WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 December 1916, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE WHEAT PROBLEM. ' , ENCOURAGEMENT FOll GROWERS. > (From Our Own Correspondent). Some of the criticism that is being directed against the wheat-growers just noiy seems 011 the statement of the Acting "Minister of Industries and Commerce to be a little premature. Mr. MacDona!d met the representatives of the growers in Christchurch last week for the purpose of discussing with them a scheme he has in hand for encouraging the production of wheat in New Zealand during war time. The American surplus being smaller than was expected and the Australian crop having" been purchased by tlie Imperial authorities it isiobviousIv highly desirable for the Dominion to make provision for its own requirements. The essence of the Minister's scheme is a fixed price at which the Government shall purchase tiie whole of the crop, and to ensure sufficient wheat being grown it is necessary that the price shall be fair and reasonable from the farmers' point of view.- On this question there naturally was some difference of opinion between tlie growers and Mr. Mac Donald, the former tentatively suggesting 6s or Cs 3d a btishel and tlie Minister implying that a shilling a' bushel less would give a very excellent return, but there was no insistence on either side and finally a committee was appointed to go into the question more thoroughly and to make a definite recommendation to the Government.

THE MINISTER'S ATTITUDE. This is where the matter stood when h letter appeared in the Christchurch newspapers a couple of days after the sitting of the conference, from Mj, L. M. Isitt, M.P., roundly rating the wheat-growers fo- attempting to impose an exhorbitant price upon tlie community at a time when they should have been assisting the Minister in his efforts to keep down the cost of living. The protest of the ineftilier for Christchurch North, though made under a misapprehension and with considerable emphasis, was perfectly courteous and logical', but the newspapers that are scolding the farmers for not sowing all the wheat the country needs and taking the ricks of the market upon their own shoulders are simply betraying their ignorance of the whole position. Happily Mr. Mac Donald is better informed. He realises that the farmers cannot be expected to grow wheat out of pure patriotism when in the ordinary course they could turn' their land to more profitable account, and lie is prepared in the public interest to guarantee them a price likely to give them in an average, season as good a return as they would obtain from other operations. The only fair alternative to this eminently sensible expedient would be for the Governmnt to commandeer what land it needed and grow the wheat itself, but public opinion is not yet ready for this very practical demonstration of State enterprise.

THE STRANDED EXPLORERS Probably not more than a score of people in the Dominion have been aware of tlie controversy that has been going on during the last two or throe weeks eoneerniii" the possession and direction of tlie Aurora, the stout little vessel which is to leave Port Chalmers to-day for the purpose of rescuiEg the members of Sir Ernest Shackleton's exploring party that wore left on shore when she was blown out of McMurdo Sound nearly a year ago. As soon as the position of these unfortunate men was realised the Imperial Government joined with the Australian and New Zealand Governments in arranging for their relief, but of course, it was impossible to get down to Sthem while the Antarctic was locked in the embrace of impenetrable ice. All that could be done was to repair and re-equip the rudderless, strained and shaken vessel and wait for the return of summer. There was plenty of work to do during the interval and it was thoroughly well done, but when Sir Ernest Shack'leton himself arrived in New Zealand, after having accomplished the impossible by liis heroic rescue of the, other members of his party, difficulties which promised, the gravest developments arose and it was only by the tact- of Dr. MeNab, the Minister of Marine, and Mr. Allen, the Acting Prime Minister, chivalrously supported by feit Ernest, and Captain Davies, that somethin" like a catastrophe was averted. It is owing to their efforts that the vessel is now leaving, under the happiest auspices.

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. New regulation that the Minister foi Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) has under consideration are designed to effect some improvements in the primary education ■svstom. The Minister is not, contemplating any drastic changes at the present juncture, but he states that lie wishes to make provision for a. wider and more definite course in English, for a more practical course in spelling and for the placing of added emphasis on tlie essential subjects, with a consequent This scheme involves the ; issuing ot directions to teachers and inspectors, and the preparation of-model lessons for the use of inexperienced, . teachers, wliose numbers have been increased of late owjnr- to the shortage of skilled teacheis broiHri about by the war. The Minister and his officers have giver, a great deal of time to these matters and the improvements and modifications they propose are likely to be widely approved.