WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1918, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

1 ,• .» PRICE OF BUTTER. • AN INDIGNANT MINISTER. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, July S. The Hon. W. D. S. McDonald, who just now is holding quite a bundle of portfolios in addition to that of Minister of Agriculture, is showing no disposition to modify his criticism of the National Dairy Association in sending delegates to Australia to induce the butter producers of the Commonwealth to join with those of New Zealand in raising the price on the Imperial Government. He thinks it unfriendly, inequitable and even disloyal. The Imperial Government, he reiterates, in addition to providing the necessary shipping facilities, has treated the Dominion most generously in fixing prices, and ensuring prompt payments. To demand still higher rates from the Mother Country in the hour of her sorest need and to induce the producers of Australia to -follow this deplorable example was surely a poor way of showing our devotion, to the Empire and our gratitude to the people who are bearing the bitterest burden of the war. PUBLIC OPINION. iPublic opinion here is entirely with | the Minister and emphatically against the butter producers. The "Evening Post," after pointing out that last year the Australians sold at 151s per cwt. j and were quite satisfied, mentions that now they are demanding ISOa, while the New Zealand producers are asking IOCs. It asks if the Government cannot do something to restrain the rapacity of the dairymen. No doubt it could refuse to carry on negotiations with the Imperial authorities on such a basis and if Mr McDonald has his way it probably will. In that case the Imperial Government having control of all the available shipping could practically commandeer the butter at its own price. The Minister does not wish to see that course adopted, but he is anxious for the credit of the Dominion that the producers should take a more decent view of its obligations to the British consumers. PROHIBITION AND COMPENSATION. When the secretary of the New Zealand Alliance stated that with a view to an immediate and final settlement of the liquor question the Alliance had decided to waive its objection to compensation it was generally assumed that the "official prohibitionists were prepared to accept the recommendations of the National Efficiency Board upon this point, but it seems now from a further statement made by Mr Dawson that his executive still has to consider the amount of compensation paid to the Trade. The Efficiency Board, presumably without going into precise details, has estimated the amount at four and a-half millions, rather less than most people expected; but it is said many prohibitionists regard it as outrageously excessive and are prepared to continue the old fight rather than submit to such an exaction or tolerate the continuance of any part of the business under State Control. In these circumstances a settlement does not look very close at hand. THE WANGANUI ENQUIRY. The deputation from the United Federation of Labor which waited upon the Acting Prime Minister and several of his colleagues on Saturday with various requests in connection with the enquiry Mnto the management of the Wanganui detention barracks came away only with the assurance that the Magistrate conducting the enquiry would have a free hand. Sir James "Allen could not see how the investigation could he conducted in public, but there would be no objection to counsel being employed if tlie Magistrate thought it necessary and the official report would be published. This is all the deputation obtained from the Minister and apparently it is all he will concede. A high military nuthority has stated that the only objection he has to a public enquiry is that a wider knowledge of the good time enjoyed by the conscientious objectors might encourage many other reservists to fall into the same perverted frame of mind. This officer has inspected the Wanganui barracks and professes to know all about its methods.