WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1918, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

WHEAT PRODUCTION NEW ZEALAND'S PART,

(Special Correspondent.) Wellington, March 15.

While the Minister of Agriculture and the Board of Trade were discussing in Cnristcliurch on Wednesday the price to be paid for next year's wheat crop, the members of the Central Chamber of Commerce were debating ia Wellington whether or not it was in the best interests of the country for. farmers to grow wheat at all- The subject was introduced by Mr. W. J. Gaudin, who, while claiming no practical knowledge of farming, insisted it was necessary to the existence of a nation that it should produce its own essential foodstuffs. Towards this end he would have a protective tariff sufficiently high to produce a regular supply of wheat at an assured price, and would largely extend the State's effort.) in way of attracting capital and labor to the soil and providing a sound agricultural education for the young people of the. country. He argued from the protectionists' standpoint that a protective tariff, so far from increasing the price of bread, would ultimately have an exactly opposite effect by bringing about better methods of cultivation anil so stimulating production.

FREE TRADE. Mr. T. Moss, a member of the Efficiency Board, a farmer himself, but not a wheat-grower, took another view of the question. He resented the suggestion that the New Zealand farmers as a class did not know their business, and declared there were areas in .the Dominion where wheat could not be grown profitably even at 12s Od a, bushel. On the other hand, there were districts where wheat always would appear in the rotation of crops and give a good return so long as proper methods were adopted and efficient labor could be obtained at reasonable rates. Mr. Cattdn, a baker, speaking as an out-and-out free trader, deprecated the idea of the State attempting to defeat the inflexible laws of nature. He was satisfied that in a few years wheat-growing would be a tiling" of the past in New Zealand, and that a saner generation would be content to draw its supplies from Australia and turn its own lands to the uses for which they were better adapted. Judging from what one hears about tho matter a, considerable volume of public opinion is tending in this directionCONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORSThe resolution concerning conscientious objectors to military service adopted by the Congregational Union is finding a good deal of favor here, even among people who recognise the need for the rigorous enforcement of the law against slacker* and shirkers. No sane person realising the gravity of the struggle in which the Empire is engaged has the slightest sympathy with the man who would evade his responsibilities in such a crisis. But there is growiug feeling in the community that the Government's war policy would be strengthened rather than weakened if the "honest conscientious objectors" the Congregational Union has in mind, instead of being subjected to the indignity of imprisonment with hard labor, Were employed at military pay and under military conditions upon some of the public works for which there is such crying need at the present time. Of course, if tho-. wrong-headed reservists refused to accept this alternative they would have to be sent to gaol, but they would go there with no grievance that could be fairly laid lb the charge of the State.

LICENSING REFORM. Reports that have been made lately by -responsible officers throughout the country show that the closing of the hotels at six o'clock has flieen attended by more satisfactory results from the temperance point of view than even the most sanguine supporters of the movement expected. A striking feature of tho reports Is their practical unanimity in acknowledging the strict observance of the new law by the licensed victuallers. Many publicans have refused to take advantage of the regulation by which they are at liberty to supply liquor with meals up to 8 o'clock, and [have absolutely stopped nil sales, except to boarders; after the hour prescribed for closing the bars. The result has been a very marked diminution in drunkenness and disorder, and, it may be remarked, a significant weakening in the demand for further restrictive legislation. Many people watching the signs of the times believe six o'clock closing is going to reduce substantially the vote for total prohibition,