PDRESS COMMENTS. ,

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1927, Page 4

PDRESS COMMENTS. ,

New Zealand lamb and mutton lias not been such a profitable article for tutting up in the English butchers' shop as :ui Argentine bee! quarter, and tho New Zealand producer has had to he content with smaller prices for his shipments. Should the companies engaged iri tho Argentine meat trade come to a working agreement, the result will almost certainly he that tho Argentine raisers of beef will receive less for their stock and tho British consumer will have to pay more for his beef. This should contribute to a renewed consumption of other meat, and should mean higher prices for tho New Zealand frozen mutton and lamb. But no hopes are held out by experts for any revival of the New Zealand frozen beef export trade because of any raising of the price of Argentine meat, 'file simple fact is that frozen beef cannot compete with chilled beef, and until success attends the efforts being made, chiefly in Australia. s;n to chill beef that it will arrive in London in ns marketable a condition as the Argentine product after a very much more protracted voyage, the beef export trade from this part of the world is not likely to rise from its present unsatisfactory state.—Dunedin “Star.”

It would he a. false step to save a little money either by condensing the statistics or by issuing them less frequently. or by cutting tho stuff below what it should he to maintain the present service, or by paying experts less than they earn. Perhaps no such use of the axe is intended ; hut it is just us well to tho beforehand in letting the (iovermnent know that any reduction in the present efficiency of the Statistician’s branch would lie. a serious loss to business men, economists, and students—to the Government itself, for that matter—and no petty saving could justify it.-—Auckland “Sun.”

Whatever tho prospects may seem to those who are. satisfied with the measures now being adopted with regard to land settlement, it is certain that relief cannot come out of the blue- sky. It will cost many millions to restore confidence in farming lands as an investment, and until this is done, artificial forms of relief must be periodically applied to keep the entire system from collapsing. This means heavy expenditur and no permanent benefit, but the Government cannot be induced to face tho position courageously.—“ Southland Nows.”

In the older nations the disparity between the town and country is new being realised as a. more vital factor to self-containment, and as a result agriculture and dairying are attracting more attention than they have done for many years past. The. relies is this is seen in the fact that Germany is now meeting her own requirements of dairy produce nnd may possibly have an exportable surplus. It is an example of Government policy that might profitnhh- he pondered over liy onr own Government with a view to making farming in the Dominion more profitable and attractive, without waiting for that natural compensating adjustment which must ultimately he brought a'-w; by the law of supply and demand. -Strai ford “Post.”

While -tlic runner must icninin the backbone of tin 1 country, t Ik* national security depends upon population, nnd increased population can conic only with I lie development of (lie secondary industries. Hut population without a stronp; national spirit must mean unemployment and stagnation. AVlien New Zealanders insist on using New Zen land-made poods they are takinp no insular view of their responsibilities, for hv that means only can they make for Imperial strength and selfreliance. 'Die Winter Show, in the richness of its varied appeal, cannot, fail to accomplish much in the direction of encouraging secondary industries and promoting a spirit of national self-reliance. Christchurch “Star.”

The past year's figures show a eonsideraible advance on those of the previous year for the export of ham and ha-on and frozen pork, in four years the products of the pit: have more than trebled in export value. The present time, owing to the British embargo on Dutch-killed pigs, is Now Zealand’s opportunity. The absorptive [tower of Britain for pork, ham. and bacon is shown in the figures for 1926, her imports of those lines for that year exceeding fifty-four million pounds sterling. Our share of that trade is infinitesimal, but there is every reason to believe that it could be enormously increased, and at the present time any opening of that kind is dottbly welcome.—“ Dunedin Star.”

Tliero would seem to be a strong inclination on the part of a section of the Dairy Control Board to stir up hornets’ nests. Jt is not, however, through seeking trotlMe and inviting resentment that the board is likely to advance the interests of the producers whom it represents. Nor tire their interests served by the maintenance of a costly organisation for which there is no absolute need. If there is any reason at all why control should lie exercised over the exportation of the products of the Dominion it cannot he very soundly argued that there is any adequate rer.% son why there should he a separate organisation for each industry. The preferable thing would be that every organisation of the description should bo placed on a voi'tintary basis. Failing that, the suggestion that a merger or partial merger of the Meat Producers’| Board and the Daily Produce Control; Board should he effected is one that I should appeal to the public mind as! practical and dosirnble.— “ Otago Daily Times.”