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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17692, 1 August 1919, Page 4

The Board of Trade is, it will be observed, urging British merchants to initiate a big campaign to capture German markets. The reasons for the desire of the Imperial Government to encourage trade with Germany are simply stated. It is necessary that the export trade of Great Britain should be developed in every way,. while trade with Germany will increase the ability of that country to make the reparation payments which are to be exacted from her under-the Peace Treaty. We are still so little removed from the' period when Great Britain and Germany were engaged in a deadly struggle for military supremacy, and conditions that were calculated to excite the deepest mutual antipathies, that the eagerness of the Board of Trade for the resumption of trade relations strikes an arresting note. (But commerce takes little account of sentiment, and much of opportunity. British trade has suffered during the war period, and it is necessary for the national well-being that its volume should be increased, that new markets should be found, and that old markets should be recaptured. The re-establishment of commercial relations between Germany and herr late enemies was bound to come about fairly quickly, the process being indeed more or less automatic. The German market beingr again thrown open, the Board of Trade is anxious that Great Britain should make the most of the opportunities which are presented by it. If Great Britain should be slow- or negligent in pressing her commercial interests in this direction the United States or some other Power may be expected to forestall her. The Allied Powers have recognised that it is absolutely essential that Germany should dispose of her products if she is to meet her financial obligations under the Peace Treaty, and for Germany's trade there is apparently to be none the less competition because of the rankness of her offences as a military Power and as a belligerent. It will be rather interesting to see what national sentiment, whether in Great Britain or Germany, has to say in this matter. Among British people the contempt which Germany so effectually roused will not speedily die. Germany 'on her part will never allow resentment to stand in the way of commercial opportunities. At the present time British national sentiment will assuredly favour the' encouragement of trade within the Empire in the first place, and its encouragement with the States that have been the Allies of the Empire in the second place, even while it is recognised that the exclusion of Germany cannot continue.

Worthy of attention is a statement made before the Chamber of Commerce in Sydney, by Mr Massey Greene, a member of the Federal Ministry, in which he warned merchants against the prevailing unrest caused by high prices and appealed to them to tackle the oxoblem from the standpoint of the general community and thereby check the public outcry for State interference. Mr Greene expressed the wellfounded belief that the leaders of commerce would 'be able to do more to settle the unrest than all the Governments in Australia combined. This view of the situation provides material for a. good deal of reflection, which will be timely and appropriate in the quarter to which it has been submitted. Prices of many commodities are higher than there is any apparent occasion for them to be, and the commercial community cannot afford to wash its hands of all responsibility in the matter. The unrest excited bv high prices is so disadvantageous to it, that it would consult its own interest by giving its consideration to the whole subject, as it has been advised to do, from the public standpoint. The need of relief to the consumers is being exasperatingly prolonged. Government intervfention during the war in respect to trade and prices has not been conspictuously successful. Nor was it really to be expected that it would be. If, therefore, by dint of heart-searchings, leaders of commerce can evolve, as it is sup-erested they have the power to do, means of ameliorating the conditions which weigh heavilv on the public, such a consummation is greatly to be desired. Important factors contributing to tho rise of prices have been the diminution of competition, due to war conditions, and the inflation of the currency. Free competition should be resumed as soon as the normal channels of trade, obstructed by the war, are again thrown open. The inflation of the currency necessarily comes within the Government's sphere of action, and the evils which have resulted from it, and which are being experienced in the United Kingdom and on the Continent, as well as in the dominions, though they may bo imperfectly a/ppreciated by the masses of the people, are unquestionably real.

Accounts of race rioting continue to oome from the United States. The disturbances appear to have broken out almost simultaneously at various places. If the first of them was a signal for others, they have spread rapidly. Ten days ago "Washington was the scene of riots in respect to which it was recorded that hundreds of ■white soldiers, sailors, and civilians attacked negroes in the streets and aboard trams, while negroes drove through the streets shooting at the whites. Hundreds of arrests followed, and it was necessary to authorise the military to use the necessary means to restore order. Accounts of similar scenes are now coming from Chicago, where the casualties are said to number 500, including a percentage of deaths, and where it has been necessary to proclaim martial law. These occurrences indicate only too clearly how near the surface the old racial antipathies' still lie in the United States. The great racial problem of America is as far from solution as ever. The white and the negro, races will not merge. It is perfectly intelligible that they should not. It is not only in American cities that the two races have come lately into unseemly conflict. A few weeks ago Liverpool was witnessing the unwonted scene of riots, on a smaller scale, and from Liverpool the trouble was not lons in spreading to Cardiff. One report of the disturbance in the latter town showed that fifteen white men were treated at the Cardiff Hospital, and dozens of others were less badly injured by the missiles thrown, and the razors and revolvers which wore freely used. There were extraordinary scenes, it is recorded, wheTe blacks were hunted through the streets by angry mobs. In the United States the rioting is said to have followed upon interference by negroes with white women, and a similar cause, or similar pretext, appears to have prompted tho outburst of racial hatred in Liverpool and Wales. Great Britain is at least in the position to remove the cause of troitble by the repatriation of negroes whose presence in any number is evidently resented. The United States cannot get rid of her hareditaiy fowdem

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that a small English mail, via Sydney, was received by tho Kauri yesterday. Tlio vital statistics for tho Dunodin district for July were as follow, —Births 145, deaths 93, and marriages 56, as compared witli 136 births, 102 deaths, and 41 marriages for tho corresponding month of last year.

A Press Association message from Napier states that William Jamca Carroll, a nativo of Canada, an inmate of the Old People's Home, celebrated his hundredth birthday ystorday, and was entertained by the townspeople. Ho has been a moderate drinker and smoker all his life.

Mr Bennett (general manager of the New Zealand Shipping- Company) stated yesterday (says a. Press Association telegram from Christ-church) that it was hoped that a largo quantity of meat would be sent away between the present date and November 1. Many passengers were booking for England, although civilian traffic was still restricted, but it was expected that tho New Zealand Shipping Company's vessels woruld not bo needed for transports after August, and in that case there would bo moro room for civilians.

The local postal officials are advised that tho Mak-ura, which arrived at Auckland on Monday morning from Vancouver, brought no English mails, all tho mail matter being from America. Sho had on board for Dunedin tho following mail: —Thirteen bags from San Francisco, 42 from New York, two from Vancouver, 36 from Seattle, and ono from Honolulu. In addition she carried eight American parcel bags. The Duned in portion of the mail left Wellington by tho Mararoa last evening, and the letter portion will arrive in Dunedin by motor this evening, and will be delivered in the city and suburbs to-morrow morning. Tho newspaper and parcel portion will arrive in Dunedin on Saturday night. The railway restrictions harve now affected more seriously than ever the operations of tho Milburn Lime and Cement Company. The works at Pelichet Bay were closed down yesterday. As showing the importance of the industry it need only bo stated that the Milburn Company supplies all the cement required in the whole of Otago and Southland, and also ships large quantities to other parts of the dominion. The works at Pelichet Bay employed 53 hands, and 44 men were put off yesterday. Thirty-seven of the men are married, and their dependents total 93. Tho restrictions prevent, the company from obtaining the raw material required for the manufacture of cement. Tho company puts out from 1500 to 1700 tons of cement, per month, and as it is carrying stocks which will last only one month, the plight of builders at the end of that timo can easily be imagined unless the restrictions are removed. A fortnight ago the company had to close down its Dun!back line works on account of the railway restrictions. The acting- manager of the company (Mr W. W. Maekersy) anticipated what was going to happen, and told his hands at the Pelichet Bay works that they had better endeavour to secure some temporary employment to tide them over till the works could be restarted. It is very regrettable to state, however, that the men are having the greatest difficulty in securing other employment—in fact, up to the present not one of them has been able to secure an outside billet. The treasurer of the Now Zealand Nurses' Memorial Fund has received a cheque for £1000 from the Ohristchuroh Trained Nurses' Association, this handsome stun being the proceeds of a garden fete and other collections in that city. The capital of the Nurses' Memorial Fund has now reached the satisfactory amount of over £7000, and there is every prospect that the capital fund which this beneficent association is aiming at—viz., £10.000, will in time bo reached. A pension was recently granted to one deserving case in the North Island, and we understand that several applications for pensions will shortly come before the committee.

In the club rooms of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (Dunedin branclf) on Wednesday evening the roll of soldier members was unveiled. After several speeches by representatives of the different departments of the service, Piper M'Donald played a lament, and Bugler Hunter sounded the last post. Tho roll of honour, a handsome affair of plaster, with redwood panels, contains the names of 93 men, 12 of whom have made the supreme sacrifice. Mr J. Bourke (president of the branch) presided, and among those present were Messrs Bowie? (district traffic manager), Dobbie (stationmaster), Miller and Smith (representing the Railway Officers' Institute), M'Tigue, Davis, Grant, and Morrison, the last-named .representing the Hillside Workshops department.

A military funeral was accorded the remains of Corporal George M'Cleery, who died suddenly on the Upper Junction road on Tuesday. The funeral, .which left his parents' residence, No. 3 St. Andrew street, at 1.30 p.m. yesterday, was well attended, the remains being interred in the Anderson's Bay Cemetery. The firing party was provided by the Employment Company from the Central Battery. Captain M'Cormaek represented the Defence Department, and Private G. Bennett the Returned Soldiers' Association. Chaplain Fairmaid, assisted by Chaplains Watson and Hopper, officiated at the house and the grave, ami Bugler Turnbull sounded the " Last Post."

It is proposed (says a Press Association telegram from Auckland) to extend a civio reception to Mr Massey and Sir J6seph Ward on their arrival at Auckland by the Niiagara on Monday. A Press Association telegTam states that the Christehuroh Returned Soldiers' Association cabled to Lord Jellicoe asking him if he would 137 the foundation-stone of the returned soldiers new clubhouse during his visit to Christchurcli. Lord Jellicoe cabled in reply that ho would be honoured to do so. The.appointment of Messrs Alfred Henry Miles, Alexander Macintosh, and George Wilson as members of the Munitions and Supplies Board and Coal Trade Committee has been revoked (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington). The Port Chalmers fishermen have had a very poor week, the high winds preventing them from going outside the Heads except on rare occasions. The report of the Royal Commission which investigated the circumstances of the epidemic of influenza in the Samoan group has presented its report to the Gc-rornme-nt (says a Press Association message from Wellington). The Acting Prime Minister said yesterday that the report would be printed, and until that was done nothing could be mado public ooncerning it. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that an amending regulation under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act provides that in the event of returned soldiers having made application to a Lr,r,d Board for a purchase which has not 'been approved by -hhe department and applying a seoond time in. respect to another purchase, the Commissioner of Crown Lands miyy reduce or remit entirely the valuation fee in respect to the second application. The members of the Board of Trade, who left Christchurch lost evening for Wellington, will return about August 21 to conduct an inquiry into the prices charged for Now Zealand woollen goods. During tl»o greater part of last month the weather was oxcoptionally fine, considering the season of the year. Following on a strong wind, which had prevailed for two or three days, a change took place yesterday, rain setting in about 2 p.m. and continuing steadily until an early hour this morning. Thefts from boarding-housea, usually servants' rooms, have been frequent in Rotorua. recently (says the correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). On Monday week an alleged thief was caught by the proprietor of a boarding-honso, Mr Tapper, his son, a returned soldier, and Sergeant-major Innes Jones, a boarder. A trap was set in the servants' room by placing marked coins on a table. Mr Tapper watched outside the room and the others concealed themselves within tho room. During dinner time, when tho thefts were usually committed, someone entered the room and toot the money. The light was suddenly turned on, and revealed a young Maori, who was overpowered and searched. Two gold rings vrero discovered,

one. reportod to have been stolen from a bedroom in another lodging-house, and the other having been taken from a house at

Ohinenxitiu The won was handed over to {he jk^Koo.

At a short sitting of tho City Polico I Court hold yesterday morning, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., Albert William Austin pleaded guilty to Hho theft of a kit bag valued at 30s. On tlwj application of Cliief Detectivo Bishop a remand for seven days was granted to enable inquiries to bo made concerning tho ownership of tho bag. Now Zealand is not aloiio in having such a thing as a coal shortage, for conditions in Victoria, owing' mainly to industrial troubles, aro muoh worse than here. A Christchurch firm has recoived a letter from a Melbourne business houso in which it is stated that, as Victoria is mainly dependent on Newcastle for its coal supply, very early in tho striko the Fuel Controllers took charge of the position, and prohibited the us© of coal for any reason other than public utilities, with tho result that many industries closed down. A week or so later restrictions wore tightened up, and the -use of electric power or gas in industry was prohibited. The conspquenco was a largo increase in the number of men unemployed. Householders were also prohibited from using gas or eloctricity for cooking or lighting between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Since then a further order has reduced the hours to about four a day. whilst tho use of lights m shops or any businesses, except where points of danger exist, is not allowed. Gas or electric lights must not be scon burning after 10.30 p.m. In addition, tho railway and tram services have been curtailed, and it was understood that the trams were to cease running after 7 p.m. each day.

In his speech at Wanganui on Friday night, Mr Veitch, M.P., explained his position in regard to the local Labour party. If _ people were not satisfied with him, he said, they oould'vote against him. He had always voted as his conscience directed him. Had he been tied to the Labour Party during tho last session ho would have been called upon to vote against his conscience. In many ways the platform of the New aland Labour Party was not objectionable in itself. Another objection was that three or four members of thn Labour Party had violated tho constitution of Labour by preaching Bolshevism from the publio platform. The Chronicle reports that at this point there was uproar and disesnt.

The following- telegram has boen sent by Mr J. A. Young, LLP., to the Minister of Railways: "As a practical farmer and a Minister of the Grown you will bo interested to learn that on Saturday two railway truckloads of beer arrived at Hamilton, while some dairy oows, the pick of New Zealand, with records of 4001b for butterfat, and of an average value of not less than £25 each, now being driven from Taranaki to Paeroa, were lying in a state of collapse within a few miles of Hamilton because railage was refused by your department. Would it be possible immediately to truck the remainder of these oows from Morrinsville to Paeroa? Of the original 104 which set out from Eltham on July 9 sevoral have died on the road, others dropped calves to die, and 20 head—starved, footsore, and broken down— wore left at Otorohanga, being unable to travel further." The Minister has sent the following reply: "I have received your telegram asking- that cattle be railed from Morrinsville and Paeroa. I am having tho matter looked into with a view to seeing if it is possible to meet the case." 'i'ho question of closer union and co-opera-tion among the -churches was discussed by Canon C. A. Tisdali, of Ellerslie, and Mr i'\ V. Frazer, S.JYL, of Wellington, at tho annual meeting of Knox i J resbyterian Church, Paxii-eii. on Wednesday evening. Tho Anglican Bishop of Auckland (Dr Avcrill) had been invited to speak on tho question, but his duties as president of the Diocesan Synod prevented him from attending, and he asked Canon Tisdali to act for him. Mr Frazer referred to the proposed union between the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches, and said that as a member of tho' Anslifuin Church he congratulated those churches 6n tho progress that had been made so far. It was the duty of the church to create a sound public opinion, which would foe of great assistance to the loaders of the country in solving many national problems which wore now arising. He did not mean.that the churches should undertake active politics. The duty of tho church .was not merely to check evil, but it should guide publio opinion on all matters which had for their object advancement of the public welfare. There was a closer unity in many directions at the present time. During the war the various churches had united on many public occasions. The basis of church union must be as broad as possible. If any attempt were made to prescribe a rigid uniformity there would be no successful church union. Canon Tisdali said the fact that Knox Church had invited the bishop of the Anglican diocese to deliver an address was an indication that in New Zealand closer co-operation and a

better understanding among the churches were rapidly becoming an accomplished fact. Ohurch union would not be achieved in a huxrv, but o he believed there was a call to the Christian people throughout the world bo work together in unity and tho bond of peace. He referred to the fact that a conference of all denominations was proposed to be held next year in America, and an endeavour would then be made by the churches to understand one another better. It was of some interpst to know that about half a dozen Anglican clergymen und a' similar number of Presbyterian ministers had already resolved to meet occasionally in the course of the year to discuss matters

of mutual interest to both churches. Thus the way was gradually being prepared towards church union. The Newtown 'bowlers on Saturday night found a good tonic in the interesting speech by Dr Rusk, ex-president of the Irish Bowling Association (says the Wellington Post). The doctor said he considered the game of bowls was a higher education. Bowlers had their dark days as well as their good ones. Be kne# that by the lines on their faces. Dr Rusk tracod the history of bowls in Ireland, but he had to admit, tho best bowls were found in the land of his friend on his left, Mr James Brackenridge— Scotland. The doctor was not enamoured of the crown game, which is played to a largo extent in England. Ho had recently spent 51 weeks in Australia, where he wa's told that he would meet good bowlers in New Zealand. In view of this fact he would endeavour to bring out a 'bowling team to play in the dominion and test his New Zealand friends on the green sward. Dr Rusk was given an orvation at tho conclusion of his interesting remarks. " I don't like your railway system. It is tho most inconvenient, and certainly the slowest, I lulv-o experienced in my travels," said a visitor to New Zealand, who arrived in Wellington from Auckland on Saturday. " Evidently New Zealanders aro a docile people, and will put up with anything for the sake of peace. Coal, I am told, is tho trouble, but it seems to me that there is enough timber going to waste on the run down from Auckland to supply fuel for all the freight haulage that will be required

in this country for years to come. Wliat is wanted is enterprise, and your Congress who controls the freighters don't seem to possess overmuch of it. The railways in thia country are so slow that they cannot conclude the journey before the tickets expire. I made the journey from To Aroha, and it took four days to get to Wellington.

After staying overnight at Palmerston I joined the train in the morning, and when the official came for the ticket he said, after looking at it: ' This is no good; it ran out yesterday.' Sure enough tho ticket was marked ' Only good for three days.' and had another faro been insisted upon I certainly would not have appreciated the joke." " Stranded in Sydney" has 'become almost

a by-word, but it would seem that the term will have to be altered to "Stranded in Napier," judging by tho experiences of a number of travellers who readied Napier by train on Wednesday week en route to Gisborne (says tho Hawke's Bay Herald). On arrival they found that the Arahura's departure had been delayed until tho following day, and they were perforce compelled to seek accommodation in the town. There were aibout a dozen of those wayfarers, including several women, and although thoy made persistent efforts they were met at ervery turn—at all hotels and boardinghouses—with a curt " full up" or "no room." Even an appeal to tho polioe patrol brought no success, and the stranded ones wero compelled to trudge about the streets until tiaylight. It is said that 9ome> found cold comfort in tile tram shelter at Clivo square. Two at least of the victims'were Gisborne returning soldiers who had ah-ea/dy had tho experience of a four 1 a-half mnntils' hold-up in Sydney after reaving tlieir cfeohargo from tho Australian Foroes.

Writing from Scotland early in Juno to friends in New Zealand, Sir Walter Buchanan gives an interesting account of his visit to tho battlefields of France, fioni which he had just returned. On his return to England Sir Walter, in company with Mr Massey, paid several visits to the Shipping Controller and to tho War Office authorities in an endeavour to impress upon them the urgent necessity of sending more vessels to Now Zealand to lift tile immense stores of refrigerated cargoes here awaiting shipment. The difficulties confronted, ho states, made it clear to him how it -was that in, spite of Mr . Massey's incessant ettorts tho number of vessels sent hero had not come up to expectations. As an example of tho oourse of events Sir Walter Buchanan found that out of 20 ships scheduled to leavo London with troops in February .only four had been actually despatched because of strikes at tho London docks which prevented the ships being fitted up. Mr Massey was blamed for this delay, whereas, of course, he was absolutely powerless to contend against such happenings. At the time of writing Sir Walter Buchanan was in excellent health and was greatly enjoying his stay in Scotland.

An interesting addition has been mado by tho Lands Department to the Historical Records collection now in process of iormation by. tho Internal Affairs Department. The collection comprises some of the early correspondence betwtson the various agents of the New Zealand Land Company and tho head ofiico in London, and also passenger lists and ship's manifests of 6uch old sailing vessels as the Adelaide, Theresa, Blundell, Larkins, and Jane of Glaerow. A report for the year 1849 on tho Nelson Settlement, in tho handwriting of Sir F. D. Bell, contains much interesting matter for the historian. S. C. Brees, the surveyor for tho New Zealand Land Company, furnishes his company with a report on the work of his fieldmen and assistants. An item of interest is the fact that 3s 4d per diem was tho standard wage for work of this nature. Certain correspondence in connection with the sale of land in tho Auckland Province records that " under no circumstance is tho prico to exceed Is 6d per acre." Various other documents, manuscripts, and papers prior to 1840 are included in the collection. All contain items of import, and many bear witness to the trials and troubles' encountered by our early colonists. After many vicissitudes, these interesting chapters of tho past have found a permanent resting plajco in tho National Historical Collection.

A State department for the marketing of fish, conducted as a business concern, is recommended in the report of the Royal Comiijission on the Fisheries of Victoria (says the Australasian). The commission states that from the food point of view the fisheries industry is a great public asset, which is not being properly utilised. In the opinion of the commission the City Council's Fish Market should 'be taken over by the State, together with all tho cool storage chambers, and the cooling chambers at fishproducing centres should be purchased. Refrigerating chambers should be erected at other fishing centres. A board, with equal representation for the Government and the fishermen, should bo established, with an independent chairman, to fix annually the wholesale price of fish. The commission further recommends that a trawler be purchased, stating that a suitable steel trawler could be built at an approximate cost of £56,000. Retail shops should be opened by the State, says the report, while inland towns should be given a regular State supply. Municipalities willing to undertake the distribution of fi?h should be allowed to do so.

Trial marriages are to be the thing of the future, according to Mrs Lucy van Tynan, an American suffragist, writer, and lecturer, who is now in London. "I do not mean," said Mrs van Tynan, in an interview, ' that people will actually live together, but they will get to learn one another's habits and peculiarities as nearly as possible before they are actually married. An ideal arrangement, in my mind, woultl be for engaged couplee to live under one roof for at least two months before they were married. Then marriage would hold in store less unpleasant and fewer surprises. At a boarding-house, for instance, one soon learns the habits and temperaments of one's fellows. There are very many unhappy marriages in the United States and in England, and I am firmly convinoed that the main reason of this is that -the young people do not take the trouble to find out each other's true characters before tho wedding day.

Several interesting points in connection with church mission work were mentioned by Bishop Averill in his address to the Synod (says the New Zealand Herald).' "The missionary problems in the Pacific are at the present tima tremendous." he said. " There are still numbers of islands whero the church is doing nothing, and marry more where the work is quite insignificant in proportion to the need. It is most important that Polynesia should be linked up in some way with Australia and New Zealand as a missionary diocese, and that the Cook Islands should come definitely under our spiritual care. Tho ' good old days' of the Melanesian Mission have come to an end, if ever they existed, and if the evangelisation of Melanesia is to be taken seriously in hand ' there mnst at once ba a division of tho diooese into two, if not three, dioofeses." Another question to be faced, said Bishop Averill, was the possibility of giving up the mission ship and attaching one or both dioceses to Australia. The question would probably be decided by a commission which would n>eet in Wellington tlais month.

Sportsmen are reminded that the shooting season for native and imported game closed on Thursday. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of Stone's A.B.C. Guide for August. Don't- be humbugged by the train service—buy a Harley-Davidson Motor Cycle ond motor to business. Immediate delivery. Particulars from W. A. Justice and Cb., 290 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt. Ladies' N.Z. knitted wool hose, the "Peerless," in light and dark grey; 6alo price 3s 6d, postage 2d.—Mollisons Ltd.— Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.—. Advt. The law of success is operating -wonderfully in favour of "No Rubbing" Laundry Help and "Golden Rule" Soap.—Hunter and Etheridge (Ltd.). —Advt Electric Incandescent Lamps, Drawn Wirt,. Metallic Filament. Philips Manufacture. 16, 25, i'i, and 50 candle-power. Prioe, 2s each. Special terms for quantity orders Turnbull and Jones (Ltd.), Electrio Engineers. —Advt. Whisky perfection—Watson's No. 10. the favourite of all who know. Order it.—Advt. Eyestrain!—Consult Mr Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F.LO. (London), consulting and oculists' optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller, etc., 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.