WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE MEAT POOL. PROPOSED LEGISLATION. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. The Meat Export Control Bill, the measure intended to give effect to the “meat pool” proposal, was introduced in the House last night and was explained at some length by the Prime Minister. It follows generally the, lines that have been indicated by Mr ; Massey from time to time, but involves the State in a larger financial responsibility than most members expected. The board which is to control the administration of the scheme is to consist of two members appointed by the Governor-General and five members appointed by the producers of meat for export. It will have very wide powers indeed, covering the handling of the meat from the time it enters tile freezing works till its disposal “on such terms as it thinks advisable.” The State’s guarantee will be behind the board’s finance in a very full and effective measure. The Minister of Finance will have authority to borrow on the security of Treasury bills any amount that may be required by the board to carry on its operations and “to pay the same into the board’s account.” The Bill is coming up for its second reading to-night and Mr Massey is inclined to permit of no delay in its

passage. COMMISSION ON TAXATION

The “Dominion,” which lately lias been displaying some anxiety concerning the Government’s finance, takes Mr Massey to task this morning, as severely as a friend may, for discouraging the appointment of a Royal Commission, as suggested by the Hon J. A. -Hanan, to review the incidence of taxation. “It is an attitude, it

says, “difficult to reconcile with Mr Massey’s own statement thau the present incidence of taxation, is not satisfactory, and that if Parliament were able to provide a more satisfactory system of taxation it would be a strong factor in restoring the prosperity of the country.” The Reform organ suggests that the Prime Minister is fully : alive to the far-reaching harm done by an unsound system of taxation, but fears that if taxation problems were searchingly investigated and freely discussed demands would be raised for sweeping changes which it would bdifficult to reconcile with the present

imperative need for maintaining a big revenue. It bad been understood by business'men in the city that the Mmi.Gor had undertaken to set up a com-

mittee of independent experts to review the incidence of taxation, but apparently the “Dominion” assumes he ,has' abandoned this idea. RETRENCHMENT.

Reports coming in from the provincial districts show that feeling' among the‘public servants against the Government’s retrenchment programme is by no means confined to the city. Large and extremely indignant meetings at Wanganui, Marton, Palmerston North and other centres have expressed the strongest disapproval of what tney have described as Mr Massey’s'breach , : f faith and of the injustice-that has j oen inflicted upon the lower pah. members of the Service. But people who .profess to know something of tin temper of the men declare there is more noise than determination in their protest. The average - public servant, they s ay, realises that the Government is in a very tight place financially and that it will need every shilling to weather the difficulties of the next year or two. This being the case, they maintain, the memliers o. the Service are not going to aggravate the trouble for the Government and themselves- by fomenting labour strife that could have onlv one deplorable end. They probably are right. Even Air H. E. Holland and his friends in the House are iot half as bellicose as they were in the days of uninterrupted prosperity. IMPENDING GENERAL ELECTION.

The talk of election prospects continues on the assumption that the polling will take place as usual about the middle of December. It is thought that the position of the Government has not been greatly prejudiced by its retrenching activities, but that the- railway and post and telegraph “muddles as many of the critics put it, will turn a much larger number of ■ votes over to one or another of the Opposition groups. Much depends upon what these .rroups may do towards the removal of their differences during the next three or four months. If they were able to appeal to the constituencies as a united force, freed, on the one band of the appearance of faint-hearted Liberalism, and, on the other, of the suspicion of irresponsible Socialism, tbev probably would return to the new House with a good working majority. But at the moment there is little •rround for hoping for such a development. The man to bring it about is not in the present Parliament and there is no sign of him in the country.