WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

E AILMERS’ UNION. (Special to “ Guardian ".) WELLINGTON. Aug. i. Not content with the representation the primary producers have in Pan'iainent at the present time—probably double that of any other section of the community, measured by number:—the EarmeiV l nion Coiilerence has adopted a report submitted hy one ol its

committees to the effect that " the present political situation is extremely unsatisfactory to the primary producers ” and that “ some form of political action should he taken." It can he .said for the Conference that it has not been precipitate in the matter and that il is going to move cautiously even now. Knr ten years, at least, ii has been discussing at intervals the proprietary of political action, and it has hedged its formal acceptance of the principle around with safeguards which surely must keep it 0111 ul the conlentinu~ field ol polities for a general election or two vet. 11 is significant, however, that, with seven .Ministers out of fourteen entitled to call themselves farmers, and three others closely associated with the occupation of the land. the " Lancers' Parliament should lie denouncing the political situation “as extremely unsatisfactory” and demanding hotter representation for the men on tin* land. It may mean that even the farmers are beginning to realise that ii is possible to have too much of the agrarian element in a legislative assembly and on the Treasury benches. EXCHANGE OE FAVOURS.

The " Post ’’ seizes upon the opportunity presented hy the resoi'ntion of the Conference to expound the economic features of the situation. “ A hloe.” it explains. ” can exercise influence only by buying and selling support, not in cash, of course, hut with votes and measures for other votes and measures. .Such bargaining is demoralising. If the pressure is made through a party instead of a bloc, antagonism of interests which should not lie antagonistic must follow. These are considerations which should weigh with the Karine's’ Union. At present it is probable that many farmers are dwelling too much upon the statement that the prosperity of the country depends upon the prosperity of the primary producers—which is only a half-truth. It is half untrue inasmuch as it suggests that measures to help the fanners. without regard for others, should ho the soi’e consideration. In actual practice farmers van he benefited permanently only by measures which do no injustice to other sections. A parly which i- one-eyed hy nature or has one eve closed by force is likely to fall into the error of seeing only one side of a ease." The observations of the evening journal are particularly opportune in view of the fact that it would he only by an exchange of favours the new party could hope to achieve its ends.

“ POLITICAL INFLUENCE. The transfer of the dates allotted to the Waikato Racing Club hy the Racing Conference to the Waikato Hunt Club on the authority of the Minister of internal Adairs has aroused a good deni'of interest here. Public sympathy ill a general sort of way always inclines towards a hunt meeting lather than towards a race meeting: hut in view of the assertion that the .Minister gave an assurance to the secretary of the Waikato Racing ( lub he would in no way interfere with the decision of the Racing Conference acre that body to grant Labour Hay to his club, racing people are wondering to what lengths

'• polit iral influence ” will go. Xu uni! cnn doubt tlic <4oo<l intentions of tlio Hon. I". Bollard. who on other 00-; ciisions Inis fallen inul oi' the Racing Conference ; but. rightly or wrongly, he i has itsr,limed authority nhich hi.s pro-] tleeersors in office did not exercise and which many people think should not . he associated with politcal admiiiistia-1 tion. The Racing Co life fence decided \ hy a majority of thirty to eight that i the Waikato Club was entitled to the! day in dispute, and naturally it feels more than a little affronted hy the ministerial reversal of its decision. .Mr!

A. Al. Samuel. tin' member ul Ohincniuri. who li;is congratulated the .Minis t-or upon tlic " courageous stnml Im lias taken.” is not an altogether disinterested party, and his suggestion !'at the “ wealthy Auckland Racing 'uh ” should give up one of its dates the enihamassed Waikato Having ■ iuh is oni'y a (heap piece of philanthropy. ’ LTCKXKIXG QUKSTIOX. The deputation representing the Licensing Iteform Association, the .Moderate League and the Associated Cliihs that waited upon the Prime Alin- | isler last week with a plea for the i adoption of their particular solution of the licensing problem came empty away. Air Coates listened attentively to all the spokesmen of the deputation had to say and promised to study carefully the suggestions they had ' made, hut he gave no more encouragement to the opponents of no-license than lie had given to its advocates. The question, lie told them, was a very difficult one to discuss ; he did not expect his proposals to satisfy everyone ; Parliament woui’d he given an opportunity tn express an opinion ; the liquor question was in no sense a political question ; he hoped to retain the liberty of the subject ; when the Bill came down any member of Parliament "could move an amendment, and so on and so on. “At tin's stage,” the .Minister said in conclusion, “ I will say nothing further, nor give any further indication of the contents of the Bill beyond what I already have given other deputations on the subject.” Obviously deputations from oil her side of the i'iquor controversy are wasting their time and breath in the iteration and reiteration of arguments by which the -Minister already is intolerably bored. The best thing the contending parties can do now is to demand the immediate production of the Bill. '