WELLINGTON NOTES,

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES,

(Our Special Correspondent)

BRITISH TRADE. WILL BE RECOVERED. : WELLINGTON, March 22. Mr R. W. Dalton, the British Trade Commissioner, accompanied by Captain E. S. Baynew, who is to act as Assistant Commissioner, returned to Wellington yesterday after an absence of eighteen months'. The purpose of Mr Dalton’s prolonged visit to the Old Country was to refresh his acquaintance with British manufactures and manufacturers and to confer with the Home authorities upon a number of matters concerning the trade of t-lic Empire. The Commissioner has come back confident of Britain recovering the trade supremacy she enjoyed before the war and re-establishing herself as the great'financial nation of the world, but the work of rehabilitation ,he says, will occupy some time and will require the united efforts ,of her scattered. pßOpl®* i 1 PRICES STILL SOARING.

Meanwhile, Air Dalton holds out no hope of an immediate drop in prices. He fears, indeed, that in regard to many commodities they will soar still higher before normal conditions of trade are reached. There are enormous demands for British goods from Western Europe and South America and these nearer markets could absorb all the British manufacturers can produce for some Time to come if proht were their only concern. But there is ■i strong and growing desire to foster trade within the Empire and this business and sentimental instinct will have fuller plav in the future than it has had in the past. Its development Air Dalton thinks one of the most cheering features of the situation. RAILWAYAIEN’S wages. The railway-men are determined the public, should not lose sight of then grievances. They are urging now apparently with very good foundation, that their inadequate pay is mamly responsible for the decline in the efficiency of the railway service r e with ten or fifteen or even twenty, years experience, still young enough to make a start in more remunerative employment, are leaving the -service and their places are beieng filled by inexperienced bands who in the long run prove much more costly, to the Depa rnent and to the State than wouldthe payment of adequate wages to q • - lied men. It it to the of this cheap labour, the men allege tl at. the appearance of a “go slow p 7 is due. The inexperienced hands simply cannot keep up to time. THE PRIME ATINISTER. Though Air Alassey is making a good recovery from his recent operation as much! to the satisfaction of his political opponents as to his politics friends —it is an open secret that he 1,,, seriously warned against woil,-

Itself to death. Since the dissolution of the National Cabinet lie ha been bearing a burden sufficient foi half a dozen men, and it will n with the approval of his medical advisors if he goes on inviting disaster ! this fashion. Blessed with a magnificent constitution lie has stood a great deal more than even a strong man can bear indefinitely and with plenty of help available among his own paity be clearly owes it to the country take more care of himself-