BOTH HERE AND THERE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 308, 23 September 1943, Page 6

BOTH HERE AND THERE

People far beyond tlie boundaries of the Hutt electorate no doubt were interested to hear how the Minister of Finance would justify the occupation of two posts, one involving- the diplomatic representation of the Dominion at Washington and the other the representation ot the electors of Hutt in Parliament. It was at first understood that the overseas appointment was for a limited period, in which case the airaiwement would not have been likely to arouse opposition, but today the & tenure of the Washington office appears to be. quite indefinite. Apparently the Minister regards his work there as being something in the nature of a world mission, with conferences of the first importance pending. And there can be no doubt that it is a very responsible post. But the question naturally is being asked whether it would not be moie satisfactory to all concerned if the Minister of Finance were appoin e our representative at the American capital and someone else were elected to represent Hutt, attend to matters that call for. the assistance of the local member, and take a full and active share m the general work of Parliament. It is obvious that no one man could satisfactorily fill both positions. A brief visit to New Zealand annually could not be said to provide a satisfactory solution of the difficulty. The Minister of Finance, in his address to the electors, expressed the hope and the belief that he would be re-elected to carry on his dual role but there is no direct connexion between the representation or the Dominion at Washington and that of the Hutt electorate in Parliament. The one is not necessarily dependent upon the other. It will perhaps be remembered that some months ago, when the women in tlie Hutt Valiev met to discuss questions of food supplies and prices one woman said that it was their job to demand action on the part of thenrepresentatives. and added: “We in the Hutt, of course, are disfranchised Our member is in Washington and does not care. vvi 1 not that feeling spread, and will the faith of the member, that he belongs “to the British Commonwealth of Nations and the world he a sufficient answer? The general view seems more likely to be that, relieved of the responsibility of representing the electorate in Parliament, Mr. Nash would be free to devote all his time to the larger issues he has enumerated. It can readily be understood that the prospect of anv electorate being represented indefinitely by one whose duties he as far afield as Washington and London cannot be satisfactory to tlie people who may reouire his assistance on the spot, and at any time. There is no real difference in the present position of Mr. MNi anil that of his predecessor in the Hutt electorate. Sir Thomas M ilford resigned his seat when he was appointed Hii’h Commissionei m London, but seemingly Mr. Nash wishes Io retain his seat m I arliament as well as his position overseas.

One of the statements that seems bound to come into any speech delivered by a Labour candidate is to the effect that from £10,000,000 to £12,000,000 had to be written off the aggregate value of land settled by returned soldiers after the last war. Apparently the item appears in the oflicial text supplied to candidates of the party, and it is duly repeated.' But some of them, including at least one Minister, are showing signs of carrying the thing a little further. They are saying that this is a large sura “on which we are still paying interest.” That, of course, is not correct. After the last war a sum exceeding that amount had been accumulated out of current revenue over a period of war years. It was surplus revenue, and was later used to further .soldier settlement. It follows that if. when prices eased and conditions became ditlieult, sums had to be written off—and the process was not. ipiestioned at the time —this money which did not involve tiny State indebtedness was regarded as having been lost and book values were adjusted accordingly. But that did not commit the country to payment of interest for the sum, as slated, had been derived from revenue and not from loan.