WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

STATE AID. TIIE LIMIT APPROACHING. (Special to “GuardiiMi”.) WELLINGTON, AUG. 0.

There are indications that the now Reform Government is not going La be over-lavish in its distribution of State aid to private enterprise. Probably the Canterbury wheat-growers were lucky in extracting from the previous Government a guarantee of a substantial price for next season’s crop before .Mr Coates took over the reins of office. The promoters of a co-opera-ijvo haeoli-euring factory, who on tho strength of some overtures made to Mr Massey a year or two ago, asked lor n loan’ of €70,000 or so, on specially favourable terms, have been turned down, politely, hut very (irmly. 'Hie executive of a Waikato herd-test-ing association, supported hv resolulions from Chambers ol Commerce, agricultural and pastoral associations and kind rod bodies, approached 'the Minister of Finance and Agriculture with a modest request for a few odd thousands toward the improvement of their cows and the enlargement of their milk cheques; hut Mr Nosworthy, with the new financial responsibilities thrust upon him, could not see his tun to oblige 1 hem. The Minister realised that the granting of a subsidy to one herd-testing association would ,iY_.an granting subsidies to every other association of tho kind and that ultimately the Treasury would lie committed an expenditure of €30,000 or CIO,OOO a year. MORE APPLICANTS. To-day the Prime Minister, sup-

ported by the .Minister of Finance and the Minister of Lands, is receiving rival deputations from Auckland concerning the creation of a kauri gum control hoard on the linos ol the control hoards already in existence. One side wants the Government (o go to the rescue of the gum industry with finance, guarantees, shipping and other desirable things, and the other side asks the Government to believe that all these tilings are (icing provided by private enterprise at reasonable charges and with proper regard to the producers’ interests. It might he premature at this stage to express a definite opinion upon the validity of tho voiillieting claims, but it is fairly safe to predict that if the statements of ■the mercants and exporters are homo out by the investigations now in progress the proposed kauri gum control hoard will not come into existence just vet. The gum industry is not on the same looting as are the meat, and dairy produce industries, whose boards (an function without leaning upon the State for financial assistance. 'I his. of course, is the point at issue between the disputants. The Government may he prepared to facilitate by legislation some co-operative movement oil the part of the gum producers but it is unlikely £u provide them, with finance. A KECK LESS ASSERTION. As nil oratorinl effort the speech delivered in the House of Representatives last night by Mr I/. M. Isitt, the Liberal mem her for Christchurch North, who continues to sit on the Liberal benches and to vote consistently with the Reformers, was the best delivered in the Chamber lor many a long day. Whether or not it was tactful or even useful to overwhelm the mem,hers of the Labour Party by a torrent or scorn and reproach is a matter of individual opinion, hut the very milliner of the delivery of the indictment would have gone far to excuse even les„ edifying matter than it actually coniailied.

.Vainrally the l>:ihour members sought the earliest opportunity to retaliate mid Mr W. J. .lonian in his linger was indiscreet enough to declare that Mr Isitt had sold himself to ensure a seat in the Legislative Council. The assertion brought indignant protests from both sides of the House and on the insistence of the Speaker Mr Jordan withdrew the offensive words, but with such a had grace that his oflence was really aggravated. dhe deplorable incident makes it permissible to state in print for the first time that when .Mr Isitt. for what he considered wood and sufficient reasons, pledged himself to support .Mr Massey mi “noconfidence” motions lie stipulated that in no circumstances should he receive preferment of any kind from the Reform side of the House. IJOHT OX EXTREME LABOUR. Under the above heading the “nominion” of this morning warmly commends Mr Isitt for his scathing criticism of I labour methods and aspirations. “Mr Isitt certainly spoke no more than the truth,” it says, “when he accused Air Holland and his followers of stirring up discontent amongst the workers by presenting demands which no Oovornment could possibly meet, and which the extreme l abour Party certainly could not meet if it attained office, 'the observations of the member for Christchurch North were as a whole a convincing exposure of the policy and tactics of a party which is as reckless in criticism as it is in making impossible promises to those whose votes it solicits. On the showing of its leader, the extreme Labour Party is prepared to despoil those people Menders and investors: and in doing so to wreck the svstern of finance without which much of the land of this country could not have been brought into productive use It is well within the facts to say that no more immoral or recklessly destructive policy has ever

been advanced by any political party.” Both Air Isitt and the “Dominion” exempt '‘•sane and honest Labour” from their flagellation, and doubtless many workers of this class will be glad to have the words they have in their hearts spoken.