WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1923, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

FINANCIAL DEBATE. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. [Special To Tue Guardian.] WELLINGTON, July 11. It may be a year or two yet heloto an incredulous Parliament and an indifferent public realises that the leader of the Opposition is taking bis polities seriously, but there can lie no question that- the speech .Mr Wilford delivered in the Reuse last night in opening "hat is popularly known as “the financial demite” was a. highly creditable [ orfonnauce, ami one that obviously impressed his critknl audience. Mr AVilford always starts out, with a good presence

and an easy confidence, hut on this occasion he added to these advantages a student's knowledge of the subjects he essayed to discuss. He did not frame a mere tirade against- the Government, in.ie-.-d his att,tilde "as constructive rattier than destructive, and when he sat down, the Hon. W. Dcwnie Stewart, the ready debater of the .Ministry, who "as deputed to reply, obviously found lii.s task a little difficult. .Mr Wilford had covered a great deal of ground unexplored by tile average politician and even the Minister ol Customs was unable to follow him with nio usual facility, iiis main point was that Mr Wilford had changed his mind on a variety ‘of subjects a reproach that fell a little Hat in view of the revolutionary changes in the Reform policy during the last few years. COMPANIES AND TAXATION'. In the course of his speeeli Mr Willard handled vety effectively the Prime .Miiii-ter's contention of a lew days before that the fact of four httndtv companies having been registered during the previous twelve months proved conclusively there was nothing wrong "till company taxation. The leader of tlie Opposition mentioned the matter, so he said, to illustrate the kind of arguments bv which the Government was attempting to bolster up its fallacious contention. The Prime Minister had implied that the four hundred companies had been promoted and registered in spite of the excessive taxation of 7s -hi in the pound against which the business community and the Opposition had been protesting. But as a matter of fact not more than five of these companies and two of those insurance companies—were at- all likely to bear the maximum rate of taxation.

Twenty-one of them were companies with capital between L'do.lXK) and £.10,000: seventy-five with capital between £113,000 and £20,000 and no fewer than two hundred and ninetyfour, three fourths of the total, with capital between £I,OOO and £O,OOO. ft was bv wilful misrepresentation (if this kind. Mr Wilford declared, that the Government was loading the big companies with outrageous taxation to be passed on to the workers and lancers. MR MASSEY AND LIBERALISM. The “New Zealand ’l imes” offers very generous congratulations to Alt Alasi--,- uiiou his completion of eleven veins of office and wishes him well for the future. As an example of the wonders the whirligig ol time lias eflcctcd in the softening of party asperities a paingraph from the chastened Liberal stalwart's observations is worth quoting. •■Tlie chief weakness of the Reform regime.” it runs, “is the lack of land for the closer settlement and the fuller cultivation oil which the- development of this country chiefly depends. Ihe fact is that for poor men, no matter hmv agriculturally capable, industrious, and eager they mav lie. there is no land v, itliin their reach. For even the sons of fanners who are in the rank of the verv he-t possible and most desirable

sett lets, there is now no opening on the land. This must he changed. But

vs wo have said, the time is not ripe j lor the | radical consideration of the ! deeper i.-oios. That being so. and mat- ! tors of weightiest Imperial concern iej quiring closer attention, the Rolortu ! Government, with its broader outlook, | and its sound acceptance of the past, i that was of good report, may well Lo allowed to continue iti office with ap-

probation of all New Zealand to do good work.” Time truly has dene much to efface the old party distinctions !

INDEPENDENCE. Probably llie tendency towards independent thought is more matketl in the lie-use to-day than it has been at anv other time since the granting ol constitutional government In the country. The personal good-will towards Mr Massay has steadily and surely grown with the passage of the years, hut the former unquestioning faith in the political sagacity of the Prime Minister lots distinctly declined with the disappearance of his big majority in the House. Quite a number of the l’oform members now ventuie to ques-

tion liis judgment, in the lobbies, and to openly criticise the recent reconstruction of liis Ministry. Mr Pollard's promotion to the vacant- seat at the Cabinet table is not generallv popular and the appointment of Sir Maui I’oiuare to the office of Minister of Health it distinctly unpopular. Then the Government is stifleriug. ol course fmm the approach ol old age. an inevitable complaint which even Mr Sodden would not have held at hay inrcfiliitelv, and the desire for change, displayed at the recent general election, is in a- measure reflected in the House. Mr Massey may he able to hang mi during the the life of the present Parliament, and to e-'linse Mr Seddon’s record, hut it rail he enlv by tile saei iliee of much ter-omtl (oml'ort. -ind smile political | dignity.