Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATUIIDAY, NOV. 15th, 1919. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATUIIDAY, NOV. 15th, 1919. THE WEEK.

A correspondent writing tlie other evening said the paramount itssue now in tins country is the bread and butter question, or the cost of living, and the political party that can tackle this question to the satisfaction of the people will be the party that will receive th 6 support of the people. From reading the latter in question we happened to turn to a magazine article p rom America and alighted on the very subject, the cost of living—which is perhaps as burning in the United States as anywhere in the world. Incidentally it might be remarked we are best off of all in New Zealand, but that perhaps

is another story for reference at some future occasion. The writer in America was deploring th e loss through weather of ah enormous quantity of wheat. He said it was bad enough to have loesses that are beyond our control without deliberately interrupting industry or reducing the production of anything that will ; erve human needs. The number of spindles in the cotton mills of the United States increased from 33,657,000 to 34,184,000 in the year ended July 31st, 1919, but the consumption of raw cotton declined 800,000 bales. The production of cotton cloth is falling behind that of last year month by month. The eight hour day may be all right in the textile mills in normal times, but surely a better time for inaugurating it might have been found than when the whole world Was short of clothing. The same is. to be said with greater emphasis of the proposals of the anthracite coal miners to reduce their hours of work to six. Demands for higher wages are less to he complained of than curtailment of production. \Vago increase cannot compensate even the wage earners themselves for scarcity of these necessaries. Scarcity means that there is not enough to go around; somebody must go without. Scarcity is not only responsible for prices that Te necessarily high, but for the profiteering. It gives the profiteer his opportunity.

Mr J. R. Coynes, one of the leaders of the Labor party in England, and a member of Parliament by their votes, in a recent speech made this very point. He is reported at a summer school address at Oxford University on August 7, as follows: “In a comparison between profiteering and decreased production, he said, the workers could make no more lamentable mistake than to encourage under-production. Scarcity of commodities is the opportunity of the profiteeer. Scarcity may cause inconvenience to the rich, but it causes real and continued privation to the masses of the people whose purchasing power is limited. Some forms of profiteering can be punished by law, but workmen who deliberately restrict output or fail to accept any form of development which can make their labor more productive, are punishing their own class without knowing jt, and are imitating the profiteer, who thinks only of himself.”

If profiteering was conscious pilfering, continues Mr Clynes, “ca’canny” was an ignorant act which inflicted little loss upon the favoured classes, but the greatest loss upon 1 the poor and those <who earned low wages. It is only possible through the use of labor and economic resources in their highest : i d most efficient competition by other nations, to make up the arrears of the war. Jn pleading for that efficiency he pleaded also for a higher standard of life and a more abundant share of the world’s goods for those who produced them. With the extensipn of the franchise the nation must face the fact that there existed a poliical force which would before long be capable of assuming the authority of government. How long that would be would depend upon how labor presented the programme to the approval of the nation merely by giving shocks to tho nation. The enormous new-found power, industrial and political, which the workers had acquired oould he wasted by a reckless use of it in needless stoppages and strikes. If labor was ever te think of itself as a controlling force in the nation it must cease to think of itself in the terms of class, as it had done hitherto. Working men could if they wished, be the governing class as soon as they had convinced the nation that they were fit to govern well.

The Socialists of Germany understand better than ever before the necessity of emphasis upon production. The leading Socialist organ “Voi'waerts,” is quoted as laying down in a recent editorial these proposals: The workmen be paid according to the actual work done by them that workmen must be made to understand that good pay is only obtainable in return for good work, and that capable workers must have the opportunity to earn, by greater application to work, more than the amount represented by a fixed scale. When these proposals are adopted there is practi-

cally nothing left of Socialism as a distinctive doctrine. The whole subject is reduced to a practical study of how to determine relatively the contributions which individuals make to production. It will be an enormous gain to have common consent that omphasis shall bo laid upon production. Throughout the current discussion it is laid almost entirely upon distribution. ,

A couple of months ago tho City of New York conducted sales of foodstuffs taken over from the Government supplies, for the purpose of giving relief to consumers from tho prevailing high prices. The Deputy Commissioner of Markets, Edwin J. O’Malley, having this distribution in hand gives the following account of some of his troubles: “I went to the East Twenty-fourth St. pier,” ho said, “to see how we were getting along unloading tho barge. Wo Were paying a big price for our trucks, and I wanted to be sure that they wore

kept busy. When I got to the pier I found the bargemen lying on the boxes, their rolled up coats being used as pillows. The drivers of seven trucks were slitting half asleep in their machines. I asked the man on the barge what the trouble was. I was told that just as they were starting to work, a delegate of their union happened along and told them they were not permitted to load the boxes on to the truck, but to carry them around’ the truck and put them on the pier Finally the men offered a compromise. They would load the boxes on-the tail-piece of the trucks, they said, but I would have to get men from another Union to haul the boxes to the middle of the truck!”

I founl the delegate of the proper Union, who got the men who are permitted to load the trucks. We paid the barge helpers 60 cents an hour, I believe. The newcomers got a cent a box, and each driver and truck coßt us 32 dollars a

day. After we got things under way, it didn’t take long to have a string of trucks running from the pier to the various schools. But,” concludes Mr O’Malley, “I think I got one of the real reasons for the high cost of living. That is, the number of men who handle the various commodities before they reach the consumer. Just think, for one truck, a driver who is not permitted to do anything hut drive; one man to put a box on the tail-board, and another man to pull that box to the centre of the truck.” When the whole

system of industry and distribution is Laboring under difficulties like this, is it any wonder that prices are high ? Mr O’Malley’s experience illustrates the daily troubles of a business man. And what shall we say of New Zealand suffering from the go-slow tactics and other tricks to penalise capital, but which, in reality, react with boomerang effect to the discomfort and cost of the masses ? Wh(en will the scales fall from the eyes of the working man,* and he will have a clearer vision of where the Extreme Labour Leaders are leading him ?

IFansi opposite ends of the Dominion, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, and S ; r Joseph Ward have begun th e political campaign in real earnest. Of the two reports sent over the wires, Sir Joseph Ward makes the more attractive display, having developed Ills policy proposals on lines previously announced. Mr Massey deals with the weightier policy questions affecting our “foreign policy, but doubtless as the campaign proceeds he -will turn more and more attention to domestic matters. It is these latter which have been most neglected during the war period, having to give way to the pressure of more important outside matters. Because of this the National Government is so often blamed for its shortcomings. The absence of the leaders in .Europe accounted, also for some of the neglewt of what mignt be considered social legislation. How-

ever, both the Reform and Liberal leaders are prepared to make amends for any shortcomings heretofore, and nrogressive forward policies are offered for the choice of the people. They «iffer largely in the matters' of detail notably finance and taxation, and >n those respects the differences are fundamental. It does not appear likely with Labor in the field that either Reform or Liberal will possess a commanding majority. Between the two there is a certain spirit of forbearance ’"Li ’h indicates thst the more moderate on both sides would not be averse to a degree of fusion in order to form a stable majority to carry on. New Zealand after the upsetting of war conditions would welcome n.\ political peaoo wherein social legislation on progressive lines might be enacted, and in this direction it is hoped to move substantially as a result of the present election.

Tiie contest, for the Westland seat has taken a fresh turn , this week by the retirement of Mr Lynch, an event forecasted in advance by this paper some little time back. There is still a suggestion of a triangular contest by the appearance of a third candidate in the fifeld, but it is not likely to come to pass. A' third .candidate at this juncture would have a lot of leeway to make up, and the best he could hope for would be to split votes. It would appear therefore that the Westland seat will be contested by Mr Seddon, an avowed Liberal, and Mr O’Brien, nominated by Labor. Mr O - ) Brien who is a native of Australia, is

a resident of Runanga, which is not within the Westland electorate. So far we have not noticed Mr O’Brien’s name on the printed Westland roll. He is, in fact, an elector of the Buller district, so that if by any mischance Mr O’Brien were returned to Parliament, Buber would possess two members, and Westland be without a resident member. It would appear that Labor has had to look afield for a champion, and tue

supporters of the cause are asked 10 vote for an outsider. Mr Seddon is now carrying on his platform campaign in the north, and is to deliver his main | speech at Greymouth next week- As ; usual, Mr Seddon is fighting his battles ■ single handed and relying on his own resources. His opponent has called to his aid Mr Webb and Mr Holland—the latter being the leader of the extreme Labor' Party in New Zealand. Other

advocates to Labor are likely to appear on the Coast, so that Mr O’Brien s cause seems to need a lot of backing. Meantime sane Bailor is offering generous support to Mr Seddon, who will have, also, a strong general following and. should carry off a striking victory.

The Public Works Committee of the Westland County Council will meet on Wednesday next for the purpose of drawing up a report to the Council in respect to the making of a by-law for the control and licensing of motor traffic.

Messrs M. Houston and Co., instructed by Mrs A. M. Browne, who is leaving Hokitika, will sell by auction on Wednesday next on the premises, Hamilton Street, the whole of her household furniture and effects, particulars of which appear in another column. The sale starts at 2.15 p.m.

During the past weei; the whitebait have been coming np the river in a steady stream and very substantial catches have- been recorded. The local factories have had a busy season, one of the best for years. On Thursday one of the local factories ran out of tins for canning, and yesterday there was a surplus of whitebait for sale.

Returned soldiers are reminded of the meeting at the Overseas Club rooms to-night at 7.30 o’clock, when information will be given regarding bee-keep-ing by Mr John Murdoch, -and steps taken to form a class for instruction by the Government Instructor, Mr Earp, who will visit'here shortly. All interested are invited to attend.

Great interest is being taken in the meeting on Dec. 6th of Joe Garvey of Itunanga and Sailor O’Dea, and the local Boxing Association is to be congratulated on having arranged such an interesting bout for its initial programme. Excellent entries are being received by the Secretary, and the success of the Tournament is assured. Mr T. Seddon has received cable advice from London that his mother, Mrs It. J. Seddon, and sister, Miss M. S. Seddon, will be sailing by the Bremen on the 26th inst on the return trip to New Zealand. The pleasing information was received also that his youngest sister Mrs Seddon Wood, is now much better, and the necessity for an operation has been avoided.

An incident, quite of the unrehearsed order, was associated with, the Ellerslie races on Saturday last. As the contesting horses in the Maiden Hurdle Race charged the second obstacle opposite the members’ stand, a horse, ridden by one of the constables on, duty outside the rails, evidently had his blood roused, with the result that he took control and leaped a row of trestles, and, continuing on, cleared the high rail surrounding the race track. The constable sat his horse well in the little escapade for which the animal was responsible, and no damage resulted.

A correspondent of a Melbourne paper draws attention to the fact that a good deal of rubbish in the shape of children’s toys, is being imported into Australia, evidently from the Eastern countries. He states that he recently purchased a child’s cricket ball at' a in Brunswick for Is, which went to pieces after half-an-hour’s use. | Upon dissecting it he found it was | made up of an outer skin of poor quality ' white oilcloth, with neat black stitching' Underneath was a piece of newspaper, with Chinese or Jpanese characters on it. Around this a few threads were wound. The interior was composed of what seemed to be sweepings from an en'rthern floor, and some pieces of gravel. The correspondent considers the marketing of such articles to be approaching fraud.

; Dealing with profiteering in his election address on Tuesday evening (telegraphs an Auckland correspondent), Mr A. .T. Entrican, a candidate for Auckland West, explained that if cases were carefully investigated it would be found that the merchants were not getting more than the average rate of profit. He instanced a line which he said was in every-day demand in small quantities. This was sold before the war at 6d to 6id per lb, and cost 5d to sid to land; to-day the wholesome cost was 5s 6d per lb, but it cost 5s od to land; thus the rate of profit per cent was less than before the war. The candidate did riot mention the name of the commodity, but when question time came on, one of the audience was particularly insistent as to its nariie. Mr Entrican then stated that it was carraway seeds, a piece of information that convulsed the audience.

Two children were bitten by a snake on a recent Sunday night while in bed (states the Julderie correspondent of the Melbourne Argus). The younger child, aged three years, cried out about 8 p.m. that she had “been bitten by something.” The parents lifted her out and found two punctures on her arm. An elder brother, who is a returned soldier, lanced the arm and sucked the wound. While he was thus

engaged the other child rushed out of the bedroom, crying' that she had been bitten on the leg. The children were driven to the hospital, where the doctor pronounced both cases snakebites. They were treated accordingly. On the Monday both children were out of danger. A snake had previously been seen three or four times in the -bedroom, but it escaped down a hole in the floor. The prompt action taken by the brother in the first instance undoubtedly saved the children’s lives.

Why pay dearly for Baking Powder when SHAB-LAND’S —the best that can be procured—costs less than others ? Ask your grocer. The open air baby gets on oest. Leave yours out of doors most of the time, but put a North British not water bottle at his feet. Watch him grow.

A slight rolu is dangerous. Don’t neglect it. Take “NAZOL”—the never failing remedy for coughs and colds. Sixty full doses for Is Gd’. North British solid band tyres carry the heaviest truck over the worst roads without worry or trouble! Always specify North British. Cakes to make—scones to hake—how easy, pleasant and sure is the work when you use SHARLAND’S Baking Powder.

That's a nasty cough! Let ‘‘NAZOL” tackle it. A few drops taken on lump sugar will soon relieve you. Sixty doses for 1 /R.

The Chief Postmaster advises that the inward mail coach from Waiho was unable to cross the Tatare. river this morning owing to it being in heavy flood

Mr J. O’Brien (Labour candidate for W estland) will address the electors week as follows:—Stafford on Tuesday, -Goldjsborough on Wednesday, Humphreys on Thursday. Chair , t 7.30. p.m. in each instance.

With regard to a paragraph in last evening's issue in reference to the case of Gregory v the King, we now learn that the exact amount to be allowed in settlement has not been definitely determined yet. It is now understood that the final terms of settlement will be made immediately, and the amount previously stated, via., £1,500, will be reviewed.’

At the Magistrate’s Court Greymouth yesterday, Leonard James Purton, (Mr W. Joyce) on remand from last Monday was charged with stealing a motor-cycle on Nov. 4th from a shed in Waiuta. The bicycle was the property of Owen John Williams, and was valued at about £BO. Sergeant Simpson conducted the case for the prosecution. After evidence was given , and on being charged with the offence accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the next sitting of the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in one surety of £IOO and self of £IOO, or two of £SO, provisionally that accused periodically reported himself to the police at Waiuta.

rue sau news was received last evenrig Dy. came mat jar a. Gregory nau aieu in tne liuited States on Tues lay *ast-. mr Gregory will be remembered -.ere as tu e respresentative of the Atuoncan syndicate which prospected Rim a iflat last year. He and Mrs Gregory resided here for several months, and Mrs Gregory shortly before leaving, >vas seriously injured iu a motor car accident on the Hokitika railway bridge. When Mrs Gregory was well enough to travel she left for America accompanied by her husband and little daughter. Mrs Gregory has been under the doctor’s care since her return to her native land. Mr Gregory, when he left here, though not in robust health, was not considered dangerously ill. Some nervous trouble appeared to •leyelope, and latest; letters from him indicated he was in the hands of the doctors also, and would have to go ,nto hospital for a long period to undergo an operation for an affection of the optic nerve, which if not attended to, was likely to result in blindness. The result of the operation is not known, but the news of his demisj, suggests that his case was worse pu.bably than, his letter suggested. Mr and Mrs Gregory during their sojourn here made many friends, and the new * of Mr Gregory’s death is being received with many of regret and .sympathy iby the townspeople. Yesterday it was announced that 'the civil action for damages arising out of the motor car accident, above referred to had been settled out of court. The exact terms are not finally determined, but they will be entirely favourable to the plaintiff’s suit.

Although each°season it is becoming more difficult in obtaining satisfactory supplies of reliable hosiery, Schroder and Co., through their agents, have secured sufficient for local , requirements. New sports hose in black cream, cashmere, black and coloured cashmere hose, silk hose, glissiuna hose, in all shades children’s half and three quarter hose in great variety, are showing A visit to the house will prove to your 'satisfaction.—Advt-. The best is the cheapest, and North British Garden Hose is the best for wear. Costs no more then ordinary then ordinary good hose and lasts - for many years.

There is a cleanness, and sweetness about clothes that have been washed with “NO RUBBING” Laundry Help and the pure “Golden Rule” goap that very delightful. -Paterson Michel and Co.—Advt.

Clincher cross motor tyres are prefered by most judges, because they stand up to hard to hard wear on all roads and under the most severe conditions.

Better thnn beer, better thnn whisky, WOLFE’S SCTINAPI’S.

After the theatre or party take a sniff or two of“NAZOL.” This wards off chills and sore throats. Can be carried in pocket or purse. Get the genuine.

A point for good housewives. Always use SHARLAND’S Baking Powder. Costs least; goes farthest; gives best results.

Best stationery value in the Dominion: Cream Manilla envelopes, now 4 packets for Is; white envelopes, superior quality, now 3 packets for Is; writing blocks, size 6 x 9, now 6di and 8d each; writing blocks, size 8 x 10, now 6d, Bd, and 101 d etich; exercise books, usually 4d and 6d ench, now 3d and 5d each; the school work book, 120 pages, special value at 6d each. Toilet soap now 3 for Is. At McGruer and Co., Revell street, Hokitika.—Advt.

Sufferers from Bronchitis or Asthma will get marked relief from “NAZOL.” Taken on sugar or through a Nazol Inhaler. Sold everywhere. 60 doses Is 6d.