WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

POUTICS IN THE AIK. (Special to “Guardi-n”.) WELLINGTON, February 2. Tlic lender of tile hi born l Party (Mr ( T, A 1,. Wilford) and the leader of the Labour Party (Air If. K. Holland) hare , ventured Upon opinions respecting the , election outlook. Air ‘Holland at his nicotine the other night stated, “ AVe will come hack from the polls at the next election certainly as the Official Opposition; hut we have to aim at somethin" greater than that. ’ This pro-supposes the elimination ot the Liberals, hut Mr Holland does not indicate how he arrives at his conclusions., .Hr Wiliord predicts the end of Reform and he bases his opinion on the following. “ Among the signs are the rise of the Country Party, and the continued expression in every quarter of dissatisfaction with the Government, including condemnation of them hy ilienir' hers of their own side o! the House.” Commenting on this the “ Evening Post ” in an editorial says, ” If Re10nil is to he ousted it will not he hy the Liberals alone; hut because the Liberals and the Country Party have played the game that Labour wishes them to play, and the Liberal chance of succeeding to office is only slightly better than that of the Country Party. 'i ho Country Party has no chance. ’I here mav he dissatisfaction with the Government in many quarters, as Mr Wilford has said, but the only people who are satisfied with the Liberals are, the Liberals, if they are satisfied. The. great mass of the people of this country are tied neither to Reform, nor to Liberals, nor to Labour; and these people are quickly becoming dismayed, if not disgusted, at the obstinacy of leaders who persist in reading the signs of the times to suit their personal wishes. These people do not desire the “ socialisation of production, distribution and exchange,” even when the. Labour Party has watered it down for election year, but they see the possibility of that party being thrust upon them if the older parties continue to think in terms of “traditional policy” (and traditional hatred) instead of lairIv facing the problems and conditions of the present.” It is. however, doubtful whether tin* Kelorm Party nill lace the election as such. The Government realises that there is general dissatisfaction and it is very doubtful whether Air Alassey will he able to take-an active part in the elections. The business community is very much dissatisfied with the Government because ol its attempt at socialising industries as expressed in -Control Boards, trade strictions, embargo and what not. Ihe Reform Party is searching for a new name, such a name as will attract some of the Liberals. Gan anyone oblige the Reformers in this respect.-'

THE MEAT COMMISSION. A good many people arc ol the opinion that Air AY. D. Lysnar is justified in his protests against the composition of the meat commission to inquire into his allegations. Air Lysnar was promised a Supreme Court judge as the Chairman of the commission, hut the Government is unable to comply with this because the judges themselves are opposed, hut it is ridiculous to say that an ex-Alagislrate could not he found to fill the position. Mr Lysnar objects to the appointment of Mr A. Mclntosh because part of the inquiry will have reference to a hank and Air Mclntosh is an ex-banker. It is true that All Mclntosh has long ceased to he associated with any hank, nevertheless, the banking sympathy and bins will not have left him and this may come to the fore unconsciously. The other member of the commission was at one time a civil engineer, hut for a considerable time has been secretary to the Levin Trustees and is well-known in Welling-, ton as a coiApnnv director sharing with two others the distinction of being on -a hoard of directors of a great number ol , oTTipuolc:.. It is difficult to -ee what- either of I hose men know ah,ml the meat business or what special jll-ii-eial qualifications they possess to wa--rant their appointment to the commission. It is doubtful whether the general public- have much, if any. confidence in them. They, with several others in the city, remind one <>r a hunch of messengers seated on a bench in the Government Buildings waiting to be called. If the Government has a commission to appoint it has meiel\ to whistle up the members seated on this bench. They are always ready to respond to such a call and collect the guineas.

THE MORATORIUM. Sir Harold Beauchamp has been a consistent opponent of the extension of the moratorium beyond the original period. It was justified when first authorised, but the successive extensions were never justified. The last extension, according to the judgment of Mr Justice Herdinan, was a cruel imposition on the mortgagee. Speaking at a meeting of shareholders ol the Equitable Building Company, of which he is chairman. Sir Harold pointed out that during the past year any borrower able to offer adequate security had no trouble in obtaining a loan on mortgage at (I! per cent, to i per cent., and many were arranged at lower rates. In support of this statement he pointed out. that the mortages registered in 1924 in the aggregate exceeded the registrations of 1022 by over seventeen millions. The moratorium has protected those who should not have heen protected. lie contends that it is desirable that there should be a cleaning up and some final adjustment of land values reached.