WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1917, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

INDEPENDENT CRITICISE

(Our Parliamentary Reporter). Wellington, August 8. The financial debate was opened in the House last night in tlie usual and accepted way, Mr. Wilford filling the role of leader of a friendly Opposition and budding Ministers of Finance following with obvious and appropriate 'criticism. Necessarily the speeches were much on the lines of those delivered during the course of the Address-in-Re-ply debate, but both the member for •Hutt and Mr. Sidey stressed afresh the importance of the Government doing something to stay the further increase in the cost of living. Mr. Wilford prayed for the appearance of Kerensky in the councils of the nation with insight and courage and enterprise enough to see that the poorer classes were relieved to sorao of the burdens that were being piled upon them alfd the richer class compelled to take up some of the responsibilities it was escaping. The member for Hutt, though he always speaks interestingly and logically Jjarely arouses • much enthusiasm in the House, but on this occasion his remarks were punctuated by hearty "hear-hears" which evidently were intended to signify approval. THE COST OP LIVING. :Mr. Sidey and Mr. T. W. Rhodes, speaking from opposite sides of the House, warmly supported Mr. WiHqj-d in his protest against tho Government's failure to deal more energetically with the cost of living problems, and this aoto, Judging from lobby gossip, seems likely to be emphasised ihy subsequent speakers. Tho duty on tea is being condemned all round and may encounter Bomc organised opposition waen the-tax-ing legislation is before the House. Of course the insidious cigarette has no friends among the members, but just now the additional duty placed upon this peril to the youth oi the community is being used by some of them as an illustration of what will happen in the. case of tea. The further duty placed on cigarettes amounts to something like a farthiug on the packet of ten, but the retailers, who sp far have paid no extra, duty at ail, are already charging sevenpence a packet in place of the former sixpence. If the grocers follow this example, the politicians point out, tea will go up a shilling a pound and of the shilling three-pence will go towards win- . ning the war and nine-panse intp the pocket of tho retailer.

THE GOVERNMENT'S ATWTOTB The Governmentfe attitude towards criticism of this kind was indicated by the speeches of the Prime Minister opd tho Minister of Finance during the debate on the Address-in-Reply and by interjections that came from them last night. Neither Mr. Massey nor Sir .Joseph Ward are inclined to try experiments in 'borrowing or in taxation during the present crisis, iwben the money market is extremely sensitive aad the sources of revenue are being strained to meet Jhe growing cost of the war. But many members of the House, without regard to party, are urging that the Government could take effective, measures to prevent the continued advance in the cost of living without endangering its own finances in any way. It is understood that the much maligned Board of Trade made comprehensive recommendations, though they now can have only an academic value, will be laid on the table of the House during the present session. It is a subject on which quite a number of members, perhaps in view of the possibility of an. early general election, ore talking very loudly. REINFORCEMENTS. Persistent criticism, and perhaps a little misrepresentation, has induced the Minister of Defence to make a statement concerning the New Zetland Amy at the front which will ant many irresponsible uumora at rest. It is plain now that Sir James fflwate worst offence has been his abounding seal to keep fsrbth with the Imperial authorities in regard to the supply of reinforcements. He has not been content 'simply to do better than Australia and Canada have done; he has insisted upon doing as well as t3ie Dominion {promised to do. 'Now the critics know tie facts, as far as they can be disclosed, probably "they iwill deal less harshly with tiip MMfeUar. Everyone will wetane the announcement that as many a« can be snared of the men who went away with the Main Body mil be allowed a brief test cm furlough in this country, although it must carry the inference that* the authorities do not expect the war to .end this year and are relying upon Neve Zealand and the other over-sea Dominions for generous assistance in the supreme effort that will be necessary at the beginning of the next northern •spring. HEUE FOR SPOBTS.

Dr. Thacker (Christchurch East) urged the Prime Minister to-day to take into consideration the claims of tin Sports bodies who are threatened with the loss of valuable grounds because timet of their players are at the war and funds are bw. He said that it would be a gross injustice to the "sports" Who are now at the front to allow their familiar playing grounds in. and around the cities to fall into the hands of Ute bnildere during the war period. The sports bodies ought to be assisted to tide over the Interval while the footballers and the cricketers were playing the gaase of war at the front. The Prime Minister promised to look into the matter. THE MEAT TRUST. The committee which was set up early in the session to investigate the operations of the Meat Trust has been tearing a great deal of evidence, is understood to be gathering some interesting information. But members are not expecting much from this inquiry, The House- is fairly well convinced that the Meat Trust must be regarded as an Imperial problem. New Zealand acting alone cannot fight the trust successfully. The Dominions and the Mother Country in concert might do a great deal.