wealthy, as tho compilers of the tariff have supposed, lint upon the juror and iiron the struggling hack blocks settler. There is a movement in the House to impress this view upon the T’ritno Minister and if necessary to take a vote on the duty should it lie'retained' in the Schedule. Tt- is expected by the projnnters of tho movement, however, t-l'-ft

Mr Massey will recognise the force of their objection and withdraw tlie proposal. They claim to have the weightof big battalions on their side, and this always is an eloquent, argument in tho determination of questions of tho kind. Hut if the kerosene duty is abandoned probably som e other charge will lie ad - ed to the schedule. Air Massey has 1 ('iterated the necessity of obtaining 1 lie amount of money he is seeking and ho rarely goes hack on his calculations in this rwspoct.