NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 285, 1 September 1942, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

It must be one of the pleasurable moments in ministerial life when it Is possible to draw’ the attention of the community to the strengthening of any arm of the defence services. Mr. Jones, Minister of Defence, has stated that the Royal New Zealand Air Force has been raised to a standard where it is now “a considerable factor to be reckoned with in any possible war operations in this area.” Aircraft, both British and American, have been brought into service and men with experience of modern air warfare are being employed to train the personnel in the latest concerted and individual tactics. The improved types of machines, and airmen trained to a higher standard of efficiency, should together make the air forces based on the Dominion a formidable unit should action be required.

There is a striking difference between the attitudes of the Commonwealth and Dominion Governments regarding the increased prices to bo paid for wool this season. It has been estimated by the New Zealand Minister of Marketing that the revised schedule will mean an additional payment to producers of from £2,225,000 to £2,500,000 and he has expressed a fear that this may cause inflation, but no evidence except a Treasury ex par to statement has been advanced to support the contention. Then, without explanation, the growers, or their agents, have been informed that the retention money this season will be doubled, so that instead of 5 per cent, being retained until the accounts have been finalized, 10 per cent, will be held back. The latest Australian journals report that the higher values resulting from the increase were noticeable In the figures obtained for wool at the first of the new season’s appraisals in Sydney and Newcastle, better-class fleece wools advancing by IJd. to 2d. per lb. The Federal Prime Minister, far from seeing any prospect of inflation in a movement that will increase the Australian wool cheque by from six to ten million pounds this season, has ’ stated that “besides Immeasurably benefiting woplgrowers the new price would assist the whole Australian economy,” and the question is suggested how a development that will have such welcome results in Australia should be fraught with any danger here. The Federal authorities seem to be delighted that the growers are to receive the higher values, but here the policy is to defer, if not divert, those benefits.