THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1932. A POLITICAL DANGER.

Wairarapa Age, 29 August 1932, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1932. A POLITICAL DANGER.

Interesting but somewhat disturbing possibilities were raised by the Hon. A. D. McLeod, MJ?., in an interview at Dannevirke in which he dealt with the political outlook. Having said that he did not think grounds existed for stating that any serious break might take place between the political parties supporting the Coalition, Mr McLeod added that if later a rupture occurred, he felt sure it would not be along the old lines of Reform and United but along the lines of town versus country. The member for Wairarapa more than hinted at an apprehension that dissension may arise in this country over the measures lately taken at the Ottawa Conference “to cement the economic unity of the Empire and assist in world trade.” The implied suggestion is that the lowering of protective duties in this country in accordance with agreements made at Ottawa may antagonise, not only the Labour Party, but some sections of moderate opinion ranged at present in support of the Coalition Government. Until more is known about the concessions made on behalf of New Zealand at Ottawa, any such opinion as Mr McLeod has expressed must be more or less speculative. Obviously however, the establishment of a town and country political division in this country would be exceeding unfortunate. Any division of the kind would be in the strictest sense of the term unnatural, since in no country in the world are town and country more closely and completely interdependent than they are in New Zealand, and would lead to untold harm. The possibility of such a division admittedly exists. In the more or less analagous circumstances that exist in Australia. any fully effective reconciliation of town and country interests appears to be for the present impossible.

Every effort undoubtedly should be made, however, to avert the development of town and country politics in New Zealand.

Patience and an ability to take the larger and longer view no doubt will be called for if efforts to this end are to succeed. It is not at all unlikely that concessions have been made at Ottawa which will provide some local industrial groups with a grievance. On the other hand, It may be hoped that the whole position has been dealt with from the standpoint that this country, like other Dominions is bound to develop secondary industries on an increasing scale. It is very much in the interests of primary producers, as well as of other sections of the population, that the growth of secondary industries should be fostered and encouraged in every reasonable way. While the late discussions at Ottawa have necessarily involved some lowering, in favour particularly of Qreat Britain, of the protective duties at present ruling in the Dominions, the Conference is noteworthy also as having laid foundations for the practical extension cf inter-imperial economic co-opera-tion. • Tariff protection is not by any means the only or the best method of fostering the development of secondary industries in a country like New Zealand, and if primary producers arc wise they will be as eagerly intent as other sections of the population on having secondary industries built up and extended by the better methods that are available. DAIRY BOARD ELECTION. Dairy fanning, like other producing industries, is passing through a period of severe economic stress and special interest attaches on that account to the current election of members of the Dairy Produce Board. In Ward 6, which includes the Wairarapa, Mr. W. A. lorns the chairman of the Board, is opposed by Mr A. H. Hansen, of Dannevirke. Mr. lorns rests his claims to continued support upon his own somewhat exceptional qualifications and experience and upon what the board has accomplished under his chairmanship. A member of the board since it was established, Mr. Irons has been chairman for several years. Before being elected to the board, he had travelled, extensively through Australia, Africa, the United Kingdom and Europe. As a member of the board, he has made a minute study of dairying in Northern European countries. He has thus acquired an immense store of valuable knowledge and experience both in the work of the Dairy Control Board aud in all that pertains to dairy production and marketing in this and other countries. Mr. lorns supports wholeheartedly the present arrangement under which suppliers are given individually a direct vote in the election of members of the Dairy Board. Suggestions are made at times that the board is maintained at undue cost, to the industry but in 1 return for the small levy they dairy farmers obtain the benefit of very valuable shipping regulation and inspection services, together with the systematic advertising of their products in Great Britain. Moreover the board is able to point out that in its negotiation of shipping, insurance and storage contracts it has effected savings to the industry in comparison with which the amount of the levy becomes almost in significant. The board will have important work to do in the immediate future in holding and extending markets and Mr lorns evidently is particularly well qualified to take a leading part in directing and' carrying on this work. * '