WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

A G KIC ULTUK AL BA NKS. .MR I’OLSON’S PROPOSALS. at'ECIAI. TO CUAUD/AN. WELLINGTON, .fan, JO Air W. T. Poison, the very live Dominion President of the Farmers’ I'nioit, continues to urge the establishment of agricultural hanks as the* sovereign remedy for all the ills from which the rural communities are suffering. He ridicules tin; Rural Credit Associations Act, providing facilities for farmers handing together for the purpose of lending money to one another, which was passed through Parliament last session, and he scull’s at the prolessors of economies who cast cold water upon his scheme) at the recent Science Congic-,.. .Mr Poison’s proposals will he l placed before the next quarterly meeting of the Executive of the Earmers’ Fnion in the shape of a Bill drafted lor submission to Parliament, and meanwhile the Dominion President claims to have the sympathy of n great majority of the producers in I lie efforts lie is making to lighten their burdens. Hut the representative- of the producers in the House are not at all likely to find the Government disposed to pledge the credit •!’ the State to an unlimited amount in order that the larmers may obtain money at a lower rate of interest and with a smaller margin of security.

THE GOVERNMENT’S ATTTTI’DE. The Prime Minister was perfectly frank upon their point when explaining in the House last session the provision of hi- Rural Credits Bill. He was c|nit<■ prepared to provide every possible facility for the farmers helping tlicniselves, hut lie could not ask the House to give financial guarantees to an undertaking it would not control. Ju financial and business circles this stand v. a.s entirely approved and still is approved. and Air Massey himself htishown mi disposition to weaken on the point. Ihe mere Diet of this suggestion being made, indeed, brought forth so ninny Migge-tiolis of a similar charade that ihc-Prini" Minister mu-i -oe now more clearly tit,in ever the peril of «onI’erking upon such an enterprise. In ! draft Pill Mr Poison very iinlieiiousl\ keeps the Governments’ association with the scheme ill the background, hut lie has not attempted to disguise a clause which provides that "payment oi the money- due by the hank shall he guaranteed hv the -State.’’ This i* I've os,cnie ol the whole matter. Other clauses might reduce the risk of the State to a minimum, hut experts here hold that in any eir; umstauces the acceptance ot All Poison's proposals would amount to a grave misuse el the public credit. THE MAYORAL OFFICE. .Many good citizens ol Wellington are s.uiiv perturbed at the possibility oi a labour candidate succeeding Mr R. A. Wright in the eeciipany of the mayoral chair. Labour is tii*■ only party with niiv -ort of municipal organisation in the city and its success at the pnrlia nieiitary election Inis seriously alarme.l i' ~ I.eminents. 'I hey decline that with a i.alien' represoiitati\e in the cliait the rate-: would he (piiekly increased and t’ l p well-coiisidi-red financial policy of t ! " City Council thrown out of gear. These are not altogether gratuitous assnmetit.ns. -nice l.ahonr lias been talking wildly for some time past of the revolutions it is going to bring about when it lays its;. hand on Ihe nioulo'pa! ij-overning machine, hut they do not -cem to take into account the Drake that can he applied by a vigilant Council to the chariot-wheels of an over-zealous Mayor. The Chief Magistraie enjoys administrative privileges ef Id- Mivii. hut his encoding powers are i est rained hy the will of his constituted advisers. However, the scare will do no harm if it brings about a more rat;:iiia 1 system of electing mayors. Pieferent ial voting is the protection iroin f- at her-hraiited administ ration, many of ii nnicipn! electors here are urging. POLITICAL POSITION. Tl i. local newspapers have ceased to mak-,. -1.,., i hitieiis eeiicerning the politica! pnsiiien and the party leaders re- : "aia equally reticent on this all important question. 11 fell to the let ol Mr Willord mi Saturday, us member for the district, to welcome M.r Massey at thi- opening ef the Eastbnrne C arilival. ami they sustained the rules et host and guest with perfect propriety, suggestive of nothing hut warm personal regard and goodwill. It is understood, how. ever,'that Mr Massey, while assured of sufficient support in the ! louse to nef(.Mj jaiv no-confidence motion with which Labour may he associated, is not over-pleased hv the prospect of being tp.pl in ofiiee hv the votes of four or live disgruntled Liberals. If ho is to carry on, he will insist upon having a sufficiently strong force at his hack to pass such measures as he may think desirable in the interests of the eouiltrv and io administer them effect ively. Tie Ims made his determination in this respect known, net only to his pledge sunnortors, hut also to those members ofVhe Liberal Party who are prepared to assist hint in resisting the encroachment of extreme Labour.