WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1924, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

CO NTH OL LI NO HUM IX

(Special to "Guardian”.)

AVKLLINGTON, October 31. When the .Meat Control Jloaril was set up tliere were some who regarded it as a dangerous precedent-, and while it has not vet been used as a precedent for a political scheme of a more vicious character, there is no doubt that some day it will be utilised ill such a way. In the meanwhile the number of Control Hoards is multiplying. The Dairy Control Hoard soon followed the .Meat Hoard and now there is the Fruit Control Hoard, and there is every probability of a Kauri Cum Control Hoard being set up in due course, and it is only a matter of time till we will have a Honey Control Hoard, a Tallow Control Hoard, Hides and Sheepskins Control Hoard, a Fish Control Hoard and others and there is no reason why the control system should not he applied to the manufacturing business. Me are going back to the war period when control was acquiesced in because it was necessary to win the war, now apparently it is necessary to have control so that the Reform Party may win the elections next year. “ Taxpayer'-’ writing in a Wellington paper says:—“The present session of Parliament is reaching the stage a£ which surprise legislation is frequently thrust upon it confiding country. It is important, therefore, that the public, as well as members of the House of Representatives, should he on the alert for any little project that may he sprung upon them at the last moment. It is certain that any legislation which will bear disinterested examination and free discussion, and which ought to be passed during the present session, has been already produced. New proposals introduced at this stage should he subject to the most searching investigations. I here has been some purpose in holding them back, and most likely the purpose Ims been to save them from close scrutiny and deliberate consideration. I have a possibility of the kind in mind. Colonel Allen Hell, the member for Lay of Islands, is urging in the interests of a large section of his constituents the formation of a Kauri Gum Control Hoard, on the same lines, the gallant colonel says, as the Meat Control Ikuml, the Hairy Control Hoard rml (he other organisations of the kin 1. II the Kami Gum Control Hoard is to finance itself and to east no responsibility upon the Government, then there is no serious objection to the scheme. Hut- my suspicions have been aroused.”

FOWL WJI HAT FOR FARM KRS. The poultry fanners who have visions of an enormous export trade in *'ggs naturally wants to he free to buy their fowl wheat in the cheapest market possible, hut the wheat growers, with the help of the Government, want to force the poultry men to buy New Zealand grown wheat irrespective of the price. The spokesman for the piiultrymeu who waited upon the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union put the ease in a nutshell when lie said. “It was clear that the wheat growers could not grow all the wheat which was required for Hour and suUiciciit for fowl feed as well," and added that the farmers could not grow ten millijn bushels. If the farmers were guaranteed His per bushel they would g; nv ten millions and more bushels ol wheat, lull they cannot compete with Australia. The population of the country is growing and the demand lor Hour must accordingly increase. \\ ith the development of the export trade in eggs the fowl population must grow and the demand for fowl wheat expand. Are the people to he penalised lor the sake of a few wheat farmers, who, if thev abandond wheat growing could produce other commodities more profitably:* Many business men here are asking whether it would not he better to lift the embargo and lower the duties on wheat and Ilnur and mi lace the I io',it inn Flour and foul wheat "ill he wanted in increasing quantities and there is not the slightest chance of our farmers being able to meet the demands and that being so why monkey with the situation?

AGRICULTURAL CREDITS. The Karin Land .Mortgage Associations’ Bill which is merely a fancy name for Agricultural Bank, commits the (lovernnieiit to providing C 150,000 which is o() per iciit more than was asked for li.v Ihe President of the Farmers’ Union for his scheme Tor an Agricultural Bank, for that Mr Poison asked for was C 100,000. This proposal of the Government does not find favour with business people, who contend that if the (lovernnieiit is committed to providing nnv portion nl the funds, it will in the long run he forced to guarantee the institution in every detail. That has been the experience of the past and is likely to be the experience of the future. However, there is little likelihood of Associations being formed in accordance with the terms laid down in the Bill. The Covernment loan limited to £50,000 will not be of much help since half of it must be held in liquid securities. The associations must rely upon deposits on which not more than a 5 per cent interest is to be paid and hv the issue of bonds bearing interest aL not more than 5J per cent. At these rates the associations would secure very little money because other institutions would outbid them. Even the (loverninent cannot borrow at 5J per cent, and certainly the local bodies cannot do so.