WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1924, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

ECONOMY AND MOTOR. CARS. AIR AIASSET’S APPEAL. ) (Special to “Guardian”.) ' WELLINGTON, March 3. Sir Harold Beauchamp's endorse meat of Air Afassev’s appeal for Stall and private economy should l>e of nut tcrial assistance, to the Prime Atiuis tor is bringinug home to the puhlii the gravity of the financial position Tho politician always is a little shy oi plain truths of this kind and Air Alassoy’s sturdy optimism makes it particularly difficult for him to present the less glowing side of the picture. Sir Harold is restrained by no qualms of | this kind. Between December of this i year anil the end of 1020. he told his interviewer ;>L Invercargill, the Dominion would have to find £8”,090,000 for the renewal of existing loans, and also a eery roiisidernl.-le sum for public works. "U is only natural,” lie added by way of comment, “that there should he a hardening tendency in the money market. This is no time for extravagance and everyone should be endeavouring to reduce his liabilities during those prosperous times.” But there out he no doubt that extravagance is rife throughout the whole community. Among the imports for the year is an item of three millions odd for motor cars. All these have not heel 1 , brought to the country for utility purposes. A MILD PROTEST.

Tho “Dominion” this morning evi dently is a little alarmed lest Ur Prime Afnistor and Sir Harold Beauchamp between them should create unnecessary alarm concerning the financial position of the country. '’There is a distinct tendency in high financial circles at the present tune,” it

says, “to advise the practice of economy. A few days ago the Prime -Minister lent his voice to swell the chorus. The* latest to contribute an opinion is Sir Harold Beauchamp, ex-chairiiiaii of directors of the Bank at No.*, /inland. To the man in the street these warnings may carry an ominous significance beyond what is intended. 1 b possible that they may he regarded as hinting at some known but unMated danger that lies ahead in the near lutare" It is just as well perhaps that this latter view should not lie permitted to gain any widespread currency. The call for economy is not made because of any immediate indication ol financial stress, but rather is intended as a note of caution to the less thoughtful, wlio in times of pros|K*rity are insufficiently heedful of future p<»sibilitcs.” Perhaps this explanation was necessary, hub meanwhile there is no indication here of economy being carried to excess either by the public or the Government. “A WRONG PRINCIPLE.” Air D. (}. Wright, of Ashburton, a son of the tale Air E. G. Wright, who occupied a seat, in the House of Reps, during two or three Parliaments dining the seventies and eighties, and a brother-in-law U> the present Minister of Agriculture, expressed hiinscll 'ciy freely when the matter of wheat- prices was being discussed by -1 lie growers a little while ago. anil his words are being quoted with warm approval here. The farmers were working on the v, roiig principle altogether, he told his |,.Mov crowd's. II was not oeciiinltii- . ally siimid In ai lu.fr,mli li •: pm e ■ 1 1. never worked anil in the. lung run il would beat- them. 11 would he a uatinual loss il (be wheat growing mdiisli'y of New Zealand were to die out. but the vear to‘year fixing of prices

and arguing the point was no good to uiiyliody. \Yhai* was wanted was a satisfactory duty. If the present dulv was not high enough, then urge that it he increased >o as to enable the industry to carry on and pay the wage:*that had been brought about by the jc’ople as a whole by ar nlration and other means. Tile taruiei'.-, .dr V* rigid urged in conclusion, idiould stop appealing for fixed prices every year. They should strive m regain the spirit they displayed in tho past and become an independent, sell-respecting people, free from Government dictation and control. NEXT SESSION. The appeal of Air 11. E. Holland, the leader of the Uilicial Labour Baity, for an early session of Parliament is scarcely likely to effect its purpose. I ho reasons Air Holland, gives lor calling members of the House together earlier than usual may he cogent enough from his own point of now, hut they will not appeal to Ministers nor to private members who have other matters than polities to engage their attention during the recess. That [hero are a number of important subjects to be discussed by tho House during the forthcoming session everyone knows, bui: from the list he- has submitted to the Prime Alimsur Alt' Holland appears to be concentrating bis attention upon a number of lugh > controversial questions which r.hynd.v liave been talked threadbare by himself and other members of his part). Their re-discussion just now iiogjii have considerable educative value, but it. would not expedite the reforms the Labour Leader has in view. It may appear a very sordid attitude to Mr Holland and his colleagues, hut at the moment Ministers and the rank and file of the two older parties arc more concerned about the Ueatt taxation, which has obtained prominence ny the publication of Mr Pliillir* Emm,leu s figures, and ihe high cost ol living than thev are about the experiment;!, legislation the Labour Party is anxious to promote.