WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

TIMBER TARIFF. A PERPLEXING PROBLEM. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON. January 21. The deputation representing various Labour organisations and interests which waited upon the Acting-Prime Minister the other day to urge the cause of some 30,000 sawmill workers, alio are threatened with loss of employment through the importation of timber, presented only one phase of the problem to the Mon Downie Stewart and his colleagues. Apparently the members of the deputation would repair the existing state of affairs by imposing such duties upon sawn and dressed timbers that the American and Australian shippers could not compete with the local millers. This might he a, simple and effective method of disposing of outside competition ; hut it would not necessarily redound to the advantage of the workers. The high cost of living in the Dominion at the present time is largely due to the excesses of a protective Customs tariff. There can he no doubt, however, that the sawmilling industry in this country needs some attention from the Government and from Parliament, and while the matter is in the air the Minister of Railways very well might look at Friinkton which lately has come in for a good deal of suggestive criticism. It has been reiterated that this establishment is underselling the sawmillers at a very substantial loss to the State, GALLOPS AND TROTS. The local papers continue to exercise themselves over the attitude of the Minister of Internal Affairs in regard to the contending claims of the Canterbury Jockey Club and the New Brighton Trotting Club to the privilege of entertaining the Duke anil Duchess of York during their visit to Christchurch. The sporting editor ol the “Post” is indignant. “The Hon R. F. Bollard.” he says, “has settled forthwith the idea of holding a Royal race meeting at Riccarton. Whether this direct action, another example of increasing Government interference with the domestic affairs of racing, will meet with general approval, is very doubtful, and those who have the general welfare of the Turf at heart will regret this over growing interference.” The “ New Zealand Times,” in its expiring hours, adopts the view ol the Press Association. “It is considered.” it (piotes. •' that in the action he has taken the Minister has exceeded his powers, as the allocation of dates is the duty of the New Zealand Racing Conference.” The " Dominion,” relenting of its former strictures, allows the Minister to point out again that the Racing Conference, in the case of one sport, and the Trotting Conference, in the case of the other, alone exercise the- power of changing dates. If these bodies agree there can he four or five race meetings in Christchurch during the Royal visit, Imt the Government cannot assure them of the Royal presence. And there the matter stands.' AGREE OR GET OUT.

The official report of the proceedings at the meeting of the Dairy Control Board, which is published this morning by grace of the hoard's own newspaper, the “ Dairy Produce Exporter.” has attracted attention by the prominence it gives to a motion urging Hie “retirement” of the Government's representative cm the Loudon Agency. Mr Gnodfellow, the chairman of the hoard.

who has just returned from London, in warmly supporting the motion, said lie considered the worst feature of the position was that Mr Paterson drew a salary of Cl ODD a year from the producers. The chairman thought that while drawing such a salary Mr Paterson. should either obey the hoard’s policy as laid down or resign. Mi- Corrigan complained that the Prime Minister had been misled by Air Paterson when the duty' of the Government’s nominee was to give the Alinistcr “lull, accurate and unbiased information.”

The motion, according to the report, was carried unanimously. Comment ill the city is to the effect that it is a little unfair to condemn Mr Paterson unheard especially in view of the fact that after making inquiries on tho spot Air Coates had appeared to endorse the views of the Government’s representative. There also are protests against the Kssumotion that .Mr Paterson must cither agree with e'l the hoard proposes or relinquish his position. The Acting-Prime Minister, to whom the text of the resolution lists been addressed. is not likely to take any action in the matter until the return o| his chief. - AT LAST. The “ Xew Zealand Times,” after a long struggle with adversity, will cease publication after to-morrow’s issue and the “ Dominion ” will hear away the good will, the copyright and most of the other more or less tangible assets that remain to the longest lived ol Wellington’s morning newspapers. This outcome has been inevitable for some time past, even the stalwarts among tlie proprietors of the paper realising that the miracle for which they had waited so long and so patiently was not going to happen; hut already there is talk of the birth of another third newspaper and ft is understood that the old home of the dying journal will not he immediately demolished. However the time is not opportune for the launching of such enterprises, metropolitan journalism in the passage of years having been exalted to a fine art of commercialism, and enthusiasts who ache to serve the cause of a community or the aims of a party are obtaining no practical sympathy from the shrewd business men who must constitute the sheet anchor of the newspaper enterprises of the future.