WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

BUDDING POLITICIANS. EAGER TO SERVE REFORM. (Special to “Guardian”.) WELLINGTON, August 20. It seems that the Reform Party again is likely to suffer some embarrassment from the anxiety of budding politicians here and there to receive its nomination at the approaching general election. Mr J. J. Clark, described as a well-known resident of Kilbirnie, a veteran of the South African War, a member of the Wellington executive of the .Reform League and chairman of the sitting member’s campaign committee, is anxious to go to a ballot to determine whether he or Mr I*orsyth, the gentleman now in possession, shall contest the Wellington East seat. Mr Clark claims that the boundaries of the constituency have been so materially changed by the recent periodic adjustment that Mr Forsyth cannot justly claim the Reform nomination without first ascertaining the wishes of the new electors. He has appealed to the Prime Minister, and the Hon. A. D. McLeod, chairman of the Dominion executive of the Reform League, on the subject, and apparently these gentlemen have not encouraged his ambition. A large deputation that waited upon the Prime Minister, he explains himself, did not “ alter the position.”

IN POSSESSION. Mr Forsyth, when seen about the matter, stated that Mr Clark was chairman of the executive of the Wellington East Executive of the Reform Association and that in that capacity lie had presided over a meeting o'f the executive held some two months ago when lie gave no indication of his desire to contest the seat. Mr Forsyth explained that as sitting member he was entitled to renomination and that be intended to exercise his right. He had submitted the position to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Lands, as chairman of the Dominion organisation, and they both had endorsed his attitude and conclusion. In the circumstances Mr Clark is not likely to enter the contest, and Mr Forsyth being a man of parts, who has made a very creditable beginning in politics, the seat is fairly certain to remain with Reform; but people on all sides of politics are quoting the incident as an example of Ministerial dominance. Once a politic-all is returned to Parliament, it appears, he has only to vote at his party’s call to secure a perpetual nomination. FIVE MILLIONS ! The “Dominion” this morning endorses the view expressed by Mr V. H. Potter, the member for Roskill, in the House of Representatives on Friday to the effect that in the circumstances the country was fortunate in escaping from its soldier-settlement adventure with a loss of no more than five millions. “At the time land was being purchased for soldier settlers,” the morning paper says, “ there was a continuous outcry against delay or hesitancy in meeting the needs of these men who on their return from service overseas desired to take up farming pursuits. Money was then declared to be no object where the needs of wouldbe soldier settlers were concerned. That in the rush of meeting the demand some- unwise purchases were financed by the State is now clear, but in the great majority of cases these can be traced back to the urgent demands of the men themselves.” This represents the facts of the case nearly enough,' but it is scarcely fair to attribute the blunders of the State to the importunity of tho returned soldiers. NEGLECTED OPPORTUNLTIES.

It was the State, as represented by the National Government and its successor, that was responsible for putting on too dear land hundreds of returned soldiers who had neither the physique nor the experience required to make a success of such an undertaking. “In the circumstances,” it is true, the State may count itself fortunate in escaping with no larger penalty than five millions. It may he recalled, however, that before tbe State had committed itself to the preliminary expenditure of several million pounds, practical people had submitted for its consideration a scheme for preparing Crown lands for profitable occupation and at the same time teaching returned soldiers something about tbe art of farming. It also is on record that before and after bis retirement from the National Government Sir Joseph Ward strongly urged that the surpluses he had accumulated as Minister of Finance should be conserved and that purchases cv soldier settlement land should be effected by debentures and not by c-asli. These recollections need not revive old controversies, hut they may go some way towards emphasising the claims of the returned soldiers.