WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

DAYLIGHT SAVING

WHAT IV ILL LORDS DO?

(Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON. July 20. Notwithstanding the substantial majority that carried the Summer Time Bill through all its stages in the House of Repro.sntntives, there is an uneasy feeling among the the promoters of the measure that it is not going to fare so well in the Legislative Council. There is a non-commital air on the part, of a majority of the members of the Second Chamber which suggests that they are not-at all enthusiastic about daylight saving and that they will fall easy prey to the wiles of its opponents. The question was before the Council last in 1015 when the second reading of the Bill sent tip from 11 the other place ” was negatived in a thin Chamber by twelve to nine.. obvious on that occasion that ministerial influence was at work against the measure, and it is not improbable that a. similar factor will bar the way on the present occasion. .Meanwhile, however, the friends of the measure are obtaining a crumb of comfort from the fact that while only one councillor who opposed the Bill in 1015 retains his seat, five councillors who supported the measure again are available. Freed from ministerial pressure the Council will lollow the lead of the House. DEPOSITS AND DEPOSITORS.

A petition of a unique character tabled-in the House of Representatives last week is only ilist beginning to attract the attention of folk who are zealous for the finances of the State. The petitioners state that they represent the general body of depositors who lent money to the Wellington Farmers’ Meat Company of Masterton, and that the total amount of money so invested was till .058 2s 3d. Later, the petitioners go on to explain, the company went into liquidation, and the Bank of New Zealand, the principal secured creditor, refused to allow tlic depositors a refund of the sums deposited with the Company. They submit, therefore, that as the Hank would have lost £31.000 more than i( did. had'there been no depositors, and that as the Government of New Zealand is a shareholder in the Bank to the extent of one-third of its capital, tho Government should return to the depositors 010,000 odd. one-third of the total amount by which they had reduced the Bank’s loss. Apparently the ground for the claim is that tho Government having associated itself, with certain private persons in running a hanking business must practise a code of ethics that is inapplicable to the ordinary shareholders. It is entirely unlikely that the Minister of Finance will place a vote of CIO,OOO upon the supplementary estimates for this purpose.

LAND SETTLEMENT. Tin’s morning in course of a casual chat, which scarcely could he designated an interview. Sir Joseph Ward expressed disappointment at the gloomy view the Minister of Lands appeared to ho taking of the settlement problem. “ My friend.” he said, obviously without any party bias, “seems to have made up his mind that because prices are inflated it is impossible to proceed with settlement under the Land for Settlement Act any faster than was the case last year when some 1700 acres were acquired at an average cost of LIS per acre. There is no need to recall what was done years ago to emphasise the needs of the present, time. But it is useless to harp on ' production, more, production and still more production ’ unless the Government is prepared to clear the way for the producers. Prices of produce alone govern the value of rural land and prices of produce are going to decline till they reach the pre-war level or thereabouts. There they will remain till another war conies' along. This is inevitable and the sooner the Minister admits l lie significance of the facts the better it will be for the community.” Inflated land values. Sir Joseph said in summing up the position, are simply a (i;uel tax on the mass of the people. MEM,BEKS’ HONORARIUMS. The suggestion of Mr G. W. Forbes, the member for Hurunui, that the salaries of members of the Mouse should be raised and that some kind of retiring allowance should be added to their emoluments, seems to he finding fairly genera! acceptance among the persons! principally concerned. Members. very properly, have a good opinion of their public services and they have no compunction in accepting an adequate recognition of their value. 'lhe public, however, in these straightened times is becoming more and more critical of honorariums that grow into 1 salaries that take unto themselves adj ditional perquisites, and it. is doubtful if the Prime Minister, who, in matters of this sort, is as good a judge of popular opinion as anyone else, will find himself able to fall in with Mr Forbes's suggestion. The Minister ol Finance, at any rate, who lias been frankly preaching a gospel of caution and economy—and, incidentally, practising it—is not likely to countenance throwing an additiona'l CIO.OOO or £12,000 into the laps of the people’s representatives. Me is the man in charge of the country’s purse and it could not he in more Capable bands. His refusal to effect any reduction in taxation this year would make nu increase in members’ salaries somewhat incongruous.