WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

A BOLD SOLUTION.

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, May 4

In the course'of air interview yesterday Sir Harold Beauohahfp, one of Wellington’s foremost business men, with, a wide knowledge of'public affairs and economics, offered a new suggestion for the solution of the tinemployment problem. He appreciated the good intentions of the Commission that had submitted to the Government a scheme for the creation of a sustenance fund for the relief of the unemployed by levying, a. poll-tax on all classes of the community.; but be did not think the scheme would be practical except at ntbrdinate expense. His x plan would be to impose an additional tax, of one penny perpound on sugar and of threepence per pound on tea. These impositions, he calculates, would yield no less than £803,000 a. year and would cost practically nothing 'to collect. Sir Haiv old’s scheme . certainly would be less cumbersome than that of the Commission, but the public cbitainly , would not look with favour upon an increase of a million in' the cost of its sugar and tea.

OF TWO EVILS

(> ! " l sir. l ß,, A. Wright, the member for Wellington Suburbs, a (bit of a humpurist, ..who-, appears, to be bearing the bulk, of . the Reform -burden in the Parnell' bye-election contests, is taken to. i;ask by. the , .“Post” for suggesting that it would be better to hftve a .Labour Government than the Government at present in office. people,’’ the, evening journal _P lo_ tests,,.“have not,asked fpr a Socialist Government and until they do nsk foi one. it should not be. inflicted on them. It is not as if there were no alternative. The political position is neither pathetic nor hopeless except in so far as the moderate parties are making it so. If they would face the facts they would, see at onCe that Labour maintains its grip on the Government only because the moderate parties allow it. They can .at ditty . minute shake off that grip.” This seems to be what Mr Wright,has beep Saying himself, only in a less, circuitioils

REVISION ,i>E ; TAXATION

:-;-The- somewhat .rudimentary suggestionsjof Mr .W.jJ.,-.i?0130n, .the member for Stratford in/; the House of Representatives, and of, the i Farmers’ Unjbp,, fl in -regard to the revision of. .tbe' country’s taxation, ‘have a good deal of atten,ition:iin tbq capital City. So far the 'Sports Protection League,is the:only body .to formally protest against the .daring .proposals for the readjustment of the Dominion’s burden. The League,;; speaking apparehtly.- on -be 7 half ; of .the racing clubs, declares that these institutions 'would Jbe- grievous']y prejudiced if tv further five per -cent- were imposed upon the tptalisator. .Mr poison retorts in tfyis morning’s paper that “tne racing industry would' to pay qi.e , penny . more” under his scheme. He seems to assume that if the 15 per cent tax already imposed upon ip* Veslors were' raised* '.20 per cent, they would on ' betting as merrily as ever. -That might be human nature, as it has' developed in later years, but it would not be business.

THE PRIME MINISTER

The reports concerning tile health of Sir Joseph Ward .coming from Rotorua are of an encouraging character. The Prime Minister is able to move about without assistance' and is keeping in close touch with the public affairs of the Dominion. This means a Substantial advance upon his condition ■ during his last visit to Me- - a.'.month or so ago. Whether or nofi'Ke-Vill be aible to take up the ■whdls’- bprden -of the parliamentary kadgrshi|:at>the end of next, month • ns£ toV^be 1 seen. It is .important ; he. ' The middle ses- £ ''a? triennial ,-Ba'rliament is the most important, and Sir Joseph cannot relegate, all Jits responsibilities to a less experienced colleague. The ’ ’Honf.Gh, W. .Fprbes has proved a very zealous 'arid capable substitute, sparing himself neither; in time nor in effort, but coming fresh from the ran» and file of the party he cannot be Expected to be familiar with nil the needs and intricacies of methods and administration