Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9123, 16 April 1908, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

THERE appears to be no limit to the wiles of the middleman. It is his business to make profit on his transactions and he svill effect this even under the most difficult conditions. According to some experts the recent shortage in our butter export was due to the middlemen performing what is called the “swinging over dodge.” The method adopted was ingenious. They bought outputs up to the end of March, and had closed contracts with Home firms at prices ranging from to and then prices went up in the Dominion to such amounts as and 14d, and the operators lessened their exports and sold butter in New Zealand at these prices, taking the chances of meeting the claims of Home purchasers for shortage on contracts. The Homo firms would claim for the short&ge on contracts at the difference between the price the contract stipulated they should pay and what the produce was worth in the Home market. This would work out at f-rom %d to per lb, so that the operators reaped the balance or difference ffietweeu this and the prices ruling in New Zealand.

THE London Times, in commenting on our labour legislation, remarks that Australian and New Zealand experiments du compulsory arbitration as a means of avoiding strikes aud creating permanent harmony between masters and men have not yet proved to be valuable, and even if successful, the methods are not necessarily applicable to English conditions where the machinery of society is far more complicated. That strikes have not taken place since the Act was passed until -quite recently is perfectly true aud may, perhaps, be credited to the existence of the Act, though the absence of strikes has been chiefly due to the tact that the demands of labour have been granted so readily that there was no excuse for strikes. But the idea that the Arbitration Act has done anything towards creating permanent harmony between masters and men is almost ludicrous. The intention of the framer of the Act was that when a dispute -existed which seemed likely to end an a strike it should be dealt with by the Conciliation Board. But the practical working of the Act has been far different from expectations. Disputes within the meaning of the Act have been. perennial and no sooner have masters aud men become accustomed to one award than new demands have been put forward under the inspiration of paid agitators. The other day when the labourers’ dispute came before the Conciliation Board at Wanganui aud employers stated that they had no dispute with their men, the chairman of the Board pointed out that as men in Wellington had made a claim for higher wages the whole Wellington district was involved. The Act might, in fact, be described as one to prevent any permanent harmony between masters and men.

ELTHAM is happy and jubilant, and the Press Association agent there gleefully telegraphed to the papers in an admiring Dominion that in three years its valuation has Almost doubled, the assessment being increased from £176,000 to £288,000. lit is not stated whether Eltham land has become more productive or property is yielding more to its owners, but if these things have not occurred then Eltham deserves condolence rather than congratulation. Land speculators of course, may be overjoyed at a fictitious value being placed on properties, but to the man who has to use the land or look to the property for revenue, the increase means more rates and taxes. Under the existing conditions of the markets it would be healthier for Eltham ratepayers if the valuations were lower than they were three years ago when prices were higher and trade brisker.