WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

LABOUR OPPOSITION. PLAYING THE GAME. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, July 13. So far the Labour Opposition, led by Mr IT. E. Holland, has born itself with propriety and becoming dignity. What it may have in store for the Government later on remains to he seen, but meanwhile it is playing the Party game according to the best established traditions. Mr Holland is to lead off in the Budget debate this evening and, as in duty bound, be will have criticism of various kinds to offer and suggestions to make. It is tinderstood, however, that be will not encumber the proceedings by the introduction of “ no confidence ” motions, and that he will co-operate with the Prime Minister in bringing the somewhat purposeless talking to a conclusion by the end oi the current week. But there is no reason to assume from its acquiescent attitude towards these preliminary arrangements that the new Opposition intends surrendering any of the traditional privileges and perquisites of its office. AH* Holland will be prepared to bargain with the Prime Minister, but he will insist upon some tangible quid pro quo. The Opposition. ft may be taken for granted, is not out simply to play at polities. No previous party has faced a Government in more deadly earnest. BANK TNG RET URNS. As was generally expected by

financial observers, the quarterly banking returns published this morning reveal-a large decrease in deposits and a large increase in advances.

'This, of cours'c, reflects the adversetrade conditions which have been emphasised by business people for months past, and which are causing the Government ,grave concern. The commercial editor of the “ Dominion,” in commenting upon the figures, says they show the great change that has come over the economic position dnr.ino- the last twelve month's. “ Last year” he adds, ‘‘the' banks were indebted to the puliiie to the amount of e-this year the public is indebted to the banks to the extent oi £.115.392. For the past throe quarters

the position has been unsatislaetoi,s. hut if the' imports contract siibstastially and, the balance of trade is restored the position would right itself speedily.” This authority points out that, the only means by which still graver developments can he averted is by reducing imports and increasing exports. Translated into plain English this means that the public must give up satiating itself with luxuries and annly itself earnestly to the increase of production. Wellington began its part in this self-denial campaign last week by increasing the totalisator investments at Trontham bv £25.000- ' OVERHAUL OF EDUCATION.

The suggestion made by the Minister of Finance the other day that the Dominion’s education, system might in the near future hear a judicious

overhaul with a view to repairing any leakage on its financial side, has brought the newspapers and the teachers to the front with fervid protests. The “Dominion” mildly rebukes Mr Downie Stewart for treading on such perilous ground—evidently overlooking the fact that the Minister wishes to stop waste, not to impair education and the secretary of the Educational Institute calls Air Winston Churchill and the criminal statistics to hear witness l to the fallacy of economy in public expenditure. "To cramp the brains of the nation while developing its thews or stimulating its appetites,” Mr Churchill is credited with saying, “would, indeed, be a perilous policy.” No one questions the soundness of Mr Churchill’s contention. Then there are I the criminal statistics. “In 1880, ’ Hie secretary of the Institute sa\s, “of every 10,000 people 10.48 were in gaol; in 1924, the proportion had sunk to 9.22.” Of course no one withholds from education the credit it is due in connection with the reduction of crime : but waste never lias helped in that direction. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. It is reported, on what appeals to be reliable authority, that at a caucus of the Reform Party held yestoidac the ouestion of dairy control was discussed and that only a small minority of the forty odd members present expressed themselves as opposed to the compulsory policy of the Dairy Board. .Another current rumour is to the effect that the members of the Labour Opposition are unanimous in approval of the absolute control and that thev have conveyed this, fact to the Prime Minister, with the addenda that they are out-and-out supporters of single constituencies and of the principle of one producer one vote. This rumour apparently has reached the ear of the editor-of the “New Zealand Times.” a staunch supporter of Air Coates, who writes this morning that “if the worst comes to the worst, we may-yet see the Prime Minister m the same division lobby as Air Holland.” This is by no means an improbable contingency. Labour, in addition to supporting the institution of absolute control of the dairy industry, would cast in its lot with the Government in perpetuating the arbitrary powers conferred upon Ministers by the Board of Trade Act. Progressive socialists look ahead to the time when they will have the administration of the law.