WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PM IMF'. MINISTER’S SLOGAN

“ COATS OFF WITH COATES.” (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, February IS. It is obvious from his personal bearing and from his public speeches that the Prime Minister lias returned from his trip Home with a quickened "'it and a broadened vision. He has mingled with the big men of the Empire and he has profited hy the contact. The slogan he suggested to his hosts when being entertained at luncheon the other day hy the liritish Manufacturers’ and Agents' Association, •‘('oats oil' with Coates.” was one of the conceptions and fruits of his broadened outlook. He stressed the need for keeping the costs of production as low as possible, for accepting the competitive market as the basis of all prices, of improving the methods of selling and advertising the Dominion’s goods, and of populating the waste places, with caution. The.slogan, however, standing alone is a little obscure. The need for keeping the cost of production as low as possible involves the need of reducing the cost of living and the acceptance of the competitive market as the basis of all prices the need of reviewing the whole wages system. These are steps which Mr Coates seems never to have con-

templated. or, at any rate, never seriously studied, and yet they are absolutely vital towards the achievement of the goal he has in view.

PRICES ANT) WAGES. The “ Evening Post ” touches upon the problem with its accustomed diffidence, but with n full realisation of the difficulties it presents. “Beingf unable to control price.” it says. “ New Zenland’s only course is to make the most of that price by selling more and by cheeking every item in production costs. Greater production and lower production * costs are attainable by bringing more land into profit and hy securing a better return from the land now farmed. No hard-and-fast rule cun he applied in deciding which shall he used. . . But, both methods call for liard work, close study of farming methods, and steady application of science in the business of production. This is not only a problem for the. farmer. Every worker in the Dominion is more or less affected and can contribute something to the solution of the cost-production problem. Hie manufacturers and merchants who supply the farmer’s needs—his implements, his house, his fertilisers —and the workers who prepare his produce and transport it to the market all are working with him. With their aid and by his own industry the farmer may overcome the obstacle of a lower price level.” This, of course, is largely a question for the worker. He must either give a fuller service or accept a

lower wage. RAILWAY SERVI Cl

Mr Coates has resumed charge of the railways of the Dominion fully convinced by his observation while abroad that they ought to he giving a hotter service, to the public and a larger return to the State, dust how he will proceed towards the attainment of this end remains to he seen, hut he already has said enough on the subject to make it plain that in his view the railways and the roads must co-operate in the provision of a much better service than their rivalry lias yet produced. That is the measure of his confidence up to the present time. Perhaps the gravest problem be lias to solve is that of the branch lines, which were constructed in the bad old days of “ log rolling ” and now remain as a permanent charge upon the taxpayers. “ In this connection the Prime Minister assures us,” says the “ Dominoii ” this morning, “ that Xcw Zealand is far ahead of other countries in methods of cutting losses.” The Minister’s statement is a little obscure, but if it is intended to mean that the Dominion has been

more prompt than other countries in repairing its mistakes then in this respect the world at large is not moving very expeditiously. THE FOUR SQUARE MINISTER The North Island, it must he confessed. wastes little sympathy upon the wheat growers of Canterbury. It, can obtain abundant supplies of wheat and flour from Australia, and, perhaps, is over-careless of the interests of the local producers. Rut both the North and South are likely to give approval to the sentiments expressed by the Ron. AY. Rownie Stewart to a deputation which waited upon members of the Cabinet yesterday with a request for an embargo upon the importation of Australian flour. " It is not feasible for us to increase immediately the duties with a view to assisting the farmers at the moment,” he said, ‘‘l do not- think it is feasible to put on an embargo. It is the same as putting on a prohibitive duty and that, in my opinion, is a breach of the spirit of the treaty. . . f can see no. way in which wo can assist the farmers at the moment other than by a subsidy on the price of their wheat, blit that, of course, opens up a very big and difficult question. . . It seems to me that no duty short of an embargo will satisfy the wheat growers of Canterbury. As far as the Customs Department is concerned we have done the very best we could.” There is a ring of sympathy and understanding in Air Stewart’s words always, but no other Atinister of the Crown since the days of Sir Harry Atkinson has displayed quite so much candour and courage in the exposition of his views.