WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

AY HEAT AND FLOUR. GOYERXAIEX'f’S DECISION. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON.. February 23. Probably the farmers’ eoneeriicil are the only people entirely satisfied with the announcement made by the Government this morning in regard to wheat and flour. Having been released from the contract they made with the Government four or live months ago they now are assured of a big price for this vear's crop and justified in expecting similar consideratinon in the vear> to come. The millers and the halters are not unite so happily placed, as an advance in the price of wheat pre-umahly will mean an advance in the price of flour, and an advance ill the price of Hour must affect the cost of bread. In the course ol his statement oil the subject the .Minister of Agriculture s.avs "it is unlikely the consumer will be called noon to pay anvtliing extra tor bread; but it is not easy to follow bis line of reasoning in this respect. II wheat is dealer and Hour is dearer, one being the natural consequence ol the other, it is difficult to see how the price of bread is to be kept at its present level, unless the Government is contemplating subsidising tile bakers. Ihe Ministei has made no mention of anything of this kind and presumably the Government is content to allow the tax on the ‘‘staff of life” to fall on the shoulders ol those least able to boai l lie burden. AVAR MEASURES. ft is only because the Government lias retained on the Statute Hook war measures which were intended to remain in Force only while the very existence of the Empire was at stake that it is able to usurp the authority oT Parliament. Had Parliament had the handling of this matter it is extremely doubtful if it would have imposed taxation amounting to ball a million and more noon the community in order that a few bundled Canterbury wheatgrowers might be assured prices 20 L> per cent above the world's parity. It' it had given the wheat-growers any assistance at all it would have been liv wav of subside I rum the Consolidated Fund, which would have insured everv one contributing according to lus. means. As it is. the wheat and flour duties amount to nothing less than a levy on the poorer classes, who of necessity use in oropnrtion to their means, a much larger quantity of bread than do the more lortnnately situated members of the community. There arc indications that it the Government does not voluntarily divest itself of its existing war authorities next session, it will be urged very warmly towards that end by some of its own political friends who regard them as wholly unnecessary and entirely unconsti tut iolial. THE LIMITED EXPRESS.

Reports of a more or less sensational character continue to reach Wellington concerning the Limited Express between tbe capital city and Auckland. 11 '.ost of them implying that sooner or later this train will be over-taken by some dire disaster unless its speed is materially reduced. No doubt the reiteration of these stories has brought the ” Limited ” into some dislnvour. and it is no uncommon tiling to see it. moving out of Wellington with no more than two-thirds of its seating accommodation occupied. Il has been put afoot Hint even the Minister ol Railways will not travel bv this train, but no one who knows Mr ('nates at ail intimately will credit that tale. As a matter of fact practical men in the service declare the ” Limited ’’ to be one of the safest trains in commission r.t. the present time, and as a matter of experience scores of regular travellers make a practice of using it whenever possible. The time il saves on the journey between the two cities is mob- mi almost entirely by the lower stoppages, and ii lakes no more risks than do the ordinary trains. Traveller- frightened away from tlm ‘ Limit'd " by the current stories mi-- a very pleasant experience. ' AIISOLFTE CONTROL. It is expected that at its meeting on Thursday the Dairy Hoard will decide definitely whether or not to go on with it- oroon rations for the inslitu-

lion i.'l Absolute Control "on August I next. If it determine:- to proceed it will have to sot up thoroughly i|>perl ports nod provide stuffs capable ol taking out tlk* whole of the export hiisiiiess now being carried on by private enterprise. A big undertaking of tf’ris description would occupy all the time remainin'; at the disposal of the Board, and the fact that it lias not yet tackled the joh suggests that, a further postponement ,uf the institution ol “ Absolute Control ” may be in contemplation. The new .Minister of

Agriculture. with more business experience than tile Hon \V. Xosworthy had. does not appear so keen ars his predecessor was to hand over a great national industry to the unrestricted management of a hotly of amateurs and the Prime .Minister is known to lool; with thinly disguised disfavour upon this semi-political interference with business affairs. However, the decision rests with the Board as a whole and as the Chairman. Air Grounds, remains an ardent oontrollist private enterprise cannot regard lighttv the assault upon its domain.