NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 103, 25 January 1935, Page 10

NOTES OF THE DAY

There should be general approval of the decision to appoint Mr. V. R. Meredith to manage the All Blacks’ tour of the United Kingdom. To the general public Mr. Meredith’s name is more closely associated with his duties as Crown prosecutor in Auckland than with football, but in the Rugby world he is highly respected. His personal association with the game, both on the field and in its administrative councils, extends over a long period, and no better choice could have been made as regards civic standing and reputation as a sportsman.

Official figures reveal the fact that the Unemployment Fund js in a sound position in spite of reduced taxation and the increase in commitments involved in the revised allocations under Scheme 5. It is evident that the strain is steadily lessening, and it may be hoped that this satisfactory downward progression will be maintained. Capital no doubt will be made of the fact that the fund is in such a position; that further concessions, might well be made in relief allocations. But it would be a great mistake to allow such concessions to reach the point of destroying the incentive to look for regular employment. I lie relief schemes are essentially of a temporary nature. They are measures of exigency demanded of the nation, and assented to for meeting a situation which the process of recovery should gradually eliminate. It would be a mistake to hamper recovery by making relief too attractive. On the other hand it is wrong to cling to relief labour when conditions justify a return to normal, conditions of employment. In this connection the decision of the citizens of-Auck-land to cease the use of the No. 5 scheme for civic works and to proceed at standard rates of wages, has much to recommend it.

As a result of the alert and energetic supervision of its draughts-man-supervisor the Wellington Education Board at its monthly meeting yesterday had before it disquieting allegations of scamping on the part of a building contractor for two of its schools. Some hard things were said of the contractor and on the facts as stated were justified; but it would not be proper to comment until both sides have been heard. The board’s public responsibilities arc such that it must probe the complaints to the bottom, and if need be take drastic action. In the meantime, whatever the rights and wrongs of this instance, citizens may be pardoned for thinking of the vast mass of regulations and the army of inspectors of one kind and another whose duty it is to see that regulations are observed. If every citizen were a good workman and an honest one, think of the number of inspectors who would be unemployed! If some contractors bad different ideals of service the whole body of them could be trusted to perform their contracts in strict accordance with the promises they made when they signed the specifications. Is it possible to look forward to an era when everybody may be depended upon to do his job properly without being watched? The question is one which should have special interest for an educational authority.

Mr. W. F. Tuke, of Barclay’s Bank, while giving praise to the extent of Great Britain’s trade recovery since 1931, says much remains to be done before Britain and the world can return to the prosperity which the progress of science and invention have made possible. Last year in Britain industrial shares enjoyed renewed popularity on the Stock Exchange, the Budget showed a surplus of £31,000.00.0 (enabling a reduction of sixpence in the pound in the standard rate of income-tax), there was a scramble to invest money, and a substantial reduction was made in the floating debt as the result of cheap money and Treasury operations. World trade recovery _is mixed up with the situation in America, the outcome of the depression there, and the devaluation of the dollar. Also, the economic situation in Germany has retarded Britain’s chances of progress, Germany being unable to pay for goods bought. The unrest in Austria and the deficit in the Italian Budget have also militated against Britain’s trade recovery, while many of the European countries are erecting prohibitive tariff barriers in order to make themselves self-supporting. Lancashire has suffered severely from Japanese cotton competition in the world generally and in India particularly. Until the cotton trade is restored somewhat and there is improvement in the shipbuilding trade, there can scarcely be prosperity in the populous North of England. _ _

A Japanese offensive has broken out against Chinese troops on the Jehol-Charhar border. As the self-appointed custodian of order in that unsettled region, Japan no doubt considers herself entitled to act as judge, jury and executioner in all incidents on the Chinese border which from her point of view invite active intervention. As to this latest affair, the Chinese side of the story has been told. The Japanese account no doubt will present an altogether different aspect. As the Powers through their own default have allowed the situation to pass from their control, they can hardly complain if the Japanese method of managing it does not meet .with their approval.