The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1931. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1931. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

The elections for the Commonwealth Parliament might be said to have proceeded according to schedule. The prediction that, th)e ScuJjlin Govern-

ment wou.d be defeated, was well verified. The National or United Party has practically a two to one majority in a House of 75. The Government which will be a composite ohe including the Country Party, will have a majority of approximately 30-—and should carry on comfortably< The defout.of tho Government was made notable by the. loss of Ministerial eeats, the most outstanding being that of Mr Theodore who was mavniy responsible for the inflationary proposals in the Government policy. Mr Theodore became an uncompromising opponent of the Lang Plan, and it 1 was a Langite who accounted for toe defeat , so that Nemcs[s approached from a rather unexpected quarter.. New South Wales on the whole gave much encouragement to the Lang Party, which must be regarded as one of the surprising incidents of the contest. However, we may look more to the aggregate result, and that is satisfactory, eminently so. The new Government has a strong following and within its ranks the makings of a strong team. Mr Lyons, by common consent, is being voted Prime Minister. He will have as colleagues Messrs Bruce, Page, Lvitham, and Holman, a very capable four in any Ministry. The task before the new Government is a hard one, but the confidence shown by the public, 1 will be reflected overseas, and with that goodwill beliinj it, the task will become the easier. It is rather remarkable that Labour, ably led as it was by Mr Scullin in many respects; wore out its welcome of a short .two years ago so decisively. The main offence of Mr Scullin, no doubt, was to sacrifice the steady poliev of Mr Lyons for the illusionary policy of Mr Theodore. Mr Scullin had to choose, and his choice was not endorsed by the people. Mr Lyons now takes the place of Mr Scullin, which shows the strong vagaries of late in the whirl a-gig of politics, Mr Lyons has behind him men of proved ministerial experience, and they have the knowledge of where Labour failed. It will be their duty to correct or avoid those failures, and to steer a more popular course having for its objective the emancipation of the Commonwealth from its difficulties due to besetting debts. The stringency of the times will be a handican, but there ‘ are reports that Australia is rounding the corner, nnd if so then the new Government enters upon office under more favourable conditions. It is 'generally recognised that it will be a relief for Australia to escape from the Labour rule which has proved of the disquieting order. The return of a party with higher national aspirations will assist to check the drift towards Communism, which as been a growing evil under Labour administration. The loyalty of the country as a whole should now be well established hind that will engender confidence within the continent and abroad. From the Empire point of view that is an outstanding aspect of the elections, and will be the source of much gratification in many quarters. Australia has done the right thine at what appears to be quite the right time.

economy in production and proportionate benefit to. the producers, the sale prices of the commodities had not sagged as much as is now the case. As to the prospects of a rise, a banking circular says: —“Present pi ices’for New Zealand exports are well below pre-war figures, and whilst they may recover to some extent as the world depression lifts, it cannot be assumed that the favourable prices of the prewar period will he restored. It follows (concludes the statement) that a permanent and major adjustment in internal economic conditions must- be undertaken to meet the situation. “That suggestion applies as much to this district in regard to dairying, as to New Zealand as a whole. In Westland there, are some seven dairy factories operating within easy range of e:y.<li other. The Westland Factory, for instance, draws its supplies over a radius -of -some 80 to- ICO miles, and is doing so profitably, at the same time passing other factories by the way. Tn Canterbury where centralisation is in practice, supplies are brought over a distance of 150 miles. It will thus he seen that centralisation is not a bar to profitable working. Centralisation must save a very large sum in overhead expenses, by permitting one factory to do the work of seven, and centralisation can be brought about without any large capital expenditure, in fact by consolidating the local plants operating already. Running on the present uneconomic lines

a fair price according to the market, is being paid to the suppliers, but it is manifest by unity of'forces, that price can le enhanced greatly, and with the depressed state now prevajlimr. an increase would be a welcome addition to the monthly returns. The matter is ones' of course for those chiefly concerned to move in, but the delay in action draws attention to a matter of outstanding importance to the dairy farmer, in whose interests we are constrained to again refer to this question of centralisation.