The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, October 31st., 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1017, 31 October 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, October 31st., 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

This banking returns tor the September quarter, which have just been gazetted, indicate clearly enough that there is a strong demand for money, and will account in some large measure for the present tension. Commenting on the returns, a contemporary says : “The prospects for cheaper money are not particularly cheering outside the Dominion, but so far as this country is concerned, its produce year is scarcely begun. For the next six mouths some millions of pounds sterling will leave these shores for the British, and to a small but growing extent, the Canadian markets. Eabour troubles at Home and in the Dominion may seriously hamper the free transit of the goods from the producer to his markets, and it is difficult to say how and in what way political disturbances in Europe may affect the situation ; but in the absence of any such checks, the outlook is distinctly good for a sound and prosperous year for the Dominion.”

The day labour policy of the Tabour Party in Australia is thus criticised by the Sydney Morning Herald: “There have been many who have realised that the principle of day labour as applied to public works, though specially beneficial to the worker, Is not in the long run favourable to his interests. The shirker may profit by It for a time, but the genuine worker does not need it. It places a premium on idleness, and some will always be found who are ready to take advantage of this,

The private employer is able to weed out undesirables, but the Government, with an eye ever cast upon the ballot box, must be careful to offend no one. The system has had its chance, hut even the most bigoted advocates cannot honestly say that it has been satisfactory, or shows any promise ol ever being so. Already, as we have seen, it has been found necessary to modify its spirit, if uot its letter, and that this should be so is by no means surprising. The accumulated experience of the world has proved the efficiency of the contract system. We, in our selt-sufficieucy, know better, and have adopted a rule which will bring as its consequence, everlasting delay and ruinous expense.”