WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1923, Page 9

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

SUPPLY OF WHEAT. GROWERS’ DEMANDS. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, June 6. What looked very much like an inspired message was distributed from Ashburton by the Press Association a day or two ago implying that if the wheat growers of Canterbury were not assured of “a reasonable State-guaran-teed price” the sowing for the approaching season would be one-third less than that of last season. The message has revived in a mild form the old controversy over farmers’ subsidies, and the Post expresses in its own fashion an opinion of the subject which is pretty generally held here. “It is undoubtedly most desirable,” it says, “that this country should be self-supporting in regard to wheat and flour and their derivatives, but that self-reliance can be too expensive. New Zealand is an island country, as Britain is, and yet bread is 25 per cent, dearer here than in Britain, and 25 per cent, dearer than in Australia, where the price of wheat is about the same as in New Zealand.” Scarcely more than a year ago the Minister of Agriculture, as became a good free-trader, expressed approval of the discontinuance of the wheat and butter subsidies, but apparently since then, if all one hears is true, he has repented of his hasty speech. SIR JOSEPH WARD’S CRITICISM. Competent authorities here, while careful to explain that they do not share Sir Joseph’s gloomy view of the financial condition of the Dominion, confess to having a good deal of sympathy with the ex-Liberal leader’s criticism of the Government’s heavy taxation and lavish expenditure. Mr. Massey, they say, has well-nigh exhausted the patience of some of his best political friends by his reluctance to make substantial reductions in the taxation placed upon industry and enterprise during the war. They remember that he was not alone responsible for the excessive demands made upon companies when huge sums of money were required for national purposes, but they also remember that he largely increased these demands after the armistice, and that he has not yet tackled the question with the understanding and courage it demands. Then they declare that the administrative expenditure has been maintained at far too high a level, and that the public works expenditure has been allowed to mount up without any considered regard to the straightened financial conditions of the country, or to the returns likely to be obtained from the expenditure. In short, they go a long way towards agreeing with Sir Joseph Ward, without giving any countenance to what they conceive to be his political aspirations. MR. MASSEY’S REPLY.

The Prime Minister’s reply to Sir Joseph Ward’s indictment covers most of the ground traversed by the ex-Lib-eral leader fairly effectually, but here again Mr. Massey s friendly critics find flaws in his defence. Sir Joseph Ward, they say, was obviously referring to company taxation when he stated, the maximum rate of income tax on individuals was only a political ruse to put an opponent in the wrong. But the Prime Minister was entitled, to plead that he had spent millions in clearing up the aftermath of the war and in providing the soldiers with homes and farms. It is true that Sir Joseph Ward had suggested a different method of financing the housing and settlement schemes, but it was not acceptable to Parliament, and its superiority must remain only a matter of opinion. The fault the critics have to find here is, not that the seventeen or eighteen millions set aside by Sir Joseph Ward ■when Finance Minister in the National Cabinet were spent, but that they were very recklessly spent to the disadvantage of many of the men concerned. This is a familiar version of an old story and only the years can tell whether or not it will be justified by results. NEW MINISTERS. Speculation as to the new Ministers Mr. Massey will ask the Governor-Gen-eral to appoint is assuming a wider range as the opening of the session of Parliament approaches. It seems to be taken for granted that Mr. Coates will relieve Mr. Guthrie of the portfolio of Railways, but this transfer would help Mr. Massey only a very small way towards the solution of his troubles. The Dominion, discussing the matter yesterday, readied a suggestive conclusion. “Although experience has its value and claims to recognition,” it said, “the mere length of time a member has been in the House is in itself unimportant in comparison with his ability and general fitness to undertake ministerial responsibility.” This is taken in some quarters as a feeler on behalf of Mr. F. T. Rolleston, the new member for Timaru, who has had much experience in local government and would bring to the Cabinet many useful qualities as well as a great name. Viewed from the galleries, however, none of the more active aspirants for office has greater claims to recognition than has Mr. Young, th’e member for Waikato. Of all the old hands on the Government side of the House, he is the best equipped.