WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PROTECTIVE DUTIES. A UCK LAND’S PROTEST. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, Feb. 27. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce, having extracted an admission from the .Minister of Customs that the increase of duties generally means an increase in prices, proceeds to emphasise its previous protest against his protective policy. It points out that the substantial increase in the duties on wheat and flour, amounting In the case of wheat to an embargo upon importation, not only maintains the high cost of living to those least able to bear such an impost. but also gravely handicaps the production ol eggs and bacons. two other articles of consumption it includes among the average family’s requirements. Mr Stewart had offered as an answer to the Chamber’s criticism the fact that he had heard of no case in which the new duties had brought about an increase in the price of bread; but to this the Chamber has the obvious retort that it was the increased duty that prevented a reduction in price, which still would have left the farmers with a very adequate return for their produce. The logic of the case for the time being appears to rest with the Minister’s critics. AIR HOLLAND’S BENT’. The combined attacks of the Afinister of Lands, the Hon. A\ • IL Triggs and the "Welfare League upon Air 11. E. Holland in connection with his recent allusions'to Samoan affairs have left the leader of the Laliour Opposition practically unscathed. Ml AleLcod is easily the most diplomat ic of AH Holland’s three critics, hut oven he would support his indictment by somewhat flimsy material. ‘‘A recent Wellington incident,” he told hi.s audience at To Awamutu the other night, “will he recalled by all of you. A seaman of the Alakura quarrelled with a fellow wage earner, and with the co-operation of his mates refused to take the ship to sea unless the man was dismissed. That matter being disposed of, the men then refused to go to sea if the man referred to was taken on board as a passenger. AVhile all sane thinking people deplore such a travesty on British .justice, Air Holland has never publicly denounced the conduct of the men.” It is conceivable that the leader of the Opposition is waiting for the tacts before launching his denunciation. In any case one wonders what relation there is between the Alakura incident and tlie Samoan troubles. THE FIRM HAND. The “Dominion” this morning deals mole adequately with the position than do the other critics, and reaches a judicial conclusion. “With practically no force to support him,” it says, "the Administrator could not enforce the law against the large body of so-called native police, illegally appointed. . . . To suggest at this stage, as has been done by tile Leader of the Opposition, that there is justification for the widespread suspicion that the action taken is an attempt to goad the Samoans into acts of desperation is a travesty of the facts and an ali’ront to the intelligence ol the public, it is. moreover, a mischievou.and may lie dangerous suggestion to spread abroad. There is good reason to believe that Mr Holland’s utterances here on Samoan allairs have been freely used by the malcontents in Samoa to stimulate the activities ol those who have been seeking to weaken and destroy 111" authority ol the Administration.” Mr Holland, hv the way. declares that Sir Alatti Pomare, the .Minister lor Cook islands, disapproves of his colleagues attitude towards Samoa; hut Sir Maui is a privileged member of the Cabinet and bis free speech must not be regarded as insurrection. PARTY .MATTERS. Party politics still are attracting little attention in Wellington, except from those closely concerned with the affairs of the “.ins’’ and the “outs.” and if an election were sprung upon the country next week probably Labour alone would he found fully prepared for the trial of strength. The Reformers, of rimr.se, are enjoying the advantages of possession, and on the figures of last general election they have a large margin at their command. The- Hon. A. I). .McLeod, the Minister of Lands, probably the best platform organiser that lias been in the field since the days of Air Seddon, is making a preliminary survey of the prospects just now and professes to he satisfied l>v wTmt he has observed. lint there is a feeling abroad that Reform has lost a good deal of ground since its last overwhelming victory in 1925 and that the best it can hope for is that it will lose no more than half its present majority oil its appeal to the constituencies at the end of the year. Labour expects itself to make a greater raid upon the Government than that, and even the scattered forces of Liberalism are hopeful of improving their position.