WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE MEAT POOL. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WKLLJNGTON, Dec. 21. The discussion oh the Government’s meat pool scheme in the House last night showed members ho be practically unanimous in approval ot the principle of the proposal. Mr George Witty, the member for Riccarton, took some exception to the manner in which the ,scheme had been hatched, but his criticism was directed against the Prime Minister’s methods, not against the policy ho had propounded. Incidentally it gave Mr Massey an opportunity to explain how the scheme had been involved. At one of the regular meetings of the Reform caucus some of the members of the party, anxious for a return to the commandeer conditions, had submitted proposals along the lines ot the scheme now being discussed and the porposals had .seemed of s.j niuci. consequence that they had taken in hand bv the Gvernmcnt. There had been no intention to make the scheme a party alfair in any way; but it had been necessary for the Government to assume responsibility for whatever might bo done, and only to that oxtoni itood it belong more to one aide of the House than to the other. Till? MIDDLEMAN. Tbe note of unanimity which pervadod the House hist night was strangely varied by conflicting opinions concerning the- position the “middleman” would occupy in tbe scheme. Mr Alnsev did not contemplate any difficulty in this direction. He thought the adoption of the pool would help the various firms and companies interested in the handling of tlie farmer’s produce. So far ns tlie Government was concerned it would he very glad to have their assistance ns it knew there were in these linns’ and companies some of the most capable business men to bo found in the country. The freezing ; companies, in particular, and the stock j and station agents, also would tie required. Mr TV'. I). I.ysnnr. on the other hand, who is popularly regarded as something of a middleman himself, solemnly warned ttie Government against the intrusion of “vested interests.” Tho producers and the Government. he said, must dominate the hoard and the mercantile element must bo kept. out. Between these two con-

flicting views were many differing opinions. the general-disposition being to ballast popular management with a certain measure of business experience. TOW ARDS SOn A 1 .ISM. Of course the Government's tentative proposals at'iiealed to the leader of the 1 about- Party in quit© a different way from that in which they appealed to the farmers’ representatives in the House. The position. Mr Holland proclaimed with the air of the only political economist in the Gbamber, meant the utter breakdown of private capitalism. Th©

State was being asked to come to the rescue of the long deluded farmers, and tliungli that did not necessarily lead to Socialism it might be the prelude to a very long step in that direction. The hit. was a perfectly legitimate one, and out of the country’s difficulties Mr Holland and his friends may make much party capital, butt, the Labour lender bes an unhenpy knack- of “©moiling" his own opportunities. Having claimed the Government’s proposals as a don towards Socialism, lie proceeded to on in t Socialism in the crude colours of his own distorted corn-option of tho creed. OUTSIDE THE HOr«I?. Business men who have studied’ the Government's proposals, as far as they may be studied from the reports appearing in tlui newspapers, are not, yet greatly concerned for the fate of private enterprise. They are glad to see tlr’t Mr Massey and most of his sup porers are conscious of the perils that would beset Iho Dominion ill any attempt to over-ride hastily the conditions that have grown up in the Home market. New Zealand cannot get rid of the customs and traditions that exist in London by the stroke of the non or even by an Act of Parliament. But business men recognise frankly that there are improvements to he made in the bundling of frozen moat and other Yew Zealand products at both ends. They are amused, rather than alarmed, by the suggestion that, the middleman should he kip'cked on the head forthwith. and they are quite ready to consider the Government’s’ proposals in a friendly co-operating spirit. But they require a mod deal more information concerning them than they have at present- before they can express any definite opinion upon their merit.