WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1929, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

ABSOLUTE GONTROL, THE FRUIT CROP. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 14. Haying obtained legal advice to the effect-' that the Fruit .Hoard had not taken ail the steps necessary to clothe itself with “absolute control,’’ a number of apple exporters, more or less interested in the Nelson orchards, took steps two or three weeks ago to dispatch a. large shipment of apples to Hamburg to the order of a. big German firm. There was no secret about the matter and in due course the first instalment of, the fruit reached AVellington. Here, however, the. Board assert ed .its- authority and after some deliberation decided that the consignment could not proceed" except under its authority and with no commitment as to how or.when or where it should be sold:: An appeal was made to the Prime Minister to clear the way for the delivery of the goods; but the most Sir Joseph Ward could suggest was that pending a decision of the Supreme Court on the point, at issue the .shipment should proceed to its intended destination under the control of the Board.

CLOSER SETTLEMENT. The Hon. G. W. Forbes, the new -Minister of Lands and Agriculture, who .was one of the first pioneers on the Cheviot Estate when that property was cut up for settlement some thirty-five, years ago, is finding his early experience on the land as a Crown tenant of great value in the administration of his two important departments. As eager as ever lie was for the extension of settlement and the increase of production lie no longer looks upon the big landholder as a “social pest” to be ejected forthwith at any cost. The Government did not want to apply harsh measures in .obtaining land for suitable settlers, Jie told a deputation that waited upon him at Dannevirke yesterday. He thought it would be better, when possible, for the Government to acquire land for settlement by reasonable negotiation rather than by compulsion. What the Government was looking for >vas sheep laud of a sufficiently good quality that could he cut up into dairy farms; to meet the needs df the small man.

LEADER. OF OPPOSITION. The Right Hon. J. G. Coates was in Wellington yesterday on his way to Lyttelton where to-day he is assisting at tho ceremony in connection with the' completion of tho electrification of the tunnel between Christchurch and its port. His presence at this ceremony is made doubly appropriate hv the tact that he was in office when persistent Canterbury secured the promise of which the electrification is the fulfil ment. “After sixty-two years df smoke • arid grime,” the “ Dominion ” in re-: cording this fact says, “ the Lyttelton tunnel from to-day will he but a. memory of past discomforts tor those who traversed its length to and ifrom Christ church and the port. The electrification of the tunnel has been an ideal for years. Now.it is an accomplished fact, one of the fulfilled promises of the Re form Government.” Brimming over with good health and good humour ashe chatted in his'new quarters yesterday it was obvious that the new leadei of the. Opposition had not been fretting over his 1 disposition from the Trea.su 13 Benches. MINISTER. OF TRANSPORT. The Executive of the Associates' Chambers of Commerce is perturbed lest the appointment- of a Minister cr Transport will involve the country in u large expenditure upon an additional Government department. The Executive of the Associated Chambers- .has been directed to tender to the Prime Minister a request “ that no new department should Be inaugurated without first ascertaining the views of the various Chambers of Commerce.” The Hon. W. A. Veiteh. tho Minister concerned, explains that it is a new' portfolio that has been created, rather than a new department with an army ot officers and a huge expenditure. Mi Veiteh has not yet made himself fully familiar with the scope of his new duties, but he can assure the Government’s hasty critics that it is not intended to force traffic, from the roads on to the rails. It is hoped, however, that by the application of goodwill and commonserise it will he possible to correlate the two methods of transport with advantage to them both. It is a goal worth attempting.