CURRENT TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3620, 5 November 1920, Page 5

CURRENT TOPICS.

(By Argus.) The energy and enthusiasm of the respective partisans of continuance and no-license was a pronounced feature of the prohibition campaign in Scotland. The results made known so""far concern only Glasgow and Aberdeen. Four in Glasgow voted no-license, nine Jor limitation of licenses, and twentyfour for continuance. So far as the results ar-i concerned generally, the no- s license votes were on the basis of one j

to four for continuance. The result of J the poll, in view of the great efforts j made by the partisans of each issue, ; cannot be regarded as encouraging by the no-license advocates. The voting in other municipalities may be different, i but it is not feasible that outside of Glasgow the no-license vote will be any* stronger, * j

The result of the American Presidential election, on the returns so far received, is a surprisingly overwhelming majority for the Republican candidate; but we cannot accept the figures as they stand as final. The cables have so faf only indicated the big Eepublican majorities, and IF is easy to gauge that the news control is Republican in sentiment. It would' not be surprising, when the final "results are published, to find that the Republican majority has dwindled to a great, extent. The issue does not appear to be in doubt in any way, as it seems certain that the Republican candidate has won; but we have yet to learn what the real extent of his majority will be. It cannot be assumed, as the cabled news indicates, that the Democratic candidate has been overwhelmingly defeated everywhere, and there will be some surprises when the Democratic vote is made known. i

Mr. Hawken 's reference in the Souse on Saturday to short-weight goods, "which are sold under the implication that the tins and packets contain the correct weights, should Tesult in legislation to prevent any implication that the packets or tins contain full weight. For instance, if a pound of jam is asked for. a tin is supplied which does not contain a pound, but the deficiency is made up by including the weight of the tin. The deficiency in the weight of the content is sometimes as much as three ounces, but the manufacturers protect themselves legally by having the net weight printed on the label. Where it Is likely to be implied that the net weight is one pound —and it is so in the case of such tins —the manufacturers should be com.pelled to provide one pound net weight.

'lt was recently remarke! by Judge Beeby, of New South Wales,, that the principle of basing wages on the cost of living will be put to its real test when a fall in prices brings up the matter of reducing wages. That difficulty lies in the future, but may be nearer than some expect. In the American woollen mills they Inve come to it r and the crisis is being mot. in the only possible way. The drop in the value of woollens has forced the mills either to close down or carry on with

reduced wages. The difficulty has been solved by the voluntary consent of the i workers to accept cuts in wages of 15 to 20 per cent. r in order to keep the mills running. Otf* the 'Other -hand, it t was reported recently that ex-munition! workers in Great Britain have refused to work for a reduction in wages, and were living on the savings of a~n ih.4 ■flated period. • ~ ■ ...'i