CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 185, 4 February 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE WOOL INDUSTRY". The second wool sale of the season held, at Auckland last week must be token as an index of the state of the market. At the previous sale n large quantity had been -held 'back owing In labor troubles, so that the number of bales offering was larger than usual, but it is gratifying ,to note that a" good clearance was effected at prices —e«jn uially for lambs' wool—thai clearly allowed that the producers are on a good wicket this .season. Those who follow closely the question of supply and demand were confident that the season would be profitable, to the growers. There was a disposition at the commencement of the season to pull prices down, but it was well known that there was an unsatisfied demand on the Home market, and that American requirements would be much greater than last year. Moreover, local consumption is growing year iby year, and the world's supply, instead of keeping pace with the growth of population, lias receded. The present .state of the money market is also a factor in keeping up tho prices of wool, so that the outlook for those who have shipped their staple to the London market is decidedly bright. Unfortunately the producer's liave not yet learned the value of putting tip their wool in a. satisfactory manner. ; The consequence is that the produce not only leads to complaints bv the purchasers, but there is a loss in the price paid. It .is a. long-standing evil that long before this should have been eradicated. In most centres instruction is given in wool-classing, and it has proved a great boon to the pupils, as well as a source of prolit. American buyers are just as much averse to badly got-up wool as are the Continental or Home consumers, and to alienate any section of purchasers is a fatal error. The same

care, skill and attention should be given to placing wool on file market as has been found to be necessary in the case of dairy produce. Tho sooner tJie delinquents mend their ways the better it will be for the prosperity of the wooi industry.

PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNAL. It was almost inevitable that the new conditions consequently upon the appointment of the Civil "Service Commissioners, the need of an ollicial organ to voice the feelings ami grievnnces of those engaged in the public, service should : be felt and acted uptm! Few people will, therefore, be surprised at the appearunc of a new monthly journal, "The Public Service," which will be devoted primarily to the interests of public servants, and we should say thaithere is a wide, field for the legitimate work of such a journal, which >hou!d have a career of success and usefulnu-ss if the standard set in the opening issue be maintained. In the ineivtable editorial that outlines the policy to be pursued it is very properly made clear that the. journal knows no politics nor political parties. "There are many in the service," says the journal, "who can wield a hefty pen; we wish to hear from them. We want articles on any and every subject of general interest to members of the service. We want comments and criticisms on administrative acts or methods, high or low; criticisms of officers'methods, and suggestions for the general improvement of the service.! For the honor of the service and the errdit to your journal, let your language be temperate and vonr facts always sure." Conducted on th".-;e lines the ■""v: pi-n'icatiou should be of great a.-.-sMawe to the service, and we'winh it •very success.

CA.YITFA" ISUIBF.S. The! enquiry that is now proceeding « iu Kngland relative to the transactions between Upton's linn and those responsible for canteen stores, reveals nothin • that is at all new in the business. It is, however, somewhat amusing to find that the manager of the firm's department which is concerned with army eontracts seemed to make a practice 'of ini pressing 011 the employees who wished for business tiiat commissions paid V< the firm were not 'bribes. There is not tho slightest doubt that the canteen ollicers did not regard tlio money received from the contractors in any way as a bribe. From long usage the tolls levied in this way came to bo looked upon •« perquisites. This custom of paint-oiling in order to secu.ro contracts has been in existence for very many years, and, reprehensible as it is, was a lixed instiln- j tion that acted a.s n great incentive' to non-coms, to attain and'retain the positions in which tliis extra grit came to their mill. Of course, the system whi.di permits what is practically the levying of blackmail is utterly bad. In the first place, neither the country which pays the bill nor tile men who consume the provisions get proper value for the cost, and tlien it place* the contractors entirely at the mercy of the canteen authorities. Now tlifyt tho scandal has been ventilated, the remedy should be easy, and its prompt application should not be delayed;