The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which la incorporated the west Coast Times.) SATURDAY, JUNE 30th, 1923. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which la incorporated the west Coast Times.) SATURDAY, JUNE 30th, 1923. THE WEEK.

The Winter School for farmers, which wag in progress throughout the week concluded yesterday. A capital series of informative) addresses on practical lines dealing with a variety of subjects of value to the average farmer, were given on the successive days. Unfortunately the attendance was not in keeping with the merits of the occasion. It is to be regretted that the farmers did not attend in force and glean first-hand the miviio and direction so ably aud generously supplied hy the lecturers. The staff was an unusually well informed one, and the range of subjects dealt with would meet tho case covering tno experience of mo-sL people on the land in thin district. The promotors of the School would not 1«? much encouraged by the latest effort. If the Schools are to be continued in the future they will require to be reorganised on different Linos. It Ls evidence tho Farmers are not ready to come to a common centre aud ipap t he advantage? fo bp derived

from association with others of their class. Evidently the farmer is very st.iy-n t-hotne person, and it remains now to see whether peripatetic lectures "ould he moro successful. However, u would appear that the next move is "ilh the farmers themselves, and it is for them to say if they will not- come to the lectures, do they want the lecturois brought to them.

Tun ioitr.se of Ic-tiuvs delivered dealt with a variety nf subjects of everyday concern to the man on the land. Those relating to stock were of special in iciest, leading up as they did bn improvement of herds etc. The instruction given in regard to land cultivation and helpful suggestions logarding feed production, were alike valuable, fine ot the lecturers pointed nut the advantage tins district offered for profitable dairying at present- prices, seeing that laud values here were so low compared with the North Island, where butter and olioo-e. were not realising any higher pric- on t'ie market, ihan the Coast product. I o get the best out of tie- lord should be tlio aim of the dairy farmer. The first, step was t i see the foHtulatian for a good herd, rafetidly laid, then pursue ~ line ot careful testing ttttd ecot'iomicid results (ol which practical evidence was all'urdcdi would be surprising. Another lecturer spoke enthusiastically of the often despised pig a.s a most lucrative snur-v of inenme for the farmer. Indeed, all the speakers in their several subjects, dealt very informatively with their tasks, alt‘l those who made it a point ol attending mils! have derived considerable know ledge and itisirtirlii tl.

Till’, week in Pallbunent has seen the Government hanging on to the Treasury benches by the gran- of three Liberals, two of whom at least were regarded once as the most stalwart ol the stalwarts. The trial of si length indicates tliltt the Massey Government is sale again for the time being, and that being so. it would be well b r the House to get. on with tlio business of the country. Evidently all Mm talk of the many eloquent speakers will not change (lie votes of the three most important members (for the time tit least) in the House, and all sides should recognise tins and settle down to business. There is no doubt the Prime Minister should get away to the (' nteioneo. and this should be arranged for in see ml v order. As the decisive vote has been taken, and leaves parties as they were last, session. Mi M assey, if be feels satisfied with the position he occupies and the circumstances tinder which he retains the leadership, should be encouraged to bring forward such policy limasutes as ho has in mind, and clear the political decks for his overseas voyage. Matters of moment- "ill require to be dealt with, and it. would be r-s well that t!.o v should have ns much consideration as possible, and not be unduly rushed through I'arli.'tmenf. later when members will !<■ n < re or ie.-s exhausted by tho present- protracted debates.

Slit Joskimi AY.utii's ciitici-m of the post-war financial policy of the Reform Government-, as published in our columns, is welcome, quite apart from any partisan standpoint. Sir Joseph, ns a contemporary re.nuirks, is one of very few public men to New Zealand who thoroughly understand the intricacies of our national finances, ttnd his opinions, whatever offence they may give to the tender susceptibilities of the Reformers, carry the weight- which attaches to long experience and complete mastery of his subject. In a controversy on finance Mr Massey is so obviously at a disadvantage as compared with his well-informed and able opponent that wv forbear from comment upon tho details of the argument, .stive to say that. Sir Joseph lias robbed Mr Massey of bis principal excuse for excessive taxation the excuse that other countries have imposed a heavier burden —and that bo has cleared up any possible doubt that might have existed concerning bis responsibility for the mo,t exi rnortiiuai y ami ot.joetio liable features of the Reform Party's post-war financial operations. I’lio Hon. G. \Y. Russell declares, in a statement which was printed during the week, that- it was the muddle into which Reform Ministers had landed the Treasury (aiid tlie country) in connection with soldier-settlement which precipitated the break-up of the coalition. There were probably contributing reasons for t-lio dissolution of partnership, one of which was the natural desire of the Liberal leader to end a fusion, which, if continued long beyond tho special emergency which gave it- birth, might have outlived the tolerance ol the public—which is what seems to Imre occurred in Britain. But however that may be, Sir Joseph AVard has very completely dissociated Him sol 1 from the most important act- of policy upon which the Reformers embarked when they had the reins of government to themselves—the purchase of thousands of acres of land nt. boom prices for soldier settlement.

Tun fruits of that policy are now being reaped and they are very bitter. All New Zealand can now see, as the Liberal leaders, Sir Joseph amongst them, the bankers, the most able of tho Government’s departmental officers and other authorities, discerned years ago, that it was an act of reckless folly to deluge the land market with millions upon millions of public money. The entire farming community was plunged into a speculative fever, land values soared to ridiculous heights, and tho stage was set for tho misfortune which overtook the farmers, and with tho farmers the rest of the people, when the depression which was the intlation of values, struck this country. It lias been said that New Zealand experienced only the tail-end of the financial storm which swept the world, and that is some consolation. But it does not remove the conviction that the largo crop of farmers’ bankruptcies in recent- years, and the necessity which exists to-day for remissions of interest and rebntes of rent to soldier settlers, could have 1 kv.ii almost- entirely avoided liad the Government not so powerfully assisted to create a- land boom three years ago. It does not remove the conviction that under a more intelligent system of taxation than has been imposed we should have rallied more quickly from the slump in valuer. It is now too late to repair the damage done by the Reform Government’s ill-advised operations in

the land market, but, ns Sir Joseph Ward has pointed out, the ir.riilence of taxation is still open, to revision and amendment. Mr Masses* lias devoted a good deal of his time to attempts to prove that oilier countries arc equally foolish, but he lms not succeeded, and he cannot succeed, beenuso the facts are against him. Tint work to bo carried out by the I? nil ways Department in connection with the l'K'al railway station and its reorganisation to meet the increased traffic front tile Midland railway in a month or two. is going to be very extensive. The station yard is to lo enlarged by taking in a portion of Stafford Street. Some seven lines of approach are to lie laid down, and both ; the main station and the goods sheds are to lie enlarged and will occupy fresh sites. The main station will be approached from both Stafford and Wokl Street-1, ’and adjacent to the former, a new residence for the station master is to be erected. The present resale m’e is to be tam*n over by the Police Department., and will be removed to a new site fronting Sewell Street. The Railways Department will ere.t an overhead pedestrian bridge in Stafford Street crossing the seven railway lines which will occupy the portion of the street to be closed. This will be a lengthy .structure of substlanttnl proportions. Tn addition the Department, is also to carry out street improvements, in exchange for road recess afforded by the Borough Council. The Department, however, will not agree to assist in the removal of the clock tower to another site. Altogether the works are extensive and will run into considerable cost.