NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2400, 4 March 1915, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

Allen's statement 1 that a war tax is inevitable will come as no surprise to the country. It is obvious that the dispatch and maintenance in the_ field of an expeditionary force that is rapidly increasing in size must mean a' very great expenditure, and if in addition to this specific war burden there are decreases in ordinary revenue to be made good the total is likely to be considerable. The actual war expenditure to the end of January—a period of practically six months, since the outbreak of hostilities—was over £900,000. This is roughly equal to two millions sterling per annum, but when everything comes to be included it would be more reasonable, no doubt, to put the extra amount to be made good at the end of a year of waj at half as much again. Our ordinary expenditure is about twelve millions per annum, and though the increase looks big by comparison, anyone who knows the temper of the people does not need to be told that we could, and would most willingly, do very much more should there be the least indication that the Empire needed still more aid proportionately from the . Dominions overseas. With Canada and Australia we feel that this war is our war, and our resources to the last shilling and the last man are at the EiApire.'s oall. In any further measures they may contemplate from time to time Ministers may rest well assured that the feeling of the country is not that we should refrain from doing more than the Imperial authorities request, but rather that our response 6hould err well on the side of fullness and generosity. ■

War always tests _ the business morale of a community. Enormous supplies aro wanted by the State in a very great hurry and huge purchases have to be made ana contracts entered into by officials whose commercial knowledge is often of the slightest. Great temptations are thus offered to the unscrupulous, and in the washing up that follows every war the' fraudulent contractor has usually been very much in cvidericc. Mr. Fisher, tbo Prima Minister of the Commpnwealth, has a. lively recollection, of the South African war scandals, and is taking the most stringent precautions to safeguard the interests of Australia in the present war expenditure. Not only has an experienced business man been appointed to advise the Defence Department in its purchases, but power has been takeu to compel all firms who have, entered into war contracts to produce books ail 3 documents, and answer any questions material to the contract put by an investigating officer, who may also search the firm's premises should he consider it necessary to his investigations. Me. Fisher, in explaining the _ reasons for these steps, says it is his intention to trust no firm or corporation no matter how honest and patriotic th'ey may appear to be. Many extra millions of public money will have to bo expended during the current year, and it is much better business to lock the stable door before the horso is stolen than to hold inquiry into the theft. With these vigilant methods frio unpatriotic and dishonest contractor snould have- short shrift in Australia.

In its endeavours to make good the shortage in the wheat supply the New Zealand Government has had a difficult and, on the whole, a thankless task. It is undeniable that but for the action taken the country would have been, without flour for a few weeks prior to the new harvest coming in. On the other hand will not find it especially comforting, with the two-pound loaf at fivepence, to be told by a leading master-baker that the price 'may rise still further. In Australia the price of bread is sd. per twopound loaf, and the Commission appointed to advise the Government here consider that sd. is not too much to charge in New Zealand in view/of the position of the wheat and flour markets, It has to be always borne in mind that any interference with the wheat grower is liable to react against the interests of the community at a later day. That is to say, should tho Government decide that it is necessary to seize all the wheat in the country at a fixed price in order to prevent afty further rise in the price of bread, then the wheat-grower wherever possible will decline to take tho risk of putting in wheat for next season. Ho will do something else with his land and the probability will bo'a shortage next season. However, Mr Masse? is able to state that the indications are that a very much larger area than usual will be laid down in wheat during tho coming seed time, and if settlers are only given sufficient inducement to increase the area under crop there will bo no further trouble. That is good news so far as it goes.