The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1917. POST WAR TRADE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 5 January 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1917. POST WAR TRADE.

(With which is incorporated The Taihape Post and Waimariuo News).

In a discussion on post-war trade in these columns on Wednesday, figures were quoted showing that Germany had outstripped all her rivals and had left Great Britain hopelessly behind as a competitor in the markets of Europe; that British products were going to distant regions which 1 she was able to reach betler than Germany owing to her supremacy on the seas; that Germany had been working and organising to come to grips with Britain for the possession of those trans-qcean markets, which would carry with them the mastership of the seas and the kingship of the commerce of the world. This prize was so near to attainment that Germany developed an over-eagerness, and she took Avhat appeared a safe short cut, missed her foothold and lost everything. This blunder, however, should not prevent us asking ourselves what would have happened had Germany discreetly kept to the organised methods that had proved so successful in gaining for her the markets of Europe. New Zealand is vitally concerned in this question because -her people are booming, by unwise fiscal and domestic policy, more and more dependent on other parts of the world for their every-day needs. T< is proclaimed that her farmers do not even grow wheat sufficient to feed the ran-idly-growing population. Industries languish and gradually die out, or become so enfeebled that they scarcolv count in the country's production. No "no seems to trouble to take stens to inform taxoayers of the real position; few politicians meet and discuss

matters among themselves, and as 'hov too often consist of a preponderance of men deeply concerned in seaberne traffic, the country's interests are subordinated to theirs, and so we eenfinue to- ovist in a fool's paradise. True it is that Germain- has failed in her first effort, bm im rmp can sav

what v>« j P ft f 0 npr r>f\ev war. T < is known that in

th*™ «"e millions of

tons of m<" , " Ti ' , nrKs« a ottpli as New Zealand ha° been \t) the past. waitinsr to Vri "nt the shins rhe now "'"am'ns; "-> and <rettin£ in- ■ o a. sea-e-oi-io; condition. This, then.

brings us to what the London Chamber of Commerce recommends as being of very urgent importance. It is obvious that the conquest of the world can be bloodlessly consummated by a trade war just as thoroughly as by such bloody orgies as are now proceeding. Germany has demonstrated this and yet we go on spending millions in organising for the latter and do not think it worth while to spend a farthing, or give a thought even, to the former. The consequences Avill fall heavily if Germany can only manage to scheme a peace that will enable her to put into operation once more her highly organised trading methods. She will not make a second blunder of the kind, and it was a disastrous miscalculation only that resulted in that which she is now paying the penalty for. Germany thought the short cut would only mean a triumphal march over .Belgium and France, a subsequent occupation of Holland, and world domination was in sight. Trade was the motive; she had captured the great competitive markets, and was ready to challenge England for those overseas. So far as New Zealand is from old manufacturing countries, to refrain from doing anything to make her people self-sup-porting seems like holding the country up as a prize for sea powers to compete for. A foreign meat trust may control our meat, another may capture our wool, and we have little else to boast about. Wheat-growers want to put prohibitive prices on their product because, as they contend, there is not enough grown to properly feed our own people. We have nothing else; we prefer to satisfy all our other needs with "made in Germany," or made in some other foreign land goods. There is a deal of talk about preferential trade within the Empire, but what part in the discussion of the question have New Zealanders taken? None, because they have not realised the supremely vital importance of it.

The next war for world domination will not be a bloody one, and what are we doing to equip New Zealand for the other kind? At present all our energies seem to be devoted to making our country the easiest prey in the world —a ripe plum ready to drop into the lap of the strongest competitor for oversea trade. We are annually sending millions of our money to foreign countries for goods that we might with ease and incalculable advantage make for ourselves. We thoughtlessly contribute to national suicide by ail insane desire to perambulate in foreign made goods, we even prefer to eat preserved food and fruit from the factories of other countries rather than that fresh and wholesome from our own gardens, and no one warns us of our insane preferment simply because it is in the interests of the wealthy shipping companies that the old order of things should not be disturbed. While leaders in this country take no steps to educate the masses here, the London Chamber of Commerce is mov-

ing strongly to secure the change that is essential,.to the Empire's existence, but if New Zealanders desire | to be something more than an Empire I appendage they will have to engage in a. trade and produce organisation that will rescue.them from a dependance upon foreign factories for very nearly all iheir'needs excepting' wool and meat, both,, op which now seem fairly on the way to being taken out of this country's control by foreignerwho realise the importance and the absolute and imperative need of such organisation as is herein urged. The only post-war trade organisation we have in sight is that of the trust character, excepting, perhaps, a movement in Christchurch headed by Mr Frostick. Fanners are moving in the direction of organisation and education, but trade and industry languish because our people do not realise their 'importance, perhaps because nobodj takes the trouble to inform him.

A total of 7570 officers, non-commis-sioned officers and men of the New Zaeland land forces had returned to khW Dominion at the end of November last; of whom 1091 had returned to duty/ and 60S0 had been discharged or gazetted out of the reserve. A famous brain surgeon, whoso reputation is world-wide, has given up his practice and gone to an advanced dressing station in France, where he works on scalp and head wounds. He has saved scores of lives by his wonderful surgery. After a big engagement the other day ho kept at Ins work until he fainted.

An interesting cablegram has been

shown to the CMsbornc Times by a local wholesale draper. It is related to a shipment of goods valued at between £I4OO and £ISOO. which had been sent forward to him by a London house. Th e goods are chiefly lines whihe belong to a Manchester department. His principals at Home cabled that if he would return them to London they would pay all costs and allow him a premium of 25 per cent, on their value. Thig would seem to indicate an increasing shortage in certain lines of goods at Home.

An engine-driver for a mill is wanted at Gavey's Rangitikei Labour Bureau, Taihape.

Mr D. J. McLennan will soil at the Tui street mart, under instructions from Sergeant-Major Tuckey, who is leaving for the front, the whole of his household furniture and effects. The sale (Starts at 2 o'clock sharp. Full particulars will be found in an advertisement on page 8.

For the New Zealand Bowling Association's tournament next week there are so many entries that fourteen grounds will be used, places as far away as the Hutt and Petone having been requisitioned. In >order to shorten play in the singles and pairs each competitor must drop out after two losses.

A message from Copenhagen states that the frontier newspapers announce a mysterious disease called marmalade cancer, appearing in the north of Germany. It is especially prevalent among children, 50 dying daily. The disease is believed to have been caused by Germain- 's food substitutes.

An important announcement from the Government wool advisory commit tee with regard to the requisition of sheepskins appears on page 1 of today's issue, in which particulars of the registration of all persons owning fell-mongering and wool-scouring works, who are desirous of operating for the Government. The date of registration is January Id, 1917.

As illustrating the present congestion of dairy produce the Hawcra, Riverdale, and Kaupokonui companies have made arrangements to store their cheese in the main hall of the Winter Show buildings in Hawcra, and already stocks have begun to arrive, says a Taranaki correspondent. It is estimated that th c hall will hold comfortably 12,000 crates of cheese. The building is to be thoroughly ventilated, electric fans will be provided and all skylights darkened.

It ig concluded that there will be no coal strike in thc Dominion in the near future, thc ground on which that is based being the fact that employers are

well prepared. The Government was ready and the employers generally were not idle. For instance, the other day 7000 tons of coal arrived at Wellington and 6000 tons at Duncdin from Japan—and there is more to follow. The Bogey of Conscription has failed to materialise in a strike, and preparations made by the I.W.W. and Eed Fed watersiders and coalminers last month apparently have been in vain.

Mr Home,, Inspector of Permanent Way at Ohakune, who has been in indifferent health for some time past, was admitted to the kosjutal for medical treatment yesterday, but, we are sorry to learn, he was past human aid, and died this morning shortly after 9 o'clock. Mr Home, who was greatly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends in Ohakune and dis•triet, and particularly by members of his staff, has held his present appointment for about five years. He leaves a widow and large family, some of who,nu_JioltL_.iiQs.ifipns_ in the Bail way Department. To the widow and family we extend our sympathy in their recent bereavement.

The dairying industry is in a flourishing condition in the Wairarapa. Everywhere the factories are working early and late to deal with the large quantities of milk coming forward. The dairy farmers are reluctant to admit, however, that they are doing well. "The butter-fat prices ar e good, I'll admit," said one dairyman, "but look at the rise in the price of everything that a farmer wants on the farm. Take fencing wire. We can't do without wire, and it has doubled itself over and over again." "How much wire have you bought since the wan started?" the visitor enquired. "Oh, I've bought none myself. I'm- making the old stuff do. -''

Writing to his mother, Mrs W. J. /Surgen'or, of Otakcho, Taranaki, Pte. W. Surgenor, now a prisoner of war in Turkey, K ays: "Fever i s almost finished here. It was nothing very serious in old prisoners, though new ones fared badly. The heat is very trying to anyOne who is off colour. We would give 5s for a loaf of bread, a pound of butter or jam or syrup. Butter here is 4s a pound, jam is bad, and syrup unobtainable. The New Zealand High Commissioner is sending us 20 piastres (3/1) per week, also parcels of comforts and anything we want. I asked for boots and trousers. Have received no parcels or money from New Zealand yet. Parcels are always delayed. Fruit here is plentiful and cheap." The letter was written on September 17.

A British Government official just returned from the front tells of how he was robbed of his portmanteau, which he had put down in the railway station while lie was studying the time-table. Oddly enough, the next day he met a man dressed in a suit which he at ouce recognised, and tackled him. The thief confessed, and offered to return the portmanteau if he might keep the suit of clothes. The official, not wishing to be detained in Paris, agreed, and a short time afterwards received the portmanteau. Glad to get out of the affair so well he hurried to catch his train for Havre, and when comfortably seatcd discovered that the rascal had eased him of his watch and chain.