NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 July 1919, Page 5

NOTES AND COM MENTS.

FIXED FOR THE FUTURE. Will General Godley undertake tie . greatest adventure of his life by returning to New Zealand? This has been a question much discussed by soldiers and civilians alike since the days of the first encampment of our boys in Egypt. It looks as if the question has (been answered* in a irianner satisfactory alike "to one of the most unpopular of commanders, to the men who were under him, and to the general public of New Zealand. It is reported from London that General Godley was offered, and accepted, a command of one of the army corps that is to keep the watch on the Rhine. COVERING EUROPE'S FEET. There is evidently no chance of the | cost of boots and shoes coming dawn. I A cable message from London states that a contract has been completed on j behalf of New South Wales foot- | wear manufacturers to supply Allied Europe with more than 100,000 pairs of Australian boots of military pattern. The deliveries will extend over twelve months. A hint of this possibility has been going through the factories of Australia ever since the close of the war, but the explanation given was that several private firms were pre-

pared to exploit the English market as (the' (returning' soldiers showed hiow much cheaper boots were in London than in Melbourne or Sydney. We have heard returned soldiers in New j Zealand make tne same remark, in comparing "London and Wiellingt'on and Auckland. It has also been reported recently that New Zealand boot manufacturers are about to exploit the markets of England, one Wellington firm having already sent Home a trial . shipment of 1000 pairs of boots. It I does not look from these indications ag 'j if standardised boots'promised by our ? Board of Trade is going to cover New i Zealand feet: Fancy our footwe'ar go- ■■ • ing to Fritz's feet. \ ' . v; CASH OE CRTDIT. j President Wilson has uttered .a great deal of idealism in reference to Europe, : j and so long as he was doing it only at' ! Europe's expense he pushed for the acceptance of his Mgh-flown sentiments for all he was worth. He does not, however, appear ready to do this at America's expense, and though he urged Britain, France, and Italy to be generous to Germany, and to help her all they could, he has evidently forgotten to preach the same gospel to his fellow countrymen. A cable states that New York merchants from whom Germany has been endeavouring to buy goods refuse to accept payment in kind, or to extend credit, but require "cash on the nail." No one can blame the New Yorkers, for this; he would be a trusting person who would give credit to Germany or deal with her on any a cash basis. But it will be interesting to see whether President Wilson will sermonise them on the matter. He was at all times ready to impress the need for generosity on others, but he had a very shrewd regard at the same time for the interests of American ti-ade, and very sel-' dom suggested that anything should be done at its expense.