WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1922, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

THE GOVERNMENT'S TASK. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, July 12. re. nk'iig at the Soldiers’ Carnival at : v.,; -fir \ndrow Russell, who has i ,i nan.e.l as the Independent Renil candidate for the Hawkes Hay it. . at the general election, gave some earnest of the candour • with which he will criticise the Government when he is fairly established within the four walls of the House of Representatives. He did not blame Mr Massey and his colleagues for having, acceded to the p.pitlai clamour for soldier settlement on tl,e easiest possible terms. He did not dwell on the fact that they had p-’.hl extravagant prices for much of the land they purchased on behalf of the returned men. But liy at any rate, lie soundly rated the authorities for having placed the men on costly land without any .practical t abling mid without any serious regard to'their adaptability to the rural ]i f e. To these grave omissions lie attributes the failure of many of the s.Jdier settlers and the precarious position of many more. The amends he d mantled were the immediate revaluation of the soldier settlers’ sections and the remission of the rent ’ they ob-vir.-.tslv were unable to pay. CASE FOR THE GOVERNMENT. The “Dominion.’’ taking up the cudgels on helm If of the Government, without any particular reference to Sir Andrew Russell’s remarks at Levin, star s a point, against the critics in pointing out that they themselves have provided if strong reason for delay in

making a readjustment by emphasisng 11--I 1 --- fart that the worst- difficulties of the soldier settlers are title to the poor returns obtained in a period of iihnormal depression. ’’lt cannot seriously he suggested,” it contends not unreasonably, “that land in process of being purchased by the settlers, or held on long leases, should ho revalued with reference to these temporary conditions.” The “Dominion’s first step towards the solution of the admittedly di T rult problem would he to set up a small expert Committee to determine the conditions of immediate relief, which in many eases is sorely needed. Rut Mr Massey is not particularly anxious at the moment to instill yet another Committee, and he thinks the public and the soldier settlors should be satisfied meanwhile with the assurance of himself and his colleagues that every case will lie considered on its merits and with an earnest desire to give all the relief the circumstances will allow.

RACING TOTAL IK ATOR AND BOOKMAKERS. Tl-O Racing and Trotting ( .inferences are meeting in Wellington this week and ft is understood they are making arrangements for a joint deputation to wait upon the . Prime Minister with a request for legislation this session to authorise the issue (it additional totalisator licenses. The fxisitinii, it seems, lias changed since tho reject ion of the Bill of last session which sought to obtain additional li-<•eu-.es tor both Racing and I rutting ( lobs. The big falling oil’ in totalisalot- investments has materially slackened. the demand for licenses for racing meeting* and the authorities controlling the galloping sport think they can jog along in the meantime without any further facilities for gambling. Rut the t lotting people of the North Island think the public could do with substantially more of their snort and are now counting upon receiving the support of the racing people in obtaining tho necessary additional licenses. Tbo removal of the threat of extinction from the Clubs named by the Racing Commission will considerably a licet voting in Parliament and it is quite on the cards tlml tbe trotting folk will get their wav. . EXCESSIVE -TAXATION. Mi- J. A. Young, tbe member for Waikato, maiiilv because he takes the trouble to music; I i- tacts and to understand their significance.-is one of t e lew members of ti e House who can t -lli interestingly and instructively on the subject of finance. Yesterday r j'lerno'.;ii, Mr It. E. Bollard having v.aivid In's rigid to lesume the debate o-i the AddreSs-in-Reply. -Mr 't outig toali tip the thread ot tic s'o’-y and drove home many truths concerning the incidence of taxation. lie showed I • the excessive income tax and irs i- iqiiiti.lile application, particularly in

tl • case of companies, was crippling 1 1 ad" and enterpris -, and, with Dm i r odour of a tried fraud, urg 'd M:e (lev.-i nmeut to p-imid" sum' rebel, il onK’ by wav i.f lcadinstnwiu. Mr T. K. Y. Sedi'on followed the •omniber ter Waikato with a very opportune allusion In the need for electoral rel> rm no! muse;! on to the < onsi'.b ration il <i - fpclivo public services and exorbitant el urges. Heavier matter came at the ■.'Veiling sitting, but nolle mole pointed and instructive.