WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1925, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

DAIRY BOARD'S DECISION. (Special to “OuardiMi”.) WFI.LINOTON, March 2. The resolution passed by the Dairy Control Board last week in respect of control of till exports from August I. Bid!), the decision is apparently to establish absolute control. Yet it seems to he only a form of control, for it is explained by the Secretary to the Board that “ under this form ol control the produce would he marketed in London through the usual channels, hut would he under the control of the Hoard.” This is very ambiguous, hut r.ppn rent I v it means the elimination of f.o.b. sales, for even if such sales are prohibited, no wholesale house in Loudon will enter into contracts to purchase if ownership is to he denied to the purchaser by the action ol the Board. We may take it that when a London butter merchant buys a pared of butter lie wants the right to deal with the butter in the way he thinks host, and not as some irresponsible hodv may order. The Board is evidently determined to light Toole.v Street, and we ,knoW who will win. Those clever London merchants will naturally turn to other sources oi supply giving them freedom of action and a better commission on the turnover, and they will thus light the New Zealand vroducl. However, the ]<)liucal element comes into the situation, for the Board is to make application lor the necessary Order-in-Council to lie made forthwith. Can the .Minister for Agriculture refuse this request ol a hoard set up by Act of Parliament and authorities to take such action? It is true that the Government must approve of the action of the Hoard, and no doubt the Minister will weigh Up the ennsequenees, not to the dairy farmers or the dairy industry Imt to the Reform Party. Those opposed to the lorm of absolute control most now make demonstrations that will convince the Government that its political existence will lie jeopardised hv tile Order in-Couiieil it issued. There is just one hit ol ((insolation and that is that “absolute mnlrol" does not begin until the season of I!)2(i-2". for by that time a new Government, will he m power, and the Order-in-Council can he revoked. If the Hoard intends to market dairy produce through usual London chan nels, why this elaborate London agency which, as recently remarked !>,v a southern dairy farmer, looks very much like a Good fellow company. However, business men here want, to know what Messrs Motion ami Irons know about marketing butter and cheese. Furthermore. are they to continue as members of tile Bnni'il, or does this job mean that they resign their seats. Mr Wright, the London manager ol the New Zealand Dairy Association is picked as the probable London manager of the Board’s agency.

PARTY POLITICIAN'S PRATT

The Hon. A. I). McLeod, .peaking on behalf of the Reform Party, hist, week said that every legitimate eliori was hriii"' mad" to maintain stable

Cm era men i. The party believes that this (otihl best he attained by preventing the extreme Labour Party reaching the Treasury Benches and as a result of this no Reform support would g ( , to a.nv candidate who not only did not publicly pledge’ to disassociate him,sell' from any party prepared to no

coot extreme Fafiour assistance within the House lor rhe i-urpns.- 111 foruiiie: a Government. The .Minister ol fie talking about the Wellington constituencies. for if there us anything certain in publics ii is Hint Labour will sweep WiTiiiiglun eicciornt •■. Labour holds three out of Hie file seats now ami the other two will lull in Labour

members cm he said I" he very M r-nv/. If ali iiuoe parties p"l up ' amlidates iDen Labour is hound to win for Lain our is particularly well organised in i}„. ,-iiy. Mr T. M. Will on I in reply in- 1. 1 the Don. A. D. Mel. I says: •The Liberal - Labour Harl.v does not and will imt. associate itself with extreme Labour in the formation ol a Cover nor will the Liberal Lab- , in- Pai l v support a no-eoulideuce mo lion the' result of which would place Ihe extreme Labour Harl.v oil the Treasure benches.” This is a very explirli declaration and a very sale one [,, make prior to the closing session of lit. Every member will he anxious to rush business through so as f ..iv.tv to i!i('ir t'ii'ctoiv.U‘s. is not likely Lo be wa-i-d mi no-c..nli-(jeucc motions this year. At the present time oirciimslanccs are playing on the Labour Baity and the luck appears to lie with them. FLAT RATE of FREIGHT. 'Pile Wellington Harbour Board appears to be amply justified in its <">- jeetion to the Hat rate of Dvight cliavued by the shipping companies, for under it Wellington lias to carry t-v tensnularv ports. Wellington is the cheapest port in New Zealand, nevertheless shippers here have to pay 0"' s""i" rates as at secondary ports. loe Tourd has authorised reductions ol an ■■■ Miniated total amount of 220.900 per annum in wharfage and other charges, hut that will not bring any corresponding reduction in "‘‘G""' ° A porters or importers rising the Hurt. I. is stated that the dispersion of shipping is not the chosen policy of Die : liimnviiers In oroot if this shipping companies pav coastal freight and tran"hipping charges to bring produ-e from secondary ports to mam ports lot i r:i ii si ii| line'll t.