WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

IHTTKR CONTROL. DIVIDED OPINION. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WF.LLINCTON. February I-'. Though the- Clinirman of the Dairy Hoard has proclaimed his intention to proceed with his preparations for the introduction of “Absolute Control” at the allotted time in Almost next there is a growing feeling here that a further postponement ol this hazardous experiment would he advisable. 11l the first place, it is hoing argued, the Government having committed itself to radical chances in the constitution of the Hoard cannot constitutionally allow the present members to proceed with a policy which lias not received the imprimatur of the prescribed const it.tteneies. The proper course to adopt, tut* authorities are lavin'/, down, is to introduce legislation providing tor the retirement of all the present members and for the election of a new Hoard. !I v no other means, they contend, could the Hoard lie made really ropr" seuialive of the -/reat body ot eh’ l

ITider Ihe present system one mom oer repre-entaiive of the South Island and

two members representative -f the >\ i llt Island retire each year, and it ■s obvious that tlie " ward syst 'in

eoaM not be anolied to either of tl ci nstitttencies. The institution ol '■ ward system " would entail w.pit i'i . slate clean and holding all the e'. lions at the same time. WHAT IT MEANS.

[’rnhahly when the Prime Minister declared his preference for the waid system to {/ive no thought to the difficulties that would arise in, the changeover from one system to another, lie so far has liveil rather on the praetieal side of polities than on the technical side and now apparently is at the Mag' Mr Massey had reached many years aye when lie promised that the Legislative Council should be elected by the

system of prnpri ioual represcent ition in two member constitueneies. Ihe

ward system is no more applicable to mlary retirements than proportion!

repri -entattou is to one or Iwn-inomoor i onstitttencies. It is tolerably safe :o say that when the lion W. Nos wort he. following his new chief, cave his adhesion to the ward system he ..new perfectly well that with rotary retirements still intact it would not put an

end to minority rule. Hut it is not the reconstitution of the Hoard alone that is alarming the friends of Absolute Control. There has been a iiiiimi I

revulsion of feeling against compulsion in the Wanganui and Taranaki districts during the last month or two. and this has been rellected to some extent in the Wnininte district where .Mr Gooulellow no longer is king. PRICK OK Tl 1 K LOAK.

The National Kxeeutive ol the New Zealand Labour Party, which as a rule, does not find favour with the average housewife, is being complimented on till

sides for its very lucid and temperate statement oil the wheat and bread question. It has taken the trouble to

examine the situation from beginning to end. and quoting the farmers themselves. the millers, the Minister for Agriculture and the late Chief Justice.

it makes out a strong ease for a cheaper loaf. Its harsher comments arc reserved for the farmers’ "free market” and even these arc comparatively mild. "The Wheat Growers.” a paragranli

inns, "seized the opporl unity of pressing their demands when the new Minister of Agriculture was apportvd. They also got the ear of the Prime Minister. Neither of these .Ministers i' so well informed of the position as tl,.. 1 late Minister of Agriculture. Tie: May agreement, is abrogated, and the demand of 1 lie wheat growers Ur a. free market m granted. A tree 'cartel w’ !; four or live million bush"ls of v. h at to sati-ly a demand for ■ tght million luisseN I" No one has vet challenged tin* ia-liee of this i.ri’ia at from which ihe public is assuming ihe K.'.uutive have the facts on its side, A HOINKSS MAN'S VIKW. Curiously ('imiigli a. letter from the pen of Mr George Gould, one of t'-e leading business men of Cant 'l'niiy. propounding practically the same policy as i lie one set out by the National Kxeeutive of the l.ahoip' Party, which appeared In the Christchurch "Press,” nearly a month ago. is only now finding publicity in the North Island. Mi Gould, in lirief. suggests a subsidy from the ( oo -ululated Knud lor w limigrowers. the admission ot wheal tree ol dutv and Ihe reduction of i lie duty on Hour to L'l a lon. This, he elai ns. would enable New Zealand to make all its own Hour, and to secure all the byproducts needed by stock and poultry hrcedci's. The wheat industry would llourish. labour would he well omiilovcd. and, to the extent to which Now Zealand grew its own wheal, ilm nmney would he kept and eireulated in the country, while the Minister's • hairs would grow visihlv fewer, lime is a picture of contentment which should make a very real appeal to the whole country, and. judging from the views they have expressed, if only .Mr Gould and the National Kxeeutive of the Labour Party could he brought together it might he materialised.