The Otago Witness WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY (TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1931.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 43

The Otago Witness WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY (TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1931.) THE WEEK.

“Nunquatn allud natura, allud sapientia dixit.** -Juvenal. “Good nature and good sense must ever join.”-* Pope.

Parliament Meets.

The session which commenced on Thurs-

day has more than usual significance for the people of the Dominion. Even

those who usually feel there is too much government, and who will point out, with more than a grain of justification, that parliaments do not solve economic crises, must be interested when they know that Parliament is going to be asked materially to increase taxation and in other ways to place an extra burden on the shoulders of most New Zealanders. From the point of view of the amount of business to be done, the session is not overloaded, but there are some debatable measures to come before the House which may be expected to provoke considerable discussion and to prolong the sitting. The Prime Minister hopes that Parliament may be able to rise at the end of eight weeks, and doubtless there will be many to share that hope, but it will be a somewhat remarkable tribute to the restraint of hon. members if two months actually are all that are required in order to complete the business of Parliament. Apart from legislative proposals affecting the economic situation that is being faced, the legislation to come before Parliament is not important, and should not occupy much time; but the taxation and unemployment relief schemes will give the House sufficient excuse to wage wordy war indefinitely unless good sense prevails, as it failed to do at the emergency session.

The “ Hoover 'Plan.’’

The recent announcement of the United

States President of the willingness of his country to consent to a “ war

debts holiday ” of a year’s duration, conditional upon the Allied nations foregoing reparations payments from Germany for that period, has set tlje world thinking and talking. In its aims the proposal is sound, and its terms can be described as generous, even though it is realised that the offer has not been made purely out of generosity,. but represents the admission of the ■United States that she cannot remain

aloof from European problems, or continue prosperous when Europy is poor. The burden of which the Allied nations and Germany would be relieved for a year is very considerable, and would give, tremendous assistance to many a shaky budget. Germany in particular is in circumstances little short of desperate, which are threatening the stability of the republic, and even if the reparations burden Jias not altogether brought about this condition, it represents one of the big factors militating against a recovery. The only country which appears to be likely to create difficulties is France. The. French people are not—and this fact must be remembered—well-disposed towards Germany in the first place; secondly, France is in receipt of the lion's share of the unconditional reparations payments from Germany, and for economic reasons naturally does not wish to be deprived of the annuity at a difficult period; thirdly, France’s war debt to Great Britain has previously been revised on terms advantageous to the republic. The French Government has, however, made conditional acceptance of the proposals, and it is probable that the weight of international opinion will'influence it in coming to reasonable terms that will allow France to take a part in making effective this wonderful co-operative plan.

Defence.

The question of national defence has I

come into some proniinonce in view of the com-

mencement that has been made with the recruiting of volunteers in New Zealand and the opinions expressed at the Returned Soldiers’ Association’s conference. With much talk of international peace and great achievements made, in the bringing of the pacific ideal more into touch with the practical considerations governing the conduct of nations, it is perhaps a pity that the necessity for the maintenance of an efficient defence force has to be stressed, but those who are most clearly apprised of the work that is being done for peace would probably be the first to admit that armies and navies cannot yet be dispensed with—forces, that is, which provide a reasonable security against surprise attack, and which can serve as it were as a guarantee that any untoward militaristic movement will be cheeked and punished. The abolition of compulsory military training in New Zealand was, in view of the finances of the country, a necessary act, but not necessarily a cause for rejoicing, and it is gratifying to know that the,attempt to substitute a voluntary system is progressing satisfactorily. From the point of view of real efficiency, of esprit de corps, a volunteer service has a distinct advantage over compulsorilyrecruited , units, but it is unfortunate that the slackers are thus given an opportunity of escaping training which would, if nothing else, benefit them physically, and the lack of funds will prove a serious deterrent to the obtaining of the best results. It is to be hoped that employers of labour and veterans’ organisations will encourage the younger generation to view the new system enthusiastically, and that the suggestion of the R.S.A. conference that a commission should be appointed to examine the whole question of New Zealand military training in relation to Imperial defence will not be overlooked by the Government.

“ Irritation Tactics.” s

The phrase “ irritation tactics,” which has been applied to

certain labour union manifestations in New Zealand in recent days,

appears to be adequately expressive. On the West Coast the irritation which the miners experience at seeing a few of their fellows seriously setting out to work what is virtually their own coal mine has relieved itself by deplorable symptoms—boycotting, which even was applied to a picture theatre attended by the children of the offending miners, and “ demonstrations.” The cause of complaint is stated to be the so-called tribute system, to which the miners have long been opposed, but they can make out a very unconvincing case. There is, indeed, no suggestion of the tribute system in the terms upon which a party of miners has secured a lease of certain coal areas. The coal that is won becomes their own on payment of an agreed sum in respect of it, and they can dispose of it as they wish. What the union probably does object to is that these miners are suspected of becoming “ capitalists ” in a small way. The “ irritation tactics ” of the waterside workers at certain ports, who have been refusing to work overtime, presumably as a protest at wage reductions, are equally well described. The public which has had to accept reductions in income in one way or another all round, must be finding it difficult to exquse these deliberate attempts to cripple industry at a time when the necessity is for everybody to make an extra effort to meet the depression bravely.

The Position in Australia.

The Federal Government has been con-

fronted with serious internal difficulties since the Premiers’ Conference

agreed to act in conformity with the recommendations of an expert committee for the financial rehabilitation in Australia. The plan calls for debt conversion, a 20 per cent, reduction in costs of government, including a 20 per cent, reduction in wages, and the reduction of pensions, in addition to which substantial additional revenue is

to be obtained by increased Federal taxation. The proposals which aim at taxation increases probably are not unacceptable to Labour in Australia, but wage and .-pension reductions are distinctly unpopular. Two resignations have occurred from the Federal Cabinet, although the Federal Labour executive has given grudging assent to the plan, and the Labour Government in Victoria is being gravely embarrassed by objectors. It is, unfortunately for Labour, an integral part of the plan that it shall be carried out in all its clauses, and Mr Scullin is evidently determined to keep his word. In this he has the general support of the Opposition, and therefore his Government, despite its discord, is fairly safe for the present. Of more immediate interest is the latest- proposal of the ebullient Mr Lang, of New South W ales, who desires to impose an exorbitant tax on wages and salaries, entirely without regard to the effect that heavy additional taxation will have on industry. And again Mr Lang seems to be falling foul of the Legislative Council, which so far he has been unable to suppress. Mr Lang is the most irresponsible and incalculable factor in Australian politics to-day, and the people of the State must hope that the Legislative Council will continue to act as a brake on his extravagances.

Standardised Cheese.

New Zealand dairy farmers have learned

by rather painful experience the truth of that fact, frequently em-

phasised, but none the less unescapable on that account, that Dominion produce for overseas consumption must be of only one quality, the best. The two years’ experiment in the export of standardised cheese has established definitely that this product is not wanted in Great Britain. It has been a rather costly experiment, especially for the reason that the prestige of New Zealand cheese in England has not remained unimpaired, and the market lias become less secure in consequence. It is, of course, possible to argue that standardised cheese is . excellent cheese, but, unfortunately, that is not the point. The circumstances are that, good or bad, it is not popular with the British consumer, and that cheese from foreign countries has been obtaining the market. Apparently this fact has nothing to do with the present low prices for dairy produce at Home, which is a reflection of the general depression, but it is one to be borne in mind in the future. Now that the experiment has been discontinued it were somewhat idle to ask why it was' persevered with so long. The important thing is to see that no other departures of doubtful merit should be made.

From observations and investigations made, it is reported by the Southland limes that the mysterious hakawai heard by the mutton-birders this season is none other than the Australian white cuckoo. This bird, which possesses a great wing spread in proportion to its size, has been found in Southland previously. Thu drumming noise made by the bird m accounted for in the construction of the wings.

Following the incident of a Gonville resident being relieved of £270 by confidence men at the winter show, a brutal assault took place on Friday evening on a single man named White, residing in Harrison street, Wanganui. 'White staggered into the Auto Electric Service Station in Ridgway street at 8.30 with his face covered with blood and collapsed on the floor. He complained of having been struck three times on the head and kicked. He had no recollection where the assault occurred, but remembered being in an hotel. He had been on relief works, and a sum of £l5 had been sent him to pay his passage to Australia. He was robbed of this.

The secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr O. L. Ferens) stated on his return from the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association on Friday evening that the conference was the largest ever held in New Zealand, no fewer than 54 delegates from all parts of New Zealand being present. The eight remits which were sent forward by the Dunedin Association had all been upheld. The conference, he said, had been marked by the earnestness shown by the delegates to meet and cope with the present economic situation, and he believed that excellent work had been done in the interests of returned soldiers.

A daring attempt was made on Friday night to enter the premises of Mr J. Mortensen, jeweller, in the main business area of Palmerston North. A large front window was smashed and three watches, of the total value of £lO. were taken from a tray.' The thief was evidently disturbed in the midst of his operations, as other valuable jewellery within arm’s reach was left untouched. A gimlet was found in the door next to the lock.

The Wairarapa Secondary Education Board on Wednesday night elected Mrs T. R. Barren to the chair of the board, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Thomas Jordan. In accepting the position Mrs Barrer said that she could not say she accepted it with as much pleasure as she might have done had the circumstances been different, still she would do her best, and she yielded to no one in her interest in education. Mr Jordan’s resignation was formally received by the board. “ I’ve heard him described as a perfect chairman,” observed Mrs Barrer, in moving that the resignation be received with the very greatest regret.