WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

•BUTTER AGAIN. DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. (Special to ” Guardian ”.) WELLINGTON, June IE It is rumoured ahout town that the meeting of the Dairy Board to-morrow will he of more than ordinary interest in lolic who have, been following the controversy between the Controlists and tlie Free Marketers, whether for entertainment or profit, during tlie last ten or twelve months. Mr Timpanv, one of tlie South Island members of the Board, lias been talking of the manner in which the Board’s business is conducted behind closed doors, and Mr lorns, one of the North Island i members, fresh from a two-vears’ so- j joum at the London Agency, is aching to tell the story of the price-fixing fiasco. The members of the Board and their official reporter will he told just, how Mr Timpanv came to connive at the attempt to get rid of tlie Government's representative in the London Agency, and will hear how Mr lorns protested in vain for months against strange and unorthodox methods. It is being whispered ahout that -Ml lorns is ready with unite an impressive impeachment of the London management and with a scathing rejoinder to tlie aspersions east upon the Prime Minister and tlie Government’s representative in London by certain mem. hers of the Board. He already has expressed lii.s disapproval of the excm-. sive reporting privileges extended to the Board’s newspaper and lias proclaimed himself an irreconcilable opponent of any faddish restraints upon trade. Altogether he seems likely to return to the Board room with a much expanded vision.

NEED FOR CRITICISM. Tin; "’Evening Post.” commenting upon a contributed article in its own columns urging ihe immediate need for a closer scrutiny of public expenditure takes members of Parliament t.o task sharply for not discharging their duty adequately in this respect. “It is regrettable.” it says, “ that our present

House of Representatives is so weak in financial critics. There are few members who ever offer any criticism which does not answer itself. The others prefer to deal in ambiguous generalities. They will demand a cessation of borrowing and reduction <>f taxation with one breath, and with the next attack the Government for its failure to increase pensions or salaries or build railways. The consequence ol this weakness in criticism is that the Public Accounts are not submitted to that searching examination which they should have from tlie Opposition, and al.-o from Government supporters; and tlie Minister of Finance must pla.v a lone hand in trying to keep expenditure within hounds.” Ibis, oi course, is an old complaint, hut it obtains additional emphasis iust now Irom the stringency ot the money market amt

tile prevalence ot unemployment, in a

more or less acute lorm. in the larger centre:- of population. What is wauled in such times more than anything else is a public that will insist upon its representatives in Parliament making themselves acquainted with all the requirements of their job. CRICKET. The inevitable discussion concerning the calibre of the New Zealand cricketer.-, now in England lias begun in earnest in the local newspapers. Some disgruntled individual, signing himself as " Batsman-Howler,” and thereby disclosing his identity to some extent, started the bnN rolling by easting contemptuous words at the Dominion s representatives. “As one who has played in much good cricket, both in the Old Country and abroad,” he stated after a lengthy analysis of the position. " 1 would like to try and dispel the idea that the New Zealand cricket

team are on a par with the average county team at Home, ns stated by a famous Australian cricketer, and that they will win more than they lose. Believe me. they are very mediocre, and a long way behind the Old Country in cricket, and the majority ol tilings.” To this jaundiced criticism the cricket authority of the ” Post ” retorted with the, very modest claim tlita ” cricket as reflected in the performances of the New Zealand team is up to county standard in England." So far " Ratsman-Rowler lias not returned to the charge; hut " TT onld-lie Wicket-Keeper” and other enihiisiasls of his order maintain, modestly, Hun the New Zealanders have proved already that “the lail-eud counties cannot afford to treat them lightly. As for the ‘‘majority of things” in New Zealanders are " only mediocre, a ready-witted correspondent instances “The All Blacks, tlie late Anthony Wilding, and Randolph Rose.” The weight, of tlie argument appears to rest j with the defenders. COLLARING A TRUST.

The enthusiasm of the promoters ol the Agricultural College at Palmerston North and their friends has lost none of its insistence by the passage ot time. Their latest scheme for the assistance of their aims is tho appropriation of a trust fund which is lying about loose, it would seem, in the Hawke’s Bay district. Some years ago Air Josiah Howard made a handsome bequest for the establishment of an agricultural college in the Tlawke s Province. The testator in His .seal for this scheme devoted the whole of his estate towards this end without making any adequate provision for his dependents. It was due to the intervention of tho late Air W. F. Massey and the late lion. AY. D. S. AlacDonald that this oversight in the disposition of the worthy man’s wealth was repaired. “It is now proposed,” the public is told, “that part of the funds of the estate should be made available in annual contributions for carrying on research work at Palmerston North in wool and animal-breeding. Hus in itself would be an important addition to the activities of the College. Such research would benefit the pastoral province and it could he carried on most conveniently at the central college.” AH this, of course, is very interesting. hut what is to become of the testator’s wishes and directions and of Hawke’s Ray’s rights and possessions?