PRESS COMMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1927, Page 1

PRESS COMMENTS

ll would seefu that the authors of dairy control decided on a definite course and are not to be turned from their purpose by anything short ot an unequivocal challenge from looiey Street. That challenge has, we understand, been given and the propaganda issued by the board is apparently only an assurance of success designed to hide confusion, if flic Meat Board can carry out its functions with benefit lo exporters without offending the Home merchants, why cannot tile Daii t > Board proceed along the same safe and effective lines ?—“ Southland Daily News.”

If Australia wants butter and New Zealand wants flour, why put obstacles in the way of an exchange ? A\hy nils.* the prices to the whole of the consumers in favour of a few producers? The little butter that is likely to go to Australia is’ not very material to New Zealand; just as good, or very nearly as good prices would be received. «»y -exporting to England. So too with Australian flour; the little we are likely to require will not .yield a lortmio to Australian millers or wheat growers. It is to lie feared that there is nut much more sincerity in our prolessefl desire to give preference to British goods; manufacturers want British goods which compete with their own shut out by heavy duties, and the public scarcely raises a voice against their demands. " Taranaki Herald.”

There are many causes ior the great increase which m the past has taken place in the death-rate from tuberculosis. It is now being realised that the right steps for coping with the scourge is to commence by preventing children from developing the germs. Apparently tile means adopted lay the Health Department are such that should coniiuciul them to the people of this and other countries, and it will be a good day for suffering humanity when the terrible ravages of a disease that is responsible for increasing the rate of mortality so largely are kept within bounds and eventually, it is hoped, eliminated.—“Taranaki Daily News.”

The magnitude of the import business'is a direct cause of the difficulties which are handicapping the tanners; importations are helping to keep prices high in the face of the drop in the value of export produce. The farmers cannot control these values, but ..the whole Dominion, by means oi economy, can help to bring the prices ol the goods it buys into line with the prices of the goods it sells. Economy ill demand can become an important factor in the reduction of the cost of production, and that is the reason why the people of New Zealand should make a strenuous effort to restore our trade position.—“ Mutuum Ensign.”

When butler is being exported, the local price falls to the level of export, parity; if a bounty he paid on export, the local price must rise by a similar amount, without price-fixing or compulsory legislation, simply through the autoinaiic operation ol an economic law. It is ingenious, but unusual circumstances have led to unexpected reactions and the uneconomic supplanting of local supplies by New Zealand im,pollutions in the lace of a very appreciable Customs duty. And that duty, according to Mr Bratton. cannot be increased so as to siliut out New Zealand butter and allow the distribution of the Yietorian surplus before six months at the earliest, this being in accordance with the trade reciprocity treaty between New Zealand and Australia. The New Zealand dairy producer thus seems to have for this season several strings to his how. —Dunedin “Evening Star.”

A policy which would enable the country to become more self-reliant by building up its own industries would, at the same time, go a long way to change the appearance of the trade returns, while providing (hat ground for confidence without which industrial development is impossible.—“ Stratford Evening Rost.”

AYc believe that the bonds of Empire are the same to-day as they were before the war; that the Dominions are not more free now than they ueie then: and that tfie great need is to discover some method of combining independence with common action. Io most foreigners, no doubt, there is some pleasure in contompVitimi the dissolution of the Empire. AVe feel that it is the main bulwark of tlie peace of tlie world, and that the T.eaguc of Nations would cut but- a sorry figure if it wore not for tho support it receives from the British Kingdom ami the Dominions.—“Hawke’s Bav Herald.”

It is possible to intake building regulations too severe. It- is not only that cheaper houses are needed; there is the problem of using tlie greater part of the timber tree. There is also the possibility of giving second-class timber special treatment-. It. is argued that this might press heavily on the small miller, hut ho might send his timber to centrial factory. Something should bo done, for while present conditions prevail local second-class tun-

her will pile up in the yards, and millions of feet of timber will ho imported.—‘Auckland Star.”

Greater care, more scientific methods, a closer study of market requirements, are all necessary in order that what lias been gained may bo held and further progress reported. Tn the race for markets wo may be handicapped to some extent in the distance between this country land the chief consuming centres, but against that may confidently be set the many advantages we enjoy. The obvious duty is to turn every advantage to advantage.—“Lyttelton Times.”

11, rests with ttie consumer to be wide iiwnke, to look to the future as well as the present, to study the undoubted joys of anticipation, to face up to the prospect of sickness and unemployment making time-payments a great burden, and to weigh the obvious fact that one necessarily pays more over a period than for cash. Until the day conies when the Arbitration Court, in its goodness, ordains that wages must he mid in advance it would ho wise to go slowly in this matter. —Dunedin “Evening Star.’’ T* is for the country to recognise that railway construction, which is very eostlv. may also "be attended with the risk that it may prove unprofitable, owing to the preference shown by an increasing number of people for motor travel. While members of tlie Kencitil public doubtless appreciate the opportunity of being able to choose between available facilities for transport, it is well that their attention should lie drawn to the tact that the privilege may ho attended with indirect disadvantages to themselves as taxpayers. — “Otago Daily Times.’’ The last movement of telephone charges was in the direction of a flat rate. It is no longer contended that a man pavs according to the cost of his particular service. A successful effort has been made by the Gun eminent to establish a flat rate principle, and that rate has been raised to a point at which it allows country sub-