NOTES AND COMMENTS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 520, 6 April 1920, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION In last issue the "Times'' dwelt in its leading columns on the question of high prices, and advocated practicint!' the art of doing without, and at the same time producing more, in order to equalise supply and demand. We are evidently in good company in respect to our views on economic problems, as witness the following piragraph published yesterday in a daily paper. It may be as well t > point out that the author uses the word '"consumption" in its widest sense, giving it the same meaning as ih l : verb "use," an-1 applying it to foodstuffs, clothing, and all commodities:— "We must produce mo.e and consume less" said Mr. Harold Beanchamp, chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, in discussing the inflation of currency. There was, he was convinced, no royal road to the delation of ihe existing unwieldy iv>te issue. Deflation could only be seemed as the lesult of increased production on the part of every section (f the community and general economy. If these changes could be b: ought about, they would be followed by supplies of commodities more closely approaching the demand and, as a natural consequence prices would fall. At the same time the purchasing power of the sovereign would increase and the note issme would proportionately decrease."

RETURNED SOLt :ER TEACHERS. Though pi'uKtblv " '''i ■'l by the very best of ii.l"i'.' ion-. tiit* Education Board has ad< pted .•• absolutely wrong policy in > .mhl returned soldier teachers. Tin• men have been constantly on the move duiing the campaign, and have l.ad ne vc strains that civilians rarely have t«. suffer. The best possible state for them is that of being quietly and permanently settled down, where ihey may secu.e homes and conquer ihe wanderlust and general restiveress that war induces. But the lioard, no doubt thinking to give the nen an easy enough time for a year >r so, have put many ex-soldiers on he relieving stalf: they travel lr.»m me place to another and are never cttled: it is the worst possible medicine for war-harras-ed tempera•ienis, and should, be reversed. Let he staid, settled teacher be sent nunc! the country, imbibing fresh \leas and enjoying a new environment. But the war-worn soldier—'et him be allowed to fix his camp '>i some place where it may stay, for re has become si<'k unto death of continually being driven from one .pot to another and having no staI ilitv anywhere.