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Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1921, Page 2

.Mr A. S. Malcolm, a prominent i.imber of the Reform Bai ty, anil the elected Chairman of Committees in toe House, addressed bis constituents in Otago before going up for the session. In the course of liis uddiess he admitted that the financial administration of the country bad gone somewhat astray. To meet the position, dei hired Mr Malcolm, the. country must do two things. From the Government down it must economise. Economy had been preached, but not practised, but it would l»e forced on the Government. The Government would have to make an enormous reduction in its expenditure, and he Look it the honorarium of members would be reduced. Not

that it would save much, but it world h«ip others to accept reductions gracefully. They need not expect revenue to be more than what it was before the war, and expenditure bail more than doubled. Mr Malcolm's admission that economy will have to be forced upon the present Administration, notes I lie l-tyttelkm Times, is a rather sad commentary upon the pledges by which the present administration gained ofliee. but it is none the less welcome as an indication that at least one of the members of the Reform l’arty has a conscience, and that his conscience u, owing him trouble. There is no doubt the financial position of the country calls for urgent attention. Evidently lor that attention it has to wait for the action of Mr Massey. The i’rinie Minister is due at Auckland in a day or two. and will he in the House u -xt Tuesday. On him devolves the special duty, being Minister of Finance, ot straightening out the linances of the Dominion, and to do so, and it th" same time respect his election pledges is going to lie a task of some magnitude.

An interesting official statement i"rcutly issued by th,. Belgian Minist.v of Colonies refers to the forests in Mayumhrn, in the Belgian Congo, the richness of which was really revealed during the war. Wlicn it was impossible to buy till' barrels necessary for palm oil in Europe, the native woods hail to be utilised and thus became known and appreciated especially for the ahoviinentinned use. There has been considerable development since then, ami now barrels manufactured in Mayumbra are well prepared, perfectly tight, mid can be compared with the European article Cabinet wood is al.-o extensively exported. The value of those woods ■> shown by the kinds currently exported, among which should lie mentioned mahogany, designated by th,. natives under the name of killing! or kalumii the price of which in Europe o, 1.500 to 2,500 francs per cubic metre, ‘."lie kambala wood, which can lie compared to oak* is dark yellow when cut, but rapidly becomes chestnut blown ‘imilar to old oak. Its market value is

from 900 to 1,200 francs per cubic nctre The sangamonga wood, of a brown red colour which can bo very finoly j>olWi.

<>d and is eriuni to ivnlmit for enbi'Htmnking, is beginning to bo utilised. The wood is worth 1,000 to 2,000 francs per cubic metre