WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1927, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

FRUIT EXPORT. INCREASING DU ARA.xTKE. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, Dee. 22. 'l'lie Government, which was quite firm in its refusal two or three months ago to raise the export truit guarantee beyond 10s ]x>r case, relented yesterday and increased the amount to ils a ease, which assures the growers against actual loss whntevei the vagaries of the market may l>c. The fruit growing industry has now been nursed by the State in one form or another for close upon a quarter ol a century and some day the wisdom of this policy may be called in question. Meanwhile Wellington, which years ago was famed for the cheapness of its local and island fruit, lias established a reputation in an exactly opposite direction and even apples in winter time have become the luxury of the idle rich. Happily the export growers did so well last year that the Government, which in the previous year had paid out some £BO,OOO under its guarantee, escaped any demand from the shippers, but the Minister of Agriculture himself obviously is not very sanguine of a repetition of this good fortune.

“NOT ADVOCATING EXTENSION.” As a matter of fact, the observations with which the Minister supplemented his announcement of an increased guarantee were not, at all inspiring. “There is no doubt,” lie said, “that there is a chance of working up a good trade. At the same time until wo know definitely that a remunerative trade can he done in apples and pears by shipping overseas, wo are not advocating any great extension of the fruit growing industry. The Government’s attitude is that it yet remains to lie proved whether this trade can he carried on profitably. The guarantee will gradually bo reduced with the idea that the growers will evolve a system of assisting themselves in their export activity.” Curiously enough at the very time the Minister was enunciating a cautious policy the Assistant Director of his Department was proclaiming the encouraging prospects of the approaching season, the indications of good crops all round and the confidence of the growers. The director plainly is a more confident prophet than his chief.

PRIME MINISTER- HONOURED. Some curiosity has been occasioned by a paragraph which appears in the “Dominion” this morning stating that a deputation of Wellington business men and friends waited upon the Prime Minister last night to wish him the compliments of the season and to ask him to accept a presentation a.s a token of their regard and esteem “The arduous nature of the recent parliamentary session was stressed hv the various speakers,” the eager reader is told, “and Die earnostT efforts of the Prime Minister t<> do all he could in the interests of the country as a whole wore emphasised.’ That Mr Coates deserves all the good things that were said of him no one doubts, but Die curious feature of Hie newspaper paragraph is that it mentions the name of none of those w.io were privileged in this fashion to express their appreciation of the services he lias rendered the country. Similarly All- Coates in his happy acknowledgement of the tributes paid him divulged the name of none of his adminers. \ POPULAR AMBASSADOR.

The “Evening Post" pays a warm tribute to Air Amery and to his nebie\ eiuents while touring the Dominion. “His lucid expositions of the Empire policy have captured attention.” 'it says. “He has shown how a system of mutual aid may he developed with great mutual gain. the details lie lias left us to fill m for ourselves—the plan rests upon the free will of the contracting parties—but he hex presented an inspiring view of t’e principle. Moreover, lie lias, yet with the utmost tact, corrected the impression which is growing hero that ill helping Britain wo are samOing something. The Empire economic "policy of co-operation which he advocates will surely pay us. If Air Ainery’s visit produces nothing nioio than a Letter understanding end a wider local interest in Empire affairs it will have been well worth while.” Probably no Imperial visitor. apart fimn Royalty, has made a better impression upon Hie people ol the Dominion than has Air Amery aim the fruit of his visit will lie gathered for many years to come.