MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, 10 January 1919, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

In and around Palmerston growers ' are disappointed with their fruit ami j tomato crops. In consequence of the i prolonged session of unseasonable wen- ’ tlier experienced these .crops are in a j very backward condition. The tipple i trees, for instance, bear promise of but little fruit, while from all appearane.es j tomatoes tire.anything from four to six J weeks behind Ike schedule of other years. Why are potatoes so dear? Er-om inquiries made bv us (says a Dunedin exchange) it would appear that the answer is simply because sufficient quantities of them cannot be obtained. The lateness of the local .season is a big ' 5 i factor in bringing about this state of ' affairs, and relief from the North Island . and Australia is rendered difficult—almost, impossible—by the lack of transport facilities. There few, if any, old potatoes lit for table use, so that tiie public are, as it were, iu a cleft, stick. We understand lhat. efforts are being made through the Minister for Munitions to obtain priorty of loading for potatoes and onions'in the case of of the' Ivaiapoi, which is at present loading at Melbourne, if this can be done it will relievo the situation considerably, and tide us over until our own supply is available in quantities. To give an idea of the demand it may bo mentioned that. Auckland new potatoes were sold at, 3/>! to Id per lb wholesale the other morning, and Oamaru and Peninsula, freshly gathered, at old. Some unknown person received a‘deserving thrashing at the hands of a Mastcrton citir.cn oil Saturday night. The. said citizen, accompanied by a friend, was walking along the footpath ) near the Queen's Hotel, when a large stone whizzed between them, hurled by someone in the rear. The fright acted as a spur to avenge the narrow escape, and the two citizens gave chase. The culprits made, a speedy exit down a right-of-way, ayt! hid'themselves in an adjoining yard. The pursuers, however. were nor to be denied, and eventually unearthed one of the offenders, who was given’ the punishment his offence deserved and compelled to gs on his knees and offer an appropriate apology. Mastcrton is one of the few townships in New Zealand which not only encourages but heartily supports the Chinese tradesman. The market gardens are entirely in the hands of Chinamen. the fruit trade is largely controlled by them, the laundries, with one or two exceptions, are in their hands. From whence do they derive their support.’ Go into a Chinaman’s shop on any day or night of the week, and one will find them filled with working men, wives, and children. Yes, the people who clamour for a “white New Zealand,’’ who loudly deprecate low wages, -and who are staunch supporters of the eight-hour movement, are the best customers the Chinaman has. The time will come when the “yellow menace” will cause us'serious trouble.’' What docs the working man intend doing about the matter? —“'Age.”