WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1925, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

LLOYD GEORGE’S LAND POLICY. A PRECEDENT FOR LABOUR. i Special to " Guardian.’’) WELLINGTON, Kept. ’2l. The Labour members of the House ol Reps, though they do not often see eye to eye with Mr Lloyd George, are much elated by his announcement, on behalf of the Littoral Party at Home, ol a land policy which they regard ns even more daring that their own. •‘The Reformers and many ot the l.ibbciuls here." said a member ol the partv to-day. “have been ridiculing our suggestion that the “use value’ should he the basis of all operations in land, and that no man shall he allowed to hold in idleness, laud which another man could turn to profitable

amount. But here they are confronted by the opinion of one ol the first statesmen of the Empire—the man who pulled England through the most < ritieal stage of the war—who would have t tie Government resume authority over l.'.nd. do away with the landlord and tenant system and make the title to laud only the ability to use it

well. What have your Reformers and Liberals got to say about our confiscation policy now?” Probably the Reformers and the less “progressive’’ of the Liberals will think no better of tin- Labour land policy oil account of it being eselipscd by Mr Lloyd George's proposals, but it really does look as if a large section of public opinion in the Old Country were inclining towards the doctrines Mr 11. E. Holland aml his friends have been proclaiming. WHEAT-GROWING INDUSTRY.

h is evident now that unless continued line weather allows exceptionally heavy spring sowings, the wheat imp this season will be one of the lowest, if .not actually the lowest, gathered in the Dominion for fifty -.ears. The Minister of Agriculture during last session of Parliament, having raised tin- protective duty on wheat in 2> a cenlid and on Hour to £9 a ton, expressed a hope that it. would he on longer necessary to subsidise the growers in order to induce I hem to grow Miflleient wheat to satisfy the requirements of the Dominion. Rut oven before the most unfavourable winter on record since 1305 had banished all hope of an increase in the volume of product inn. Mr Xosworthy had thought it wise to compromise with the fanners by .guaranteeing them a price in addition In the substantial Customs protection. The growers as things have turned out. will not. reap the lull advantage they had expected from these eon-.-essions. and probably wheat will be imported at a lower figure than the one they are guaranteed. Whether or not the .system of .subsidies and guarantees: tin- two terms meaning practically the same things will he continued alter this experience remains to lie seen : but public opinion, in the North Island, at any rale, is inclining strongly towards a free market and the Minister himself is beginning tu despair of ever again making the Drniinion entirely self-support-ing in this respect. “THE LIMITED.” In i lie lliiiim- ol Representatives on Friday. Mr U. W. Bart ram. the Labour member ior Grey l.vnn. as a matter ol urgency asked ihe Prime .Minister t--gi vc an n-s,nance that Ibe " Limited" express now running he!ween Wellington and Auckland at an accelerated speed was a sale means ol travel. In explanation ol what appeared to n-oxl members of the I louse a somewhat futile enquiry. Mr Barlrr.m said In- bad received letters impugning the safety of t lie last train on narrow ami light raiis with many abrupt turns ami diiiicult, im lines, and declaring t Gat the resignation ol 11 ■■ late I b-m-ral Manager, Mr R. MeYilly. was due. in part, al least, to his unwillingness to aeeep! the responsibility for the speeding up policy. Mr I oates made light of the suggestions contained in tin- member s question. lb- bad made three or ton:trips oil Ihe " Limited “ hin'sell and had enioved them. He was going In speed up trains wherever he could. Mr M.eVilly’s resignation had nothing whatever to do with the speeding up of trains and the Prime Minister was sure the late general manager could hear Inin out in this statement. As to the safety of the train," lie said in conclusion, " well, she is as sale as a church.” No doubt the Minister’s assurance may be accepted at its lull lace value, but frequent travellers by the " Unified " tell of some rather I liril)ing experiences ol last runs when tinebad to be made no in bad weather and of uncon-forlable rides over some rough, or sections of til" line at night. These nun lit easily he enlarged into alainung stories. CLOSE OF SESSION. The duration of the session is of particular interest this year, sine" a general election is at hand, a Royal Agricultural Show is to be held in ChrUlebureh during the early part ol November and a New Zealand and South Seas Exhibit ion is to be opened in Dunedin only a few days later. There is business enough before the House of Representatives, and in view, to keep Parliament sitting for another

two months, if the Government, wer-’ so minded : hut it is obvious that in" 1 final rush is al hand, and a number of 1 members, without wailing Tor any formal announcement on the subject ol prorogation from the I’rime Alinisu-r are making their arrangements lo leave Wellington early next week, believing 1 the session will not run over tile first 1 Tuesday in October. The ” Slaughter ' of the innocents” is sure lo Is’ all exceptionally heavy one. if all the M'-ias that have been mentioned are brought to account. : hut it will include nothing of great importance to the public ;.t large and will bring few reproaches upon tin? Government. The session of necessity has been to a large extent an electioneering one. as the last session of every I’niTiameut must lie; hut. for the n-osl pan. ihe electioneering has eo ml lined in an admirable spirit, and for ibis feature of the proceedings all three of the party leaders are entitled to a .-hare of the credit.