The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1910. GAMBLING IS FOODSTUFFS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 April 1910, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1910. GAMBLING IS FOODSTUFFS.

Ij.vtkTiV h'u h.nv heard ii! : ten thousand Americana going without meat, so that tee "nu'.'it rings" of Xew York and <-ther cities of the United States might in- proventc'd from in-Mva.-.ing mi.lnly their gains. Thosevr'.ii) engineer:! this novel strike soon iVali.s:'d iipafc the -appetitit.-.s of Lhc> great American public for meat c u!d not li ,, satisfied for long with any substitutes : and the result was kvl'H in ii breakdown of the "meat slriku" after a very few days exist-tu:-v. Then ranic the greflt chnnoe ci t!;o Meat Hing, .ami prices were sent up lii'.'lier ili:i:i i-u'er t!i:>y wevo Ij.'foi , ! , . The' n.-eiirrwiou is one more proof of the fact that "no chain is ,st; >;\:;i'r than its weakest link," •i:id t!v truth now is apparent that even in n link of stomachs tliero liirn wwikmypsufl quite distinct i'i'nvn t; nse |)n;\'if!. 1 f:;r hy t!ie several iK'iKri'ivirH-s M'hose rsViuvlie.'-' nvc ndv.'rtisurl in "The Chronicle" every <!-y. Fvsm hrwover, we have r.ws of iv iiiuch more severe and fi\i:-vr?':y r,v r .:■(•<■■?, }>y wliich the Clii ni-se are showing their (lisn.pj)roval (if :itempts to "l)iill" the local miivktst for foodstii(Ts. The Chinaman's ri:e is Ilis staple diet, and when anyone touches that commodity with intent l:> increase- its i)i'ice trouhfo is sura to arise. Chinese methods of disapproval always were thorough M -, .ny yivii's n.go China lost .threci' part, i > of luM' ti-.'i trade, tliroujrh tlsn Chinese mercliani.s' practice ol' inixirsg willow leaves with the "genuine Voiin:;- Hyson" and the "Yang Tse Kiang Valley IJchea," and othov favourite hrnmk of te.a. At first the Emparor told tlie adulterators nfit to continue tho process, but rhey refc'c , :! t-n heed. Tho story p,i.es that the Emperor next commanded that a number of nicrchants sliiMild he beheaded, as .n v>'a:nning to Uk* remainder. This was done, .and the export of Americ vn willow leaves to China received an immediate "set-back" from which it never recovered. An august precedent such as this fi:'t a a enduring fashion for China, and no doubt it was quoted in many Chinese towns, last week, before the indignant Chinese'—in token of their disapproval of tho increased prico of

rice—fell upon the foreigners and drove them off the land to the shelter of one of their own vessels. The tendency of mobs to overrun all and set at naught the laws and provisions of their countries is deplorable; but there are occasions when the reason lor deploring such happenings is less noutc than in sonic other ca.scs. Passive resistance is :i. siincr and, more orderly procedure of disapproval, hut if ever there is colon ra bin excii.so for violence against, constituted authority, it is on occasions when the food of theninssc.s is made the subject of speculation that causes prohibitive and umu'ccß.vary prices to lie put upon it, to tihe detriment of the people's health and pockets. Gradually J the experiences of the world in re-

jiard to I'di/tstufl' prices and fluctuations are shaping matters to a course thai, may lind its termination in hard-aiid-l'asfc laws to prevent any combination of persons to unduly inflate tiie prices of the necessaries of life.