A BUSY MINISTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17335, 25 November 1916, Page 11

A BUSY MINISTER.

FOUR SIMULTANEOUS CONFERENCES. HON W D. S. MACPONALD'S WORK. [FpOM OCR CoRRESFOyBT.VT.] WELLINGTON, November 24. Tf any Minister has earned a good holiday it is the Hon "W. D. S. MacDonald, who has just put through the most extensive commercial transaction in the country's history, the purchase of the whole wool clip, worth at least fourteen millions sterling. On the last day of the final conference of the wool-growers, he had to be the leading spirit at no fewer than four conferences which sat simultaneously. There was the main conference of producers, the gathering of the wool brokers, the freezing works representatives, and the buyers. At all these gatherings, the Minister of Agriculture had to keep touch with the points of great importance which were raised, and he ended the eventful day exhausted, but cheerful, repeating to the Press representatives what he. told the wool growers—that it would he n source of pride to the leaders of the Government who were in London, to be able to show that, once more the people of New Zealand have risen to the occasion, when the Imperial C4overnmont asked for their loyal co-operation. That the wool arrangement/was not a capitulation to the growers is evident from what the members of the conference have to say. A resolution passed in the south advising the growers to agree to the commandeering of the clip at market rates was brought before the conference, and, so it .is said, firmly opposed-by the Minister as absolutely unworthy of a gathering of men who were anxious to assist the Empire in a great crisis. A certain amount of straight talk and firmness was needed from the Minister, and it appears to have been forthcoming, the Minister being gifted with the capacity of firmness nicely veiled by a goodhumoured manner. , The Prime Minister left with the Hon W\-J>. S. MacDonald .a great responsibility in asking him to take charge, of the Imperial purchase business and the Board of Trade during his absence in London, and the work has been carried out well. The Board of Trade has shown vitality and nsef-.ilnrss, and its members have" been stimulated by the effective, official encouragement forthcominc from their ministerial head. While the wool question has been in process of settlement, the Hon W. T>. S. MacDonald has been adjusting difficulties in the working of the meat purchase scheme, rnd putting the finishing touches to the. svstem of controlling butter prices in New Zealand. Then, as Minister ot Mines, he was called upon to deal with grievances of the State coal mine employees, and to handV the rielie.lt* situation due to. the keen of the men not to allow an rMuce of New Zealand coal to be nsed in filling any deficiency caused by the stoppage ot Australian supplies.