DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 1 (Supplement)

DOMINION TOPICS

Hospitals Expenditure. Already hospital boards have to reckon with a large increase in costs as a result of very substantial advances in the prices of their. supplies and in their expenditure on salaries and wages Yet this would seem to be only a beginning of a much heavier demand for upkeep which their institutions must make upon the community. An effect of the social security scheme will inevitably ‘be to increase the hospital population of the country, and that must entail an enlargement of the accommodation which is already being provided at a heavy cost to the people at the present time. Plans for liospi tai extension are being brought forward and considered which would have been regarded as staggering a year or two ago Hospital boards can only rest, upon Ministerial assurance that full regard is to be given to the effect of the social security scheme upon their finance But insofar as the public hospitals of the Dominion must become increasing sources of expenditure, their maintenance is going to involve so much the heavier taxation demand upon the community.—“Otago Daily Times."

New Zealand Chilled Beef. The chilled beef trade is the youngest of the important export trades of New Zealand, the first serious attempt to develop the market having berm made only five years ago. From the first season, 1933-34. when only 19,576 quarters were exported, expansion was rapid, and last year 238,515 quarters were produced, the trade being worth approximately £500.000 to this country. New Zealand chilled beef has already made a good name for itself on the British market: and in the provinces, particularly, there is a growing demand for it because it is considered to have superior eating qualities. Notwithstanding the great advance that has been made with chilled beef exports, much remains yet to be done, mainly in the way of improving quality and ensuring more regular supply to the market. The North Island, where all New Zealand chilled beef is at present produced, has made rapid progress with the trade, as the figures show, and it is encouraging to note tha: as production has expanded quality has tended to improve, as the technique of producing chilled, beef has come to be better understood by farmers.—" The Press." Christchurch.

The Wrong Mentality. Obviously, the present method of government in its broader sense is still not what . the unsatisfied minority wants, or there is an attitude of revolt against society in general. If dissatisfaction exists with wages or conditions, machinery is available for adjustment without disorganizing industry. At base, it is largely a matter of moral attitude, lack of initiative, ambition and pride in work, and a desire to take all and give as little as possible in return. That is simply bad citizenship. Certainly, if it is political satisfaction the small section of malcontents wants, it is now as near td appeasement as it will ever get, for the present Govern meat cannot be accused of lack of sympathy with working men and a desire to do everything possible for them. While the cause of the trouble is not difficult to find, the remedy is not so simple. To a large extent it rests in the hands of the majority of working men who are good citizens of the country. They must now allow a destructive few to influence the unions and make trouble for those who do not want it. — “Waikato Times.” Local Body Loans.

The Gisborne Borough Council has a loan of approximately £160.000 maturing in London in March next, and towards the repayment of this amount it has accrued sinking funds of only about £40,000. The council has two alternatives, either to refund the loan in London, or else to repay it with a new loan raised in New Zealand or Australia. The New Plymouth experience was that the former course would have cost about 74 per cent., and there is no reason to expect that Gisborne would fare any better. This means that for all practical purposes refunding in London is ruled out. The alternative is to raise a loan in Australia, as New Plymouth has done, ata rate of 4J per cent., and repay the old loan. To find £160,000 in London, however, will require £200,000 in New Zealand or Australian currency, and the £40,000 sinking fund which has lieen accumulated over a long period of years will be just sufficient to bridge the gap.—“ Poverty Bay Herald.”

Stealing is Stealing. Stealing is. stealing, whatever the formal description of the offence, and the only justification for treating thefts of motor-ears as a venial offence would be in the diminution of this class of stealing. Unfortunately, the official statistics reveal an increase rather than a decrease in the number of motor-car “conversions." In 1930, when 228,247 motor vehicles were registered. convictions for unlawful conversion totalled 333. or .0014 per cent. In 1938 the registrations has risen to 280.327, and the convictions to 490, or .0017 per cent. It may be argued that the number of conversions is small in comparison with the registrations. The loot obtained by burglars is also small compared with the value of property not so stolen, but no one would suggest that on this account burglary should lie regarded as a mere misdemeanour. Car-stealing should be regarded as theft, and the Courts could be trusted to take into consideration any special circumstances reducing the turpitude of any offence and of the punishment inflicted.—“Taranaki Daily News.”

The London Funds. In each of the last three years the London funds reached their maximum in April-May; thereafter, in each case, they showed a steady decline until the following January-February, the fall amounting to £17.000,000 in 193 G-37 and £14,900,000 in 1937-38. At the end of January, 1939 (the latest date at which figures are available for the trading banks as well as the Reserve Bank), the total sterling holding was £7.250,000. It is abundantly clear that unless this total is heavily increased during the next two months the amount available to meet Ibe Dominion’s requirements for the rest of the year will be far below what was necessary in 1937 and 1938. In these circumstances, it is not surprising that the Government has found itself unable to indicate the probable duration of restrictions. — “Southland Times.”

Local Loans. Local authorities which by the nature of their dealings with the public are compelled to raise loans for expansionist policies, as well as those which desire to extend their ordinary services, are left high and dry by the Government. They are not permitted to pay more than 34 per cent, interest, but no money is available at that figure for the sale of debentures or for direct loans, and the State will not come to their aid. While Government stock can be purchased at rates which return £4/5/- to £4/7/- per cent, it is manifestly impossible for local authorities to get new money at 34 per eent., and the State Advances Corporation, the only source available apart from public subscription sits tight and does not even offer a suggestion either as to when it will make money available or how the borrowing authorities should proceed. Nor can those interested obtain any information from the Minister of Finance, beyond the meaningless reply that the question of providing funds will receive consideration at a later date. When material is needed for the expansion of services such as those provided by the power boards, inability to raise the necessary funds involves a suspension of development policies and a consequent check on employment.—“ Auckland Star.” Expanding Air Sendees.

The inaugration of the air service between Gisborne and Auckland, via Opotiki and Tauranga, marks another important stage in the development of commercial aviation in the Dominion and, in particular, will strike another blow at the isolation of the East Coast district The provision of aircraft is possibly the least difficult factor in the establishment of a service. In recent years the acquisition of suitable machines has not presented a serious problem, but the preparation of aerodromes throughout the Dominion has been a costly and laborious undertaking. In this work, however, the Government has not been lacking in energy or sparing in expense, and the result is that today there are reasonably satisfactory ground facilities in most centres It has boon necessary, also, to establish efficient and extensive meteorological and radio services and to train personnel for the various branches of the work. In all things, commercial aviation in New Zealand has subordinated haste to efficiency, and it is this policy that has earned for the Dominion a high reputation for the regularity and safety of its air services.—" Poverty Bay Herald.” Capital and Labour.

The tendency to ride roughshod over every principle introduced in the cause of industrial peace must be checked in a very convincing manner or the belief will grow amongst the workers lb,-it the Statutes refer only to the capitalists who pay the wages and the taxes. All Sorts of strange ideas have been inculcated as political propaganda, and on these the psychology of a considerable section of the wage-earners isbased. Hitherto, even Ministers have persuaded them that they are entitled to a great deal more than they are getting out of industry. All reasonable encouragement is due them, but to imply that they are not getting all they should out of production is to charge the Arbitration Court with a lack of proper appreciation for the workers. Such an attitude toward the vexed question of Capital and Labour is dangerous and raises all the dormant antagonism that exists in the hearts of those who suffer from an undue inferiority complex. Those engaged in industry in any capacity should be capable of agreeing amongst themselves ag to a working basis if they met in conference. The widening of the preach is caused by the demands, not of the workers, but of those agents who prosper most in an atmosphere of perpetual conflict—“ Southland Daily News.” Superfluous Officials. . It is reported from Auckland that Mr. C. L. Hunter, a Labour representative who lost his seat in the House of Representatives at the last general election, has been appointed a “liaison officer” to keep the Labour Department in closer touch with industry. This, is apparently a new office, and the duties are not at all clear, seeing that the department is already kept in the closest possible touch with industry by an army of inspectors. There are in the department men of capacity, experience and tact, well able to discharge whatever duties may be assigned to the liaison officer, and they may well feel discouraged to find a politician brought in over their heads. A more important aspect of the appointment is that it adds to the cost of government, ami is another burden on the backs of the people who are doing the necessary work of the Dominion, and who, though they do not seem to realize the fact, have, in the long run. to pay the additional taxation. The huge increase in the number of State employees during the last three years is reflected in the prices of food and clothing, for the salaries come out of taxes and the taxes are levied on the goods produced and the goods sold, so that not even the old-age pensioner can dodge Ibe tax-collector. — “Christchurch StarSun."

Our Declining Production. Total British imports of butter last year rose by 93.000 cwt., although those from New Zealand fell by 3GB.9Goct\ IThis should remind the Dominion and its Government of a fact they are apt to forget—that they are supplying a world market which is little affected by local difficulties and arrangements, and official plans. If New Zealand is to keep her footing in that market, she cannot create an artificial world and insulate it; her business must still be to produce a good product at prices the British masses can pay. So far this season dairy-farmers have been paid well above that level —Loudon parity—and still complain that they are not being fully compensated for the high level of local production costs. There are limits to the Treasury’s resources and to “public credit,” however, and sooner or later a readjustment of the whole cost and price structure will have to be facet!. It may come sooner than many expect, because the other great branch of the export industry, sheepfarming, is already being squeezed between the upper and nether millstones of lower prices anil higher costs. Here, too, volume of production has fallen in the important lamb trade. —“New Zealand Herald.”