WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

DAIRY PRODUCK CONTROL

A LONDON OPINION. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, March 11. It is announced that a special meeting of the Dairy Produce Control Hoard will lx: held to-morrow morning to consider the grave position that has been created by the course of the London butter market during the last two or three weeks. At the ordinary meeting of the board held a fortnight or so' ago several members expressed alarm at the accumulating stocks of unsold butter at Home, hut Mr Grounds, the chairman of the board, made light of tile “ passing phases of the market’' and assured his colleagues that all would he well in the near future. Prices might be temporarily depressed by the machinations of the opponents of control, but co-operation would triumph in the end and then the producers would come into their own. The timid souls on the hoard were not convinced, hut for the time being they were silenced. The cables from London published this morning, however, have dissipated all Air'Grouncls's pretty flowers of speech and now the whole industry is alive to dm fact that at least 7o per cent of the Dominion’s output for the season remains unsold with the northern season at hand and the certainty of lower prices. “ The biggest fiasc o over known in trading circles,” as the authority quoted by the Press Association this morning says, is expected to cost the producers two millions. THE PRIME MINISTER’S PART.

Even while the Prime Minister was in attendance upon the Duke and Duchess of York during their tour of the North Island, he was deluged with demands from all parts of the country for a statement concerning his investigation of the operation of control in London. When he reached 'Wellington the reporters approached him never doubting they would obtain a highly interesting interview on the subject. But they were disappointed. “ I am unable to discuss the matter.” he said, politely, with regrets, but firmly. At first his refusal to discuss the matter was a little surprising; hut when a message lie had dispatched to the Daily Board from London was recalled it seemed natural and proper enough. In this message after saying that the policy of control had been definitely settled and would continue, ho added that he was convinced anything in the nature of minimum price-fixing should be avoided. The Prime Minister, of course, was responsible for the compulsory powers conferred upon the board, ns demonstrated by Mr Veitcli, the member for Wanganui, the other day with somewhat unnecessary emphasis, but be may reasonably claim lie never expected them to be employed in the arbitrary manner they have been. Mr Massey would have been more cautious in conferring dictatorial powers upon the hoard. His .successor t-oiok fjor granted precautions and safeguards which should have been definitely asstfred. SALE OF HONOURS.

The cable message which appeared in the evening paper yesterday giving some particulars of a Bill introduced in the British House of Commons by one of tbe Labour members with a view to making the sale of titles and honours in the Mother Country illegal naturally has been the subject of more or less frivolous comment here. New Zealand has no titles or honours to distribute, with the exception of the

“ Honourable ” prefacing the names of Ministers of the Crown and members of the Legislative Council, and theso are not necessarily abiding distinctions: but successive Dominion govern_ meats, over a long series of years have mode generous use of such authority as they have enjoyed in this respect. Even Sir Harry Atkinson, one of the roost punctilious administrators this country ever has had. did not hesitate to secure the appointment of half a dozen councillors with the title of “ Honourable ” before resigning after his defeat at the polls in 1891). Mr Secldon, Sir Joseph Yard, and Mr Massey were as ready to exercise their prerogative in the same generous fashion, and -Mr Coates cannot he blamed for having been even more frank than his predecessors in rewarding party services. In New Zealand this is not regarded as u matter ol buying and selling, but rather one of political expediency. What is happening in Great Britain, however, may set the Dominion thinking. RIBLE-IX-SCTTOOLS.

Mr Zone Grey, novelist find fisherman, is .appearing in the papers here, at the instigation of the Biblc-in-Seliools [fi-opaUganda Coininittee, as an advocate of Bible reading in schools. "1 believe in Bihle reading in schools,” he writes. “In the United States this is practised, lint only such portions read as will not offend the various Christian denominations and people of other religious faiths ; and to me that is the wisest course to pursue, since there is no such thing as a universal religion. The Bihle is the greatest hook ever written. I have received much inspiration from it, and thoso masters of literature that I have studied most assiduously were ardent students of the Bible and God-fearing men.” Educational authorities and resident Americans here, while sharing Mr Zano Grey’s appreciation of the Bihle. are unable to confirm his suggestion that it. is universally read in the schools of the United States. They have gathered from reading and observation that in this respect the system of education in the States is much the same as the system in New Zealand and that while the fundamental principles of Christianity are more or less directly inculcated in the public schools, such passages of scripture as could ho offensive to the adherents of any faith are rigidly excluded.