NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 302, 17 September 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

Oxe thing was made clear in the discussion in the House of Representatives yesterday on the subject repatriation, and that is that the j'w.ork on the whole is going on smoothly and well Such criticism as was directed against the Department was for the most part satisfactorily answered bv the Ministers concerned with the different phases of the work under review. It has to be recognised that the success of tho scheme must to a considerable extent depend on the efforts of the local committees, and on the wholethese bodies appear to have done very well. No doubt some have no.t been as successful as others in covering the ground allotted them, and there is a tendency on the part of some people to judge the work of the Department on isolated instances of unsatisfactory methods which come under their immediate notice. While this is perhaps natural enough, it is obviously unjustto make sweeping generalisations on such slender evidence and without making due allowance' for the initial difficulties to be overcome, in developing an organisation capable of dealing promptly and efficiently with the great tasks entrusted to tho Repatriation. .Department. As before stated, it is a matter for congratulation that the work is progressing as rapidly and as smoothly as it is.. The one distinct weakness appears to be the method of land purchase for soldier settlers.- The Department no doubt is -doing its best, but it requires 'outside assistance.

Complaints were made at tho meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association on Monday evening, though not then.for the first time, that Now Zealand manufacturers "arc heavily handicapped by the conditions of lendering for the supply of stores to the Government. ' Since Parliament is sitting, it may be hoped that these, complaints will receive due attention and consideration. Tho detail questions involved must be'left to experts, but the broad suggestion is raised by a committee of the Industrial Association that local manufacturers are subjected to unfair discrimination as compared with manufacturers abroad, and 'are actually prevented bv- the conditions from tendering at a!! for'certain goods. Such charges call obviously for full and searching investigation. Only one verdict is possible upon tho claim of tho Industrial Association that every encouragement should be given to New Zealand manufactureis to tender.

. Some observations by the Secretary for Lrtbour (Mn. Kowley) which appear in another column fortify an opinion that'there are poor prospects of obtaining within the Dominion 1 any great number of building tradesmen additional to those now employed at their trades. In what he has to say, however, about the difficulty of making good th? shortage by immigration, Mr. Rowley■ is somewhat unconvincing. Such a scheme, hr- observes, is not likely to be- very successful as tho very places from which we should seek to obtain labour are> afflicted with housing problems more urgent perhaps than the' one confronting the Dominion.' While it is true that Britain,.to which we look chiefly for immigrants, is grappling with an extremely serious housing problem and is likely on that account to bo anxious to retain building tradesmen, it docs not follow that none of the latter intend to emigrate. The British Government, in point of fact, does not wish to_ encourage the emigration; of_ex-s4rvice men of any class, but, it is laying its plans on the assumption that a considerable exodus is inevitable, and as information stands it lias not attempted to impose "any special restriction on the emigration of building tradesmen. It would be rather far-fetched to assume that none of these tradesmen will join th.' anticipated exodus. That many of them aro. likclv to bo ; by the keen demand for their services in Britain,to remain there is, of course, -an exe«;llent reason for getting promptly into touch with some of those who are of another mind.

So far as purchase are concerned, a, discussion on soldier settlement at the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday culminated in the passage of a resolution urging the Government to appoint local advisory boards "to assist in conjunction with the Government officers in the settlement of soldiers on the Jand." No doubt if due safeguards were observed such a change would produceigood results, but if the cri- v fcical observations made by some delegates are warranted there would appear to be scope for reorganisation/of the central purchasing authority. In view of the upward movement of value;', there is point in the suggestion that the existing methods of purchase are too slow.v Presumably, although ft is intended to establish as many soldiers as possible on Crown lands and on Native lands already purchased, considerable areas will still be bought from private owners before the scheme of soldier settlement is carried completion. It seems. in these circumstances very desirable that the State should in the shortest possible period acquire options over as much land as is likely to be required by soldier settlors not otherwise provided foi\ This might be accomplished by basing prices on the valuation for purposes of taxation. Failing that course, there would seem to be a case for expediting operations_ by setting up additional purchasing authorities.

A hint to parents of deceased soldiers who often have to produce valued letters for tho information )if llio Supreme Court in connection with applications dealing with wills' wns given by Mr. Justice Cliai>man in giving: judgment on such an application at Auckland. He mentioned that letters which had to he Brought heforo tho Court wore sometimes valued by parents, and ho had had several applications to have thorn returned. This could riot bo doiift whero they wero annexed to the affidavit. The- proper course was to exhibit tho dooument and annex o oopy. Tho Court would then have an opportunity of considering whether it was possible to return LUo leiitera.