WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES

the phi me mini.step

(Special to “Guardi-ji”.)

WELLINGTON, April 1

It is no exaggeration to say that the people here were very much shocked to leant that the Hon. AY. F. -Massey was seriously ill and had that morning undergone an operation. Hundreds read the bulletins posted up at the various newspapers offices, and on all sides very sympathetic remarks could he heard. Alter all thoie is nothing surprising in this, for Mr Massey has been something of a political institution and his portly figure was well known to most people in Wellington. and “ (He Hill.” as he is affectionately called, has a great deal of public svmpnthv. It. seems to he the general opinion that Mr Massey will he unable to take any further active part in politics and the gossips are at work raising new political combinations and demolishing the old ones. Who is to lead the Reform Parly? is the question asked by some, while others maintain that the' disruption of the Reform Party is inevitable. Others again seem to think that events are so shaping themselves as to make it possible for f~ir Joseph Ward to again take a lending part in the country. Sir Joseph could rc\ive and consolidate the Liberal Part.', which is something more than Mr Milford can accomplish, and .Sir Joseph’s leadership would not only give confidence to the Liberals hut to the country as a whole. With Air Massey out of the wav the Reformers will degoiKMate into a political rabble, torn and ripped about with political intrigues. For any one ol the present Ministeis to become leader will not save the party at the polls, lint would make a certainity of ils deleat. Ihe political offences committed by the Relorm Government against the democracy are too numerous and too glaring to give the Reformers any chance <»l success at the next general election. I nless Sir Joseph Ward takes the leadership of the Liberals and revives that party, or there is a fusion of Reformers and Liberals and the hirlli of a new party, Labour must win at the next election. It is the only party that is organised under a recognised leader, that Is working lor victory, and working "ith n confidence that commands support. Neither the Reformers nor the Liberals are in that hanpl.v position, and leadership in |,oth eases is the trouble. Political matters will loam very large during the next few weeks and Wellington will lie saturated with political gossip. SWEDISH IH'TTF.R. FOXES.

The continued advance in the mice ol butter boxes lias been a cause ol complaint, and it was inevitable that sooner or later the demand for a cheaper article would meet u ith a response. The increased cost of white nine has been attributed to the fact Hint the supply of suitable timber has greatly diminished and the sawmiller has to go further afield for his. supplies which adds to the cost of production. Of course the miller says nothing about waste, and yet there has been and is an enormius waste ol white pine timber going on the whole time. '1 ho Swedish butter boxes can he supplied to the butter factories at peace per box below the price of white pine, and there is now a very big demand lor the imported article. A. very large quantity of New Zealand butler will lie exoorled next season in boxes made from Swedish timber. r l hese Swedish boxes have been subjected to severe lint not always fair criticism. These boxes would not ho used bv the New Zealand factories if it did not nay to u>e them, • -I|,| ji nays because not only are they cheaper, hut they are in every wav as suitable as the New Zealand made article. Hut how is il that Swedish manufacturers can undersell the locally made artiedle? It will he answered (hat the cost of labour is he;-: m H.ve-i!•-.t v. hi' !i i true enough, but agaiii'-t that must be set the shipping and Other charges. The real reason fur the lower cost, of the Swedish article lies in the method of const ruction. New Zealand cine boxes are made ol wid ■ hoards which of course must he cut from large logs;. The Swedish boxes are made from “ svuthelie hoards

built up In- glueing narrow pieces eJg-: to edge. If is said that Swedish maim

faeturers rei-ct no hays over six inches in diameter. ('m!:*r the Xew Zealand system of maniila; lure ;i six-inch Inn; w::t:Ul he valueless find this ninst result in iin enormous waste of tiniher anil adil oreat.lv to the cost ol product ion. Tii? point is that the Swedish system of manufacture is scientific and eliminates waste, while nur system is crude, wasteful ami oxoensive. li Swedish h.iflor boxes are to lake the •place ol the locally made article then there does not aocear l i he any sound reason for maiiitainin;; the endifirp* on the exoort of white nine tiniher.