WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 209, 12 October 1916, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

MINISTERS AT HOME. PURPOSE OF VISIT. .%* I {Special .ConqgkKmdent.} j Oct 11. The announcement of the arrival or" Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph W&d in London has freed the newspapers from the silence that was imposed up- | on them in connection with the Ministers' visit to the Mother Country,, and the local journals after their respective ways are expressing their appreciation of the kind things being said of the Dominion's representatives by the, British press. The "Dominion," just a little unfortunately and doubtless in pure inadvertence, stars the great event in its cable column* as "Mr. Massey in London," but as a. set-off against this the "Post"., specially congratulates Sir Joseph Ward upon his felicitous assurance of New Zealand's devotion to the Imperial j cause. Speculation as to what the Ministers are going to do while at Home and as to what is going to happen to them in the near future, is taking various shapes, some of them highly probable and some quite incredible. A remark dropped by Mr. Massey in casual conversation just before he left Wellington to the effect that his colleague might find it necessary to remain in London longer than he intended to remain himself, has been taken in some quarters to indicate that Sir Joseph Ward may be absent from the Dominion for a lengthy period, but private information of the most reliable and positive character shows there is no likelihood of the Minister of Finance willingly prolonging his visit by a single day. The enff of January is the time fixed in the original programme for the return of tho: party. THE RE-ARRANGED CABINET. Now that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance are safely landed under the hospitable roof or the Hotel Cecil, it is permissible to mention the Ministers who are carrying on their administrative duties during their absence. Mr. James Allen, who wished nothing said of his promotion till -his colleagues were our, of the way of the enemy submarines, is, of course, Acting-Prime Minister. Sir Francis Bell has taken over theLands Department, and Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald is temporarily Minister of Industries and Commerce —to the entire satisfaction, may it be said, oitne Board of Trade —and Minister in Charge of the Meat Purchasing Department. The Labour Department isin the safe hands of Mr. Herries. Sir Joseph Ward's offices entail eves more work and greater responsibility than do those the Prime Minister nas laid down for the time, and it much to the credit of Dr. McNab, as ActingPostmaster General with half a dozen allied offices, and Mr. Arthur Myers, as custodian of all the financial departments, that the administrative machine is running with the utmostsmoothness and efficiency. Mr. Myers particularly is to be congratulated. He possesses in an eminent degree the qualities for the positions he Is now filling and the country as well as the National Cabinet is extremely fortunate in having a Minister so well able to look after the Treasury during Sir Joseph Ward's absence.

BUTTER. The conference between the Minister of Agriculture, the Board of Trade, and the representatives of the butter makers and butter dealers has not at the time of writing completed a scheme for keeping th e local price of butter down to a reasonable rate-with-out interfering with the profits the holders of stocks might make in the open market; but Mr. MacDonald is firmly supporting the Board of Trade in its efforts to prevent the New Zealand consumer being exploited, and a satisfactory arrangement is likely to be announced shortly. In the mean* time the Minister of Internal Affairs is proving as good as his word in dealing with those retailers who have been selling short-weight "pats." From in. vestigations made by the officers of his department it appears that many quite respectable shop-keepers have been deliveding less than they have been paid for, and it is suggested that the blame should rest with the factories. But the retailer is responsible for the weight of his ucods, and Mr. Russell is reminding him of the fact by authorising a number of prosecutions. Butter is not the only article in which short-weight has been detected. Several bakers have been called to account, and in one or two cases proceedings have been initiated, but apparently the law affecting the weight, of bread requires some revis-, ion in the interests cf the consumer. Th accuracy of scales is another-, matter engaging the attention of ister, and here the careless tradesmen •having no loophole of escape, are hastening to mend their ways. :■. ;.