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Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1922, Page 2

Titk rebuilding of the state school at Kanieri is being left in abeyance, notwithstanding the Ministerial promises on the matter. The loquacious Minister of Education has had a good deal to say about replacing the temporary building at Kanieri with a suitable school building, and has thrown a good deal of the onus for the delay on the Canterbury Education Board. As Dir as can be gathered the latter body is not to blame in the matter. The Board has complied fully with departmental wishes in the matter in the hope of securing the undertaking of the work and the present delay in regard to the building seems to be attributable soley to the Department of Education. Those concerned should stir up the proper authorities to action. The new building should have been ready for occupation at the end of the holidays. Instead, school will have to be resumed in the cramped and ill ventilated quarters doing temporary duty. This is very much to he regretted, for the building is not at all suitable for the purpose it is being put to.

Just what twenty shillings will buy now in comparison with 1914 markets, is being illustrated in the latelst Government record of prices. The current issue of the Monthly Abstract of Statistics contains an interesting comparison between the “worth” of twenty shillings for purchase of what are known at the “three food groups” in July, 1914, and September 1921, respectively. If the average “worth” in July, 1914, is taken as twenty shillings the worth in September 1921, was 12s 3|d. The latter figure represents an improvement on the figure for September 1920, which was 11s 83d. The lowest point reached between September 1920, and September 1921 was touched in December 1920, when, on the July 1914 basis, the worth of twenty shillings was only 11s 3d., so far as the three food groups were concerned. The upward tendency is satisfactory, and with the present condition of the produce markets, may be expected to show a further improvement from month to month. And it is well that it should be so, for the pastoralist will be looking for improved dost, of living conditions also. This time last year the farmer was getting with the Government subsidy 2s 6d a pound on his Imtterfat sold for the local market. To-day he is getting about 101 d only.