WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1924, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

GOVERNMENT AND TRADE,

(Special to “Guardian”.)

AA'ELLINGTON, October fi. AA’hilo tlie Prime .Alinister seems determined to keep down the price of money the Minister of Agriculture is determined to keep up the price of bread, and the workers naturally want to know why. The Government’s connection with the wheat -business has not been such as to wish tor its continuance. At the outbreak of the war there was .supposed to tic n shortage ot wheat in New Zealand and Mr Massey rushed into the market ami bought a considerable (jiiantity ol Canadian wheat. This wheat was resold at a loss, but the amount of that loss was never d'iselosied. The loss lias been heavy aicording to general belief. Then the Government became seized with tho idea, that the country should ho self supporting in the matter ol the production of wheat, and it is well known the growers were guarnteed a price above, world parity. The result was that there was a surplus of wheat and if the law of supply and demand had been given free piny the Government would have lost heavily. The difficulty was (ivoreoino l-y so lling the hulk ot the surplus wheat to Japan at world parity. There was, of course, u loss on this parcel, and the taxpayers of New Zealand were taxed so that tho Japanese might have cheap wheat.

The Government then abandoned tho system of guaranteeing prices, hut encouraged millers and growers to fix prices again. <m a basis above world parity, and to ensure that this unfair agreement winch was really in restraint of trade should become effective tho Government decided upon '.prohibiting the importation of wheat except at prices conforming to those agreed upon between millers and growers. Last season when it became evident that there would lie a shortage of wheat, instead of allowing importers to do their own business in their own way, the Government did the* importing and of course the Government claims to have achieved wonders. Now we are told the Government is going out of the wheat trade and in the announcement made by the Department of Industries and Commerce it is stated: “The Government has now suKslantially completed its arrangements for supplies to millers, and tho chief reason for remaining ill the business so far as poultry wheat is concerned no longer exists. The Minister of Agriculture therefore announced that in order to avoid being concerned in the trade longer Ilian is necessary, and agreeable to the expressed wish of interested parties to secure their own supplies, the Government will, from November onward leave the market to lie supplied wholly by the operations of merchants and brokers.” This is very satisfactory as far as it goes, hut to import fowl wheat Hu- importer must get a permit from tlit* Customs Department. The duty on wtieal is to be suspended until tho end of February and that appears to be l lie •■xeii.se for emit inning the pernicious Government intereferenre with trade. The war ended six years ago and Hie Massey Government lias not yet realised that the people wish to get hack to uorinal business. The moratorium and wheal muddle ari; munumenls of ministerial iurapn-il.v and inept 'fmlc. END OF BUSSfOX.

I here arc hep' s that the sc,sum will end with the mill ol Ihe month, and 111 achieve this .Mr .Massey must drive the House, and we will again witness legislation by exhaustion. There are still important, hills to come forward, and perhaps tncy have been held back ’ey design in order to force thorn through a weary house. Next month there is the 1 loyal Show at Palmerston North as well as the Carnival at Christchurch and nienihers will not he denied the pleasure of attending one or other of these functions. because of the advertising value attached thereto. A business man commenting on the SIHVOsS of the Bill dealing with the Kami and Income lax- was curious as to the position ef the 'header of the Opposition. The Bill was carried by the help of seven or eight Liberals who voted against the party. Had the nienihers of the (lovornmeiit Party done so Mr Massey would have had to resign the Premiership and probably the leadership of the unity. Why should ■it. he different with flic leader of the |.i hern I Party? The l.iherals who voled for the reduction, in direct opposition to their leader, in rll'cet. registered a vote of iio-conlidenee ill that leader. Surely, the dignity of the position as leader of the Opposition, or 'Liberal Party, calls for some action, or al least that snm> notice should be taken of the adverse vote. The result of the attitude taken up I v the Kiiherals who voted with the Clnvernmeiit is to belittle their loader. Mr Wilford Is apparently leader of the party in name only, and it is ilifliru.lt to understand lmw Mr AVilford can tolerate such a. position. The l.abnur Party made no such mistake. 'lhe team voted with their leader solidly, ami there is some merit ill this cohesion and pat tv loyalty. The Taibour Party is well disciplined and being so disciplined must in the long run heat the l.iherals who appear to lie lacking in this essential clement of party polities.