WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THK LATH SIR WILLIAM HURRIES A UIXL TRIBUTE. [Special To I'm; Gc.ujoux.'] WELLINGTON. .June IS. Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives was what the younger members of the press Gallery style rather irreverently “Tangi afternoon” and it. was notable for a number of very line tributes paid from all parts of the House to the memoi. of the late Sir William Hen ics. The Prime Minister after referring to the public record of his deceased colleague, which was a .summary of a long period of cap-

able and faithful .service, turned with obvious emotion to his own deep sense of the personal loss lie bad sustained. Sir William, be said, had boon a tower of .strength to his own party, but bettor than this he had been a wise and faithful servant of the country and a ready helper to all who needed assistance. Mr T. AT. AVillord, the loader of the Opposition, followed with of warm appreciation, declaring that the country’s loss was as siii-e.t-1,- deplored by his side of the Rouse as it was by the other side. Still more eloquent tributes came' from Air H. E. Holland, the loader of the Labour Party mid the Hon, A. T, Vgata, who In the absence of the Native Minister spoke on behalf of the Vntivo race. It is rarely indeed that the House has paid such high honour to tho memory of a member of any degree. THU BUTTER POOL.

A great deal of interest is being taken in the Dairy Produce Control Bill by those members of the House who have any considerable number of constituents directly concerned in the dairying industry. The Bill is to be finally discussed by the representatives of the farmers at a meeting to be held in Palmerston Vnrth to-morrciv evening and it is expected thal a majority of the delegates will express approval of the provisions of the measure. This, however, will not finally settle the question of pool or no pool. The Bill will l.e I rough t lie fore the House later on. in much the same shape as it wa.-> when it emerged from the committee’.-, revision last year, and it is sure to evoke no,re lobbying than lias any oilier Bill for many a long year. Its supporters’ chief arguments me based *’ii whai I’vy call “the Mice:-. -, of ill • meat pool”, but its opponents stoutly aver that this is a broken and discredited reed. Just where the rights and the wrongs of the matter lie- it is difficult for any outsider to sa.v. but ir is tolerably safe to predict that a large section in the House will demand a. good deal more information in regard to the working of the scheme than inis yet been vouelisafed to the public. Til It AG RICH LTU l! Al. BANK.

.Sir George Elliott, the chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, referred in anything but flattering terms to farmers’’ business capacity when addressing a. meeting of the shareholders of the bank on Friday. He saw no objection to the establishment of an agricultural bank, bo said, so lung as the institution relied entirely upon its own resources. and paid the same taxation as was imposed upon other banking institutions. But be wanted to remind the promoters of the scheme that farmers enterprises of the kind in the post had not fared veiy well. Unlike proprietary and joint stock concerns most co-operative companies made little or no attempt- in prosperous times to make provision for the lean years ahead, with the result that when trouble came they had to close up or stagger along under a. .great burden of debt. AYith recent events in mind lie put it to the critics of ihe existing banks that the farmers’ own excursions into business and limince had noL been so successful as to encourage the idea that they were fully qualified to handle the great problems they now were discussing. THK NEW MINISTER. Evidently -Mr Afassev is finding much difficulty in electing the new Minister to take’ All’ K. P. 'bee’s place at the Cabinet table. II is not that there is

nnv lack of aspirants for the office Quite tho Contrary. Fully a dozen names have boon mentioned seriously in connection with tho appointment. At the moment Air Bollard, the silent member for Raglan, is the popular lick, as Die racing men sav; but he ha< si rung rivals ill Air ’Young, Die member for Hamilton. Air Hockley, the member for Rotorua, and Mr Re Heston, the member for Timam. Sir John Luke, the member for Wellington North. Afr Nash, the member for Palmerston North, and Air Hudson, the member for Alotueka. all have been mentioned as “possibles”, and Die last named gentleman in: doubt would make a very capable and conscientious administrator. but Ins appointment would lie probable only in the event of Mr Massey feeling •compelled to entrust the portfolio to a. SouDi Maud representative. That is not likely, and it is generally assumed Air Hudson will have to wait for a more convenient season. Afeanwhile there is much genuine sympathy for the Prime Alinistor.