NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 110, 3 February 1919, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

The week-end weather of unseasonable rigour gives point to a question which even now must be agitating the minds of many householders and factory owners—that of obtaining adequate supplies of coal' during the coming winter. The outlook at present is in all respects abolit as unsatisfactory as it could be. There is already a serious scarcity of coal, and in spite of some hopeful statements made on behalf of the Government by the Hon. A. M. Myers there is no definite assurance that supplies will be augmented before the heavily increased winter demand sets in. To appearance, we are drifting into another winter of coal famine. The Government alone is in a position to say what the actual prospect is, and it is evidently bound to take all possible remedial measures while there is still time. It should be able to closely estimate what supplies will be available during the winter months and how far they will meet or fall short of meeting requirements.' Every effort must be made to make good any anticipated deficiency by extraordinary measuresAction is nowhere more necessary than in the case of Wellington, for this city fares particularly badly on the occasion of a general coal shortage. If supplies of coal are bound to be short they might be usefully supplemented by "organising the transport of large quantities of firewood from the Main Trunk areas where they could be easily obtained. Firewood would be of little usefor industrial purposes and of_ limited use. even for household cooking. But if it were available in. ample supply it would serve to obviate such discomforts and hardships as were suffered last winter, particularly by women and children. The necessity of making at least this provision is urgent, in view of the fact that the country is still threatened with the possibility of a recurrence of the influenza epidemic. It seems to be fully established that the disease _'is, most dangerous in cold md inclement weather, and it would be '■ likely to find a happy hunting | ground in unheatcd homes.

Though the Repatriation Dcnartment is now bestirring itself it is quite evident that many thousands of soldiers will have returned _to New Zealand before its organisation is completed and in full working order. In the meantime the Government must look for the active and practical help of employers of all classes in assisting the returned men back to suitable positions. The employers should not regard this as a duty, but as a privilege. Every man who fought for his country is entitled as a matter of right to expect to secure a position at least as good as that which he relinquished when he enlisted for active service. This is not granting a favour to the men. It Ib, a.matter of simple, justice. The majority of employers, wo believe, recognise the deep obligation they, with the rest of the community, are under to the returned men. There are stated to be some who do not—or who act as though they do not. It would be a, good thing if the various asssciationf* of business men and employers used their organisations to bring prominently under, the notice of their members and employers generally not only the claims of the returned soldiers to first consideration, -but the measures which they_ should take to assist the Repatriation Department. Whenever an employer has a vacancy on'his staff or one in prospect it would be a simple matter in most cases to notify the local repatriation officer and invite him to forward applications for the position from the returned soldiers on the Department's books.

Those people who have been looking forward to a quick drop in the prices of manufactured goods following on tho cessation ,01 war arc pretty certain in most cases.to be cKsappointed. The reason is fairly obvious. _ There is_ bound to be a very considerable dislocation of industry before manufacturing plants devoted to war purposes can be changed over to peace-time activities; the price of almost all kinds of raw material still rules high throughout the world; and the demand for manufactured goods consequent on the shortage which has developed during the past three years is also a factor to be taken into account. Moreover, a new and higher standard of wages has been established durinn the war, and there is a, tendency all round to shorten the hours of labour, thus in many cases reducing production. This latter condition may be balanced by the introduction of new machinery and better organisation as tho result of war experiences. Tho most hopeful feature of the situation up to the present is the substantial reduction in ocean freights outward to the overseas Dominions announced during the past day or two. On some lines of goods this should mean an appreciable drop in the landed cost.

The Mayor (ITr. J. P. Luke) has convened (i meeting of managers and members of the epidemic group committers to meet him to-day in order to establish an organisation which will he ready for action should there ho a recrudescence of influenza in tho city. Expert advisers havo stated that such a recurrence is within tho bounds of possibility and tho Mayor does not wish to be capght napping.