WELLINGTON TOPICS.
WHEAT GROWING IS IT URGENT? ' (Special Correspondent). Wellington, March 2(1. While the Minister of Agriculture is in the South urging the farmers of Canterbury and Otago to put every acre they can under wheat during the approaching season, the "Dominion" is suggesting ttyat it would be better for Veiv Zealand' to concentrate its efforts cn the production of meat, wool and "butter and cheese, and rely upon Australia for its supply of foodstuffs. It admits that "the safest means of securing it is to grow it themselves," but it contends that we cannot "produce all the wheat we want without losing men who are wanted in the fighting ranks." In support of its suggestion it points out that in any case the great bulk of the wheat must be produced in the South Island, and that from there to Auckland is nearly one-half the distance from Sydney to the northern city. THE SAFEST POLICY. Of course, the contention that New Zealand should confine its efforts to the production of tljose .commodities for which its soil and climate are best adapted is by no means a new one. It is -i good deal older than the war, and will be reiterated long after peace. But the "Dominion's" admission that the safest policy is to grow the wheat ourselves practically confirms all the Minister has said on the sabject. Mr MacDonald has not asked for a revolution in the methods of farmers. He simply wants New Zealand to be self-reliant in the present crisis, not to lean on Australia for its supply of wheat, nor to impair by a single bushel the assistance the Commonwealth may be able to give the Mother Country in ease of nivflgsity. * SHOWS AND WAR. The action of the Manawatu A. and P. Association in dissenting from the proposal of th,e Hawko's Bay Association that shows should be abandoned during the war is generally approved here. The Manawatu Association, which represents one of the most intensely patriotic communities in the Dominion, has very special warrant for speaking with .authority on this question, and its lead is likely to be followed by all minor associations in the North Island. Mr. J, M. Johnston, the president of the association, has made it quite clear, however, that if the Government thinks it desirable to discontinue shows during the course of the war Manawatu will cheerfully fall Jn with its views.\ This completes the propriety of,its attitude, but there is little doubt that the shows will be held as usual this year, even if the Germans sholud manage to prolong the struggle for another twelve months. THE ABSENT MINISTERS. The story that Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, if they come back to New Zealand at all, will return only to arrange their political and private affairs before taking up their permanent resi--1 (it'iice in London is again being persistently rumored. Sir Joseph Ward, according to the latest edition of the old tale, is to have a seat in the Imperial Council and incidentally a place in the House of Lords, while 'Mr. Massey, who is represented as being infatuated with the business side of London life, is to succeed Sir Thos. Mackenzie as High Commissioner, with a much improved status and a higher salary. It may be presumed that the absent Ministers' colleagues would know something about it if any arrangement of this kind were in contemplation, but without quoting their opinion of the story, it is safe to saj T that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance will be m their places when Parliament meeto at the end of Jugs; -- .
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Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1917, Page 5
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606WELLINGTON TOPICS. Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1917, Page 5
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