WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1926, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

WHEAT CONTROL.. MINISTER AND PRODUCERS. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, December 29. The Minister of Agriculture continues Lo coquet with the Canterbury wheat growers in regard to the disposal of their produce. This morning’s papers contain copies of telegrams—with certain eliminations “of references of a purely confidential nature ” —which have passed between the Hon W. Nosworthy and Mr John Brown, the president of the Mid-Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union, from which it appears that the wheat growers are highly dissatisfied with the Minister’s proposals and disposed to accept nothing short of a guaranteed price for three yearn. “Tn regard to any further control ivi 1925-20.” a passage in Mr Nosworthy’s expurgated message runs, “T must point out that it is essentia! that arrangements he made at once and certain action already taken. Even if Cabinet were inclined to agree to reverse its decision it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. and other interests would complain strongly of the uncertainty and instability of the position.” To this Mr Brown replies that the grower,; are •• where-they were at the •'•gi'mitvr.’’ ..mi that m the face of the 1 wo decisions

on control to vail ng suggested bv tin- Minister would be a source ol annovame to the fanner-. 'll the Government really wishes a reliable opinion.” Mr Brown adds as a parting .shot. “it knows what to do.” There the matter rests at the moment. THE BAKERS.

But engrossed as it. is in the enjoyment ol its holidays the public is beginning to show some live interest in the wheat and flour and bread questions. A local baker, a man in a uinsiderable way of business who has no! been absorbed by the large baking companies. when seen to-day said the vexatious feature of the whole business from his point ol view was that the bakers carried most ol the blame lor the high price of bread, while, as a matter of fact, they were not doing half as well as they were when the loaf was no more than two-thirds ot its present price. The Government, he declared, was very careful of the inierests of the farmers and the tlour millers, apparently allowing them to dictate their own terms, hut the unhappy bakers were left to fend for themselves and to bear most of the reproaches that should he directed against the Government and its proteges. The baking companies, being in a bigger way ol business, do not suffer so much as does the individual tradesman, hut they too are disposed to kick against the subsidies and guarantees conceded to the farmers and millers while they have to stand on their own feet and frequently put up with scant courtesy from the great combine from which they draw their supplies. SPEEDING-UP. The timid neuspaper correspondent still occasionally appears in print with a warning against the dire results that may follow upon the speeding-up ot the express trains. The daylight train between Auckland and Wellington has been coming in for very special notice in this respect during the holidays and a correspondent declares he. Las timed it to he doing “ a mile a minute over quite long .stretches of line. Of course there arc places along the main trunk where a high speed would he permissible. tile track being clear and level and practically without crossings; hut the autliorilu-s say that no such speed ever is altempieii. and never will he till the line- are re-laid wiili a broader gauge

and heavier metal. Forly miles an hour, or even a slightly greater speed, might he travelled in certain places without crossing the margin oi solely, hill this is not done because the additional tax nu the rolling slock would not be instilled, hut even occasional travellers on the Auckland-!! ellington mail arc. able to tell of trains reaching Palmerston I wen tv or thirty minutes late and making up their lost time over the eighty-seven miles ol level between tin' Mann wain capital and the city which crosses twenty or twenty-five miles of hill country. TF EXGT.AXD FAILS. Side by side with the cabled summary of Mr Garvin’s article in the London “Observer,” tolling of encouraging signs of the definite recovery of British trade, the “Dominion” printed yesterday on its middle page a letter from Mr Ashcroft Edwards in which that gentleman cmpahsiscs the need tor New Zealand giving all the assistance it can to the Mother Country in her great effort, towards rehabilitation. Xew Zealanders must realise,” Mr Edwards writes, in summing up his appeal. “ that if England fails we fail. Lot every man and woman pause, therefore, before buying even the

smallest article and tislt “Is it English?’ If you do buy English goods, you are contributing directly towards your own prosperity. If you buy foreign goods which England can supply economically, you are just as surely contributing towards your own downfall. Each Englishman earning reasonable wages is a potentail purchaser of New Zealand’s goods. Clearly it is up its to purchase English goods to save ourselves.” Air Edwards strongly .deprecates the idea of New Zealand borrowing money from America. Tho Americans may he our good personal friends, this authority admits, but in business they are not our disinterested helpers. America sells us all she possibly can, from motor-cars to chewing gum ; movie films to shaving soap, lie protests, hut she shuts out our produce by the highest tariff in the world.