WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 13 July 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

COST OF LIVING. PRICES AND SUPPLIES. WELLINGTON, July 11. N. 5 Minister of the Crown has yet vouchsaved to explain to Mr. Wilford why in New Zealand, with its twentyfive millon sheep and its two and ahalf million cattle, and with its stores literally overflowing with mutton and beef, “we are paying so much for our meat;” but the Government Statistician in his latest “Monthly Abstracts” has thrown some lurid light on the subject by showing how prices have advanced since the beginning of the war. The movement began some months before the actual outbreak of hostilities. During the period between 1909 aiid 1913 the index number indicating the average price of meat in twenty-five representative towns of the Dominion was 1000. At the end of July, 1914, on the eve of the rupture with Germany, the figure had increased in Auckland to 1258, in Wellington to 1090, in Christchurch to 1070, and in Dunedin to 1056. In Auckland and Christchurch there were slight declines in prices during the first twelve months of the war and in Wellington and Dunedin the increases were comparatively moderate. But since May, 1915, the advan<?s has been uninterrupted and rapid. In Auckland the index number now stands at 1460, in Wellington at 1339, in CUHstchurch at 1420, and in Dunedin at 1397.

WHAT IS HAPPENING. That meat is selling at a lower price in Wellington than it is in any of the other large centres is popularly attributed to the operations of one of tj/e freezing companies which has entered the retail trade and made an enormous success of its venture. In the prices of dairy produce and groceries and the rates of rent, Wellington is the dearest town in the Dominion, but in the price of meat it is, cording to the Government Statistician, the cheapest, with the single exception o|f ‘Blenheim, whose ■ indc number for this cvommodity, which stood at 1045 on the eve of the war, has advanced only to 1287, while the Dominion average which stood at 1070 has reached 1367. In Hamilton the present index number is 1388, in Gisborne 1518, in Napier 1495, in New Plymouth 1552, in Wanganui 1578, in Taihape 1664. in Palmerston North 1552, in Greymouth 1536, in Timaru 1408, in Oamaru 1630, and in Invercargill 1460. Many people are quoting what has happened in Wellington in respect to meat as ah Illustration of what might have happened in other centres and in respect to all commodities had the Government taken hold of the position at the beginning of the war and applied the necessary restrictions to the operations of private enterprise, but of course the subject is too controversial for discussion here.

THE LABOUR PARTY. Mr. McCombs’s retirement from the leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party -has 'provoked a vast amount of comment and some very plain speaking. The report that the trouble arose over discussions within the party concerning its attitude towards six o’clock closing and towards the licensing question generally is now confirmed by admissions from the member for LyttelTon himself, but it must not be assumed th’e members from whom he has separated himself are in the accepted sense “pro-liquor.” They may have philosophical doubts as to the best way of dealing with “the trade” or they mjay have conscientious convictions as to the superiority of State control over prohibition. But their critics are proceeding on the assumption that their votes have been bought and are unsparing in their condemnation. Echoes of the trouble were heard in the city pulpits on Sunday, one reverend gentleman going to the length of reading the

share list of one of the local newspaper companies in order to make it plain why its paper was consistently opposed toa reform, and another appealing to the working men to free themselves from the Domination of the drink traffic. With Mr. McCombs’ withdrawal the party in Parliament becomes a much attenuated body. Mr. Hindmarsh and Mr. indicated their independence last session and now the Hon, J. T. Paul reported to be about to follow their example. Mr. Payne has never owned allegiance to the group and Mr. Webb is absent on leave, so thaßMr. Walker seems at the moment to constitute the whole party.

THE ADDRESSfIN-REPLY. The debate on the Address-in-Reply promises to be the standing disa in the House of Representatives for the next two or three weeks and Ministers are showing no disposition to hurry it off the Order Paper. So far

the debate has been a little disappointing to those people who were looking for sensational happenings early in the session, but it has provided plenty of indications of the growing spirit of independence which was manifested in various quarters during the recess. Members are still tolerant of the short-comings of the National Government and still ready to look upon its mistakes and its failures with an indulgent eye, but they show no reluctance in mentioning the mistakes and the failures and no diffidence in pointing out how they might have been avoided. Ministers have not yet grown quite accustomed to the new attitude of their supporters and one or two of them profess to believe a dissolution and a general election are among the possibilities of the present year. But a development of this sort is highly improbable. Members will continue to grumble at the administration of this department and that, and will pick holes in the legislation of the Government, but they will not deliberately seek an early dismissal to their constituents. That the present Pariament wall run the full length of its prolonged life is practically a certainty.