WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MATTERS COXCERXIXG PRODUCE i (Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Xov. 2. Some important statements affecting New Zealand product) were made by the Prime Minister to-day in the course of his reply lo representations made by the [delegates from the jarmcrs' Union Conference. Dealing with a suggestion that the operation of the Commercial Trusts Act should lw extended to cover the operations oi tie Meat Trust, Mr Massey said tW tlie Act already covered everything *"£> way of foodstuffs. A Bill that being prepared would extend the Act ti cover freezing works. Hon.Jtf". I). S. Mac Donald: That is a special point of the Bill. The Bill will be submitted to the Stock Committee and there will be an opportunity for those who arc interested to give evidence. Mr Massey said lie realised that legislation would be required to make it clear that shipping companies were common carriers for tiie purposes of the Act. Mr D. Jones (Canterbury) said that the producers wanted the maximum amount of Government control. The Government had an exceedingly difficult task in dealing with the Meat Trust and it would have the sympathy of the farming community, even if it did not quite succeed. Turning to the shipping question, tiie Prime Minister said it ought to be clearly understood that the whole of the shipping in the trade between Britain and Australasia was now under the control of the British Government. Britain and the Imperial authorities were responsible for the rates, which were based upon the blue book rates. Personally he thought that the rates were extremely high, but the Ministry of Shipping in London had assured him that the rates were fixed to cover only actual expenses. The ships were not on charter. They were fully in the hands of the British Government, which paid the owners fixed rates. He had tried to get the freight charges reduced, but he had not succeeded. He did not believe that the shipping companies were making the enormous profits that had been mentioned. The companies got six per cent on the value of the ship at the time it was taken over by the Government, and also certain other payments for insurance, depreciation and so forth. Sir Joseph Ward said that when a ship was sunk by enemy action, the owners were paid the present value, since that wa,s the cost of replacement. Payments of this kind would look like large profits, but actually the owners got no benefit, since the money went for the building of new ships to take the place of the ones lost. Mr Massey emphasised that the owners of the ships were not parties to the fixing of rates at all. The Imperial Government had taken over the ships completely at a fixed scale. Sir Joseph Ward: The owners have nothing to do with it. We made representation after representation to the Imperial Government to get some of our ships now employed in the North Atlantic put back into our own trade. The reply was that it was more important to move American troops to France than to attend to our requirements, and so the ships could not come back.

LAND TENURE. "I am », straight out freeholder, hut it is no use raisin" any false hopes ahout the granting of the freehold of the rational endowment lands.," said the Prime Minister in replying to the Farmers' Union deputation. "I appreciate the force of the argument that in the ease of third class land, if the tenure is not sufficiently secure the land will be allowed to become exhausted. That has happened already in the case of some of the pastoral runs. "But I can assure you there is not the slightest chanco of Parliament agreeing to the suggestion you have made that the freehold should be. granted to the lessees of national endowments. I think my colleagues will endorse that opinion." A delegate: "What about another Parliament ? Mr Massey: Well, that is another question. lam speaking of the present Parliament.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. tr You will have noticed that the derelopment of hydro-electric power is mentioned very pointedly in the Governor's Speech,"' said the Prime Minister to the Farmers' delegates on Saturday. We intend to go on with the development of electric power at the earliest possible moment. There is bound to be a difference of opinion with regard to the details of any scheme, but [the Government thoroughly understands and appreciates the importance of developing power as quickly as possible. "But I want to say at the same time that a country like New Zealand cannot possibly cary on its share of the war and also a great scheme of public works. As soon as our soldiers get (back and release labor that is at present employed in unaccustomed channels, the whole matter will be considered and a comprehensive scheme will be pre[pared. It will be essential to do this in [view of the enormous financial liability that we have incurred during the war. We must increase out production if we | are to carry the burden of war by liabilities without very serious difficulty."

WHITE PINE. Eeferring to the supply of white pine timber on Saturday, the Pirme Minister said that export had not been prohibited altogether. There had been difficulties in the way. The Australian Government had said that if New Zealand cut off the supply of white pine it would bo necessary for Australia to stop some of the articles that the Dominion required from the Commonwealth. ''l am putting it as mildly as I can," explained Mr Massey. 'We do not want any additional difficulties during the war period." The Prime Minister added that the .Government had done a good deal to ' reduce the export of white pine. Arrangements had been made whereby the local market was to be supplied at a [reasonable price before any exportation was allowed." *• .