POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 18051, 19 August 1922, Page 1

POLITICAL POINTS

[From Our Parliamentary Eepoeteb.] WELLINGTON, August 18. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon W. Nosworthy) stated to-day that no hopes to bo able to arrange foi* the shipment of smutty wheat to England, where facilities exist for cleaning it. He was inquiring into available shipping. “I have come to the conclusion/’ added Mr Nosworthy, in. reply to a question by Mr' Bitchener, “ that the sooner this second grade wheat , is out of the country the better,” “ Is there any- guarantee in regard to tho wheat which has Ifceen rejected ?” asked Mr Witty. “Would it bo'left simply to the speculator?” He knew, ho said, of cases where only part of tho farmer's crop had been accepted, the remainder being rejected. Tho Minister replied that the Government gave no guarantee excepting in regard to best milling wheat. Teat, he said, is definite. “ I have instructed tho graders to deal with the matter as generously as possible. Outside that T cannot go, 'because I am responsible to the taxpayer to see that* he gets value for his money.” ' ' ’ Mr Witty repeated his query as to what happened to rejected wheat, the Minister replying that' the farmer could get 'an overhaul, and, as he had already stated, ho was endeavoring to arrange for the shipment of under-grade wheat. Replying to Mr Edie, the Minister said tho farmer was free to sell any rejected wheat in the local market to anyone. * « » « LONDON PRICES. THE TOOLEY STREET COMMITTEE. The managing director of the AngloContinental Produce Company, who happened to be in Wellington this week, denies the Prime Minister’s statement that the. price for New Zealand butter and cheese is fixed by a committee of three Tooley street merchants. He asserts that, according to a statement read by Mr Wilford to-day, he has been in tho trade for twenty-four years, and that no such committee exists, or did exist. The onlycommitteo was an advisory board of six or eight members of the trade not concerned with the regulation or control of sales of butter or cheese. Mr Massey replied that he did not know that he, was'hound to tell the people where his information came from. It did come from gentlemen connected with the trade for the past twenty-five years, and as well known in the trade as he himself was in Wellington. If he was to give the source of his information ho was sure the public would be quite satisfied. Mr Young : His statement is only bluff. « * ■» • NOT ENEMY ALIENS. “ Christian Syrians are no more enemies of Britain that I am,” declared Mr Olutha Mackenzie in making a request that these people in New Zealand not bo classed as enemy aliens and subjected to sovex-e restrictions.. He asked if they could be granted relief by legislation this session. : The Prime Minister stated that the matter was under consideration, and that tho Minister of Internal Affairs would be able to make an an regarding the prospect of amending legislation at .an early date. ■■ „ . . . ■ * » * . RAILWAY POSITION IMPROVING. The general effect of a mass of figures presented to the House by the Minister of Railways to-day to show the financial position of the railways is that during the last four-weekly period traffic had continued to decline; but owing,to economies there had been a decrease in working expenses compared to tire revenue of 8.33 per cent. Tho railways were losing £4,770 per day in August, 1921 • but tho daily loss, including'interest and payments, was new down to £2,752. The Minister expressed the opinion that his next monthly statement would show a further improvement, though he subsequently showed from a departmental statement that traffic continued to decrease, and that the bottom had not been reached. Therefore, according to the departmental view, no improvement can yet be expected. Mr _ Guthrie said he would give this kind of information regularly to the House so as to show members that, although more facilities were asked for, and with justification, ho was obliged to decline. ,