NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 208, 28 May 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

. 'A contribution to the ever-rising cost of living has been lnado by the waterside workers. In the most unreasonable manner, and in flat defiance of the terms of their tageous agreement, the wholo trade of the port has been brought to a standstill for a day and a half. In idle shipping and delayed goods the loss this exceedingly favoured section of workers hare' thrust on their fellow-citizens must amount to a. fair round figure. What was it all «Dout? The mon discharging a cargo of coal from Port Kcmbla, declared it uncomfortably dusty to work, and 'refused to handle ic unless given an extra threepence an hour. In the agreement it is pro. "ded that any point of this kind shall be referred to a Disputes Gommitteo, work meanwhile proceeding. The men refused to refer the matter to the committee, and the shipowners thereupon declined to engage labour until the agreement was observed. Yesterday a stop-work meeting of the union—itself involving the loss of half a day—decided that the point about the coal should be dealt with according to the terms of the agreement, and the men should resume work on the cargo. The incident is a reminder that we have a long way to go bofore the public interest counts for much on the waterfront.

It is interesting to learn from the cable news that mn. Theodore, Premier of Queensland, is planning to visit Russia as the guest of the Soviet, Government. Mr. Theodore has played a not inconsiderable part lin Bolshevisms the finances of Queensland, but it is evident that he considers his methods capable of improvement by a study of Bolshevism at headquarters, it is recorded in the Sydney Press that this ultrademocratic Premier travelled to England accompanied by a private secretary, a detective, and. a valet. It is also recorded that at Honolulu a Hawaiian band played "The Starbpangled Banner" and "God Save the King," . and the hat of Mr. Theodore, alone among the hats of the men passengers, remained on its owner's head throughout the two national anthems. Mb. Theodore's admirers will hope that no objections are raised in Russia to remaining hatted during the Bolshevik Anthem, and also that there will be no possibility, of a Labour Prime Minister accompanied by secretary, detective, and valet being mistaken for something in the nature of a Grand Duke with possibly fatal results.

The practice of the Customs Department in charging duty at current values instead of invoice values is difficult to reconcile with the Government campaign against profiteering. Mr. Isitt has directed attention to the faet that a parcel of English goods landed at £31 7s. has been valued by the Customs at £41 Vs., and duty assessed on this figure. If the importer adopts the same attitude towards his goods as the Customs officials do he is guilty of an offence under the anti-profiteering legislation. This is a farcical situation. The Customs officials are obviously anxious to protect the revcnuc by refusing to accept low invoice values, and the course they follow is one, that would not.be much cavilled at in normal times with stable values. But it is deliberately encouraging profiteering if imports at the present day are to be valued for Customs purposes at tho very peak of the latest momentary nsc in prices. It should not bo impossible to devise some means for impressing upon importers that the public must get the benefit of low Customs values, and, furthermore, to take steps intermittently for checking this in the case of goods invoiced for Customs purposes at unusually low figures. * * * ■ #

Another stage in the readjustment from war to peace conditions in the meat .industry was reached yesterday with the definite announcement that the Imperial Government is unable to continue the commandeer. As Mb. Massey pointed out yesterday the war-time commandeer saved the Bituation for the Dominion. Without it we should ourselves have had to bear the loss consequent on the shortage- of shipping and the glut in the stores, and the position of this Dominion to-day would have been very different from what it now is. The commandeer had to come to an end somo time, and it is ending, unfortunately, in a bad way for our primary producers. Une. thing that is immediately required is a definite and equitable understanding as to the proportion? in which the commandeer meat now in store here and the new season's free meat aro to be shipped and marketed. _ Our producers are entitled to fair consideration from the imperial Government in this respect.

Yesterday's deputation to the Minister of Public Works elicited useful information as to the proposed distribution of electric power from Mangahao, but it got no further towards the naming of a date when that power may be reasonably looked for, Mr. Coates showed himself alive to the urgency of tho work, and is evidently determined to have it pushed vigorously ahead! But Mr. Coates is at the head of a great Department which has not been accustomed to a hustling pace At the same time he confronts disturbed commercial conditions abroad with consequential difficulties in obtaining deliveries of machinery and supplies. It is a double battle that has to be fought if the Dominion's nyclro-electric undertakings are to bo completed within a reasonable time. The inertia of Departmental red-tape- and dislike of hustle have to be overcome and manufacturers abroad will require to bo effectively and continuously impressed with the urgency of our orders.' Perhaps when next he .refers to Mangahao Mr. Coates will be able to give us a programme for the completion of the work conditional on supplies aiming when _ due and the labour strength being maintained at an agreed level. Mr. Parry put down three years as sufficient, but lately there has been overmuch talk of five years, and. more years than that An approximate estimate in detail would be exceedingly valuable to th« prospective consumers.