WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 April 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

PARTIES AND POLITICS. A HUMOUR FROM AUCKLAND. (Special to “ Guardian.”) \\ ELLINGTON, April 2. Until Mr IV. J. Poison speaks for himself there is not much to be gained by discussing the political intentions other people are attributing to him. The Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union has been so much in the public eye during the last year or two, however, that the story from Auckland to the effect that he is organising a new political party with the intention >f leading it himself cannot fail to arouse wide-spread attention and interest. Mr Poison has many qualifications for the task he is said to be undertaking. Commencing life in journalism he got out of its rut early enough to acquire a wide knowledge of men and affairs and to see the world in its proper perspective. A diligent reader aid a ready speaker he has equipped himself beyond the repertoire of the iverage member of Parliament and. whatever the colour of his polities or the name of his party, he would be an acquisition to an assembly which stands sadly iil need of more members of broad vision and independent purpose. A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY. The policy attributed to Air Poison—'mpcrial free trade, better finance, banking reform, economy, closer settlement and rigid prevention of land aggregation—is comprehensive enough to u-rest the attention of every elector weary of half measures, and if it materializes it will give a new zest to the approaching general election. Presumably there are other subjects to which Air Poison will give attention, hut those he has mentioned are of paramount importance. If the Dominion could he brought to believe that Imperial free trade was practicable nine-tenths of its fiscal troubles would be settled and tin rest would be on the way to solution. The multiplication of parties at the polls, of course, would entrench the Government more securely than ever in possession of the f l reasnry benches, hut Labour and Liberalism having elected to play that game years ago. hv missing their opportunity to establish a sane method ot voting, a fourth party in the field would not greatly accentuate the absurdity of the position. Government by organisation, at any rate, is as much as an apathetic public deserves. LABOUR AND ARBITRATION.

'Whatever the outcome of the National Industrial Conference promoted by the Prime .Minister may he. Labour will lie able to take very considerable credit for the part its delegates have played in the proceedings. Mr Walter Nash, the secretary of the Labour Party, whose* association wit!? the serious business ol the city has not saved him from being dubbed “a veritable firebrand ” contributed one of the most conciliatory addresses delivered at the gathering and Air Illoodworth, in submitting his “three problems”—unemployment. immigration and apprenticeship—displayed a measure of restraint and a clarity of vision which would have done credit to the chairman himself or even to the Prime Alinistor. The committees of the conference will resume work after the holidays, and it is as difficult to say how long they will he employed as it is to say what theii decisions will be; hut in the ultimate result Labour will he able to claim that in the preliminary discussions it made an honest attempt to reach a basis ol frank understanding. BUSINESS AND POLITICS. It is understood that during the last few weeks business men have been making urgent representations to the Prime Minister in regard to the Government's excursions into vaiious branches of business. 'lids is by no means a new crusade, the representatives of trade and commerce, production and finance, transport and manufacture, all having had occasion again and again during the last four or five, years to protest against the State’s deliberate intrusion into the fields of piivuto enterprise. But the Government’s activities in this direction, instead of being lessened since the Prime Minister's'declaration that he stood for less Government in business and more business in Government, bare been leigclj increased, so much so, indeed, that no private enterprise seems sale Irom interference in one form or another. 'I he story goes that this state of affairs has become intolerable and that the aggrieved parties are combining to present an ultimatum to the Prime Alinistor which will require a frank answer. M ith a general election looming in the not fai distance Mr Coates doubtless will realise the gravity of the situation.