WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE MEAT POOL. # BOARD OF CONTROL. SPECIAL TO GUABDIAN. WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. There was some surprise here when it was announced yesterday that the five representatives of the producers on the board which is to control the operations of the meat pool were to be selected by the producers’ committee and the unofficial parliamentary committee which promoted the scheme. It was expected, in view of the very important duties to be undertaken by the hoard that its members would he selected by a. much wider constituency than the one decided upon by the Government. The producers’ committee consists of fourteen members, seven from each island, and the parliamentary committee of six so that only twenty individuals will have a voice in determining the constitution of five-eighths of a body that will exercise even more autocratic powers than the Prime Minister entrusts to any of his colleagues. Mr Massey promises that next year the board will be selected on a more democratic basis, but meanwhile the five-eighths majority will have an opportunity to arrange all the preliminary equipment of a costly office at each end. Unless necessity compels the Prime Minister to retain a very tight hold on the purse-strings the country may find this excursion into co-operative trading somewhat expensive.

POOL THE LOT. Mr AV. J. Poison, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, is not alone in thinking the pool scheme should be made to apply to other products than meat. When the Aleat Export Control Bill was under discussion in the Legislative Council last week Sir Thomas Mackenzie, probably speaking with a more intimate knowledge of the subject than could any other member of the present Parliament, strongly urged that the scheme should lie widely extended. Aleat, lie pointed out, was only one of the Dominion’s products and there was no reason why it should he selected for exclusive treatment. The argument of facts, lie said in effect, wns all the other way. If the arrangements for handling and marketing meat were as complete as they should lie they could he employed to the advantage of all the producers and to the whole country, while the cost of the scheme to the individual would be substantially lessened by its wide distribution. The Prime Alinister concurs with this view to a certain extent, but lie is moving warily in the matter with a desire to make good in one enterprise before embarking upon another. NEW POLITICAL PARTY.

The existing political parlies appear te be li'tle perturbed by the activities uf the new party announced from Auckland. The Reformers re-established their full party organisation immediately after the dissolution of the National Government and their work in preparation for the general election has been going on steadily ever since. They make light of the stories of their declining popularity in the constituencies and of a farmers’ party appealing in opposition to them at the polls. The Liberals are not yet able to speak with a united voice, but their general disposition is towards a good understanding between all the sane, loyal progressive forces in the country and the adoption of a policy that will meet the unreasonable demands <f the producers. In the meantime they regard the movement in Auckland rather as a revolt against Reform than as a reflection upon Liberalism. Official Labour frankly rejoices over any additional divisions among the other parties. Though quite content to stand by proportional representation, it is not indifferent to the advantages it may gain from quarrels among its opponents. THE RAILAA’AY CUT.

Many business men in their zeal lor economy having committed themselves to approval of the Minister’s attempts to star the continued loss of revenue on the railways by cutting out unprofitable services, are handicapped in their criticism of the Hon D. H. Guthrie s latest effort in this direction, hut some of them are admitting now that the policy of i,j g h t barges and lessened facilities for travelling has failed in its purpose. The timidity of the railway management has •moved the opportunity of the motor enterprise, and cars and lorries are running in apposition to the trains over all the short distances and over many of the moderate ones. The Minister, presumably advised by the Geneial Manager, still fondly hopes that hy reducing services he may eventually reach a stage at which the loss on the lines may cease, hut so far his cuts have had an exactly opposite effect. Business people in increasing numbers are requiring the motoring habit, which saves the time which is money to busy men and avoids the discomfort that is inseparable from the restricted services.