From Our Exchanges.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 25 September 1917, Page 4

From Our Exchanges.

+ The stage at which a man may bo said to be drunk was being seriously discussed by a Sub-Inspector, counsel, and a witness in the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court. The witness had the iinal word. lie remarked: "When a man goes to the pump to light his pipe, I should say he is drunk." A rather neat reflection on the intricacies of —to the soldier —tho most objectionable part of his accoutrements is hit off in "Tiki-Talk," the journal of the 23rd Reinforcements. In ono of the local hit columns, entitled '' Keep it Dark," the troops are requested to keep dark the fact that "Paddy Webb'' stated in the House that if he were Minister of Defence he would take care that our soldiers were better fed and better equipped. An editorial note comments: "Let us be thankful that Mr Webb has not been honoured with tho portfolio. We have had quite enough of 'Webb equipment.' " '' There should be no such thing as unemployment, which is itself the very worst form of national waste,'' remarked Mr G. T. Booth, at the Overseas Club at Christchurch. "The necessity for artificial, semi-charitable relief works is itself a reflection upon the business capacity of democracy. We must get Tid of a lot of old fallacies, such as the 'Manchester gospel' that to buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest is the whole art of commerce. We must learn that the only legitimate road to success in business is by the way of justice between man and man and efficient service to the community.'' The deadlock between cue owners of the smaller coastal steamers and the seamen shows no sign of relaxing. Some twenty boats are now lying alongside, the wharves, and the waterfront presents a somewhat desolate appearance. The three "free" steamers, now dubbed the "loyal" boats, are experiencing quite a rush of trade. During this week there will be a fair amount of cargo at Wellington for out ports, and those steamers that are running will have plenty to carry. Opportunity offering by the suspension of the time table running of the steamers Kapiti ami Kapuni is being availed of by their owners this week to have both vessels placed on the Wellington patent slip for their periodical overhaul. '' Europe is on the verge of famine,'' said Mr G. T. Booth, when speaking at the Overseas Club at Christchurch on the need for greater production in New Zealand, "and the need for foodstuffs will become greater with every month the war lasts. New Zealand as a food producer has a duty to mankind, a duty which, if it is discharged as it should be, as it can be, will bring us great wealth. It is nonsense to say that Europe will be too poor to buy food and clothing. When the war ends there will be more money available for the purchase of food and clothing than ever before; the starving populations of Europe must be fed and clothed at whatever cost, and it will be our own fault if New Zealand does not experience abounding prosperity for several years to come.'' Mr J. Anstey asked the Government a question as to what was going to be done about "the last man on the farm." If the last man was taken away the farm would be left useless. Sir James Allen said he did not think the Government would bring down any legislation dealing with the subject. The desire of the Government was that no farm should be left without one man to carry it on. The question must in each case be left to the judgment of the Military Service Board. They were independent judges. They had tho full idea that if there was only one man left capable of running a farm, he should be granted exemption. In answer to a further question, the Minister said he knew that there were a good many farmers in the Second Division, and that they would not get as many rccruits out of the farming class of the Second Division as was at first anticipated. The matter was being carefully considered, but it must bo borne in mind that it was not the policy of the Government to diminish the production of the country.