CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 266, 20 April 1915, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE FROZEN MEAT DIFFICULTY. It would not surprise us to learn that some part of the trouble that has arisen over the despatch of frozen meat has been due to a> misunderstanding on the part of tlie Imperial authorities, who have now requisitioned all the refricr er . ating space on British steamers trading between Australasia and the United Kingdom. The Imperial Government is looking at this matter from the point of view of the War Office rather than from that of the New Zealand farmer The War Office wants all the beef and cheese that it can get; it will take a certain quantity of mutton, and it has no use at all for lamb. The Imperial authorities, then, find it hard to understand why New Zealand wants to send away great ' quantities of lamb in a hurry, and why lamb and mutton should be sent when beef is available. From their point of view lamb is a luxury which can be spared in times of war, and they conceive it would be better if New Zealand let the lambs grow into sheep, thus increasing the amount of meat available for the purposes of the Em.pii'e. The New Zealand farmer can supply a ready reply to arguments of this kind. He knows that there will be a heavy loss, and not a gain, if the lambs are not got iuto the freezing chambers when they are'fat, and that his system of farming will not permit him to hold his lambs for any prolonged period. Doubtless these considerations are being urged upon the attention of the Imperial authorities by the New Zealand Government, but it may be hard to make the situation plain to very much I preoccupied men in London. 'the demand for cheese will go on expanding as long as the war lasts, and the producers may get even higher prices than they are now commanding. The War Office is using enormous quantities of cheese for feeding the troops at the front and in Britain, and some usual sources of supply are seriously affected by the war. '

LOCAL AND IMPERIAL INDUSTRY. One result of tlie war has been a remarkable quickening of the sentiment in favor of local and imperial industry. New Zealand manufacturers are not being slow to realise that a special effort on their part is likely to give them an important share of business that belonged previously to foreigners, and they are moving with the. object of grasping tlie opportuinty that war has offered them "Business men all over New Zealand have been realising this year that the time is opportune for a' special effort on behalf of local industries," states a circular that has been distributed among manufacturers in connection with one effort of-the kind. "TheNvar has given the community a new conception o'f local and Imperial patriotism. Public sentiment has been awakened, to national aspects of trade and industrv scarcely recognised previously by the great mass of tho public. Buyers and consumers of all classes are turning away from the foreign-made article and demanding the goods that are produced within the Empire. The new national spirit is good for local industries. It is tending to 'promote the use of goods produced with- I in the Empire, to check imports from without the Empire, and to put money into the pockets of New Zealand anil British manufacturers. But business men have to recognise that sentiment alone will not suffice to keep the tide of trade flowing in their direction.' They must take active, prompt and effective measures in order to seize and hold the advantages that the great war lias placed within their reach." The mamifac- | turer must move quickly, for the feeling aroused by the war may not live very long after the conclusion of peace. It is not likely that the prejudice against German and Austrian goods will survive very long after the nations have resumed

their normal activities and their ordinary intercourse. But the New Zealand business man can score by ■taking full advantage of this opportunity to show the people of the Dominion that it is to their advantage to support their own industries. Incidentally lie is likely to become an advocate of Imperial trade preference.

STAVING OFF A HEAVY LIABILITY. Work on the the new Parliamentary Buildings in ' Wellington has been practically at a standstill for many months past, and apparently there is no likelihood of its being resumed at an early date (writes our Wellington correspondent). Just how much money has been spent upon tlic buildings so far nobody seems to know, but the sum must run into very many thousands. An inscription on the foundation stone records the fact that it was laid by Sir Joseph Ward in 1012, and since then another stone close by has been prepared for an inscription. Presumably it is intended to bear the names of the Ministers who arc associated with the opening of the completed building, according to the precedent established in connection with the Wellington and Auckland post offices. There is good reason now for believing that the building will not be completed before the next general election, and sporting people are' making bets as to whose name will appear on the supplementary foundation stone. The delaythat has taken place is stated officially to be due to a failure to secure suitable stone from the original quarry, but probably the .Ministers are rather glad of this excuse for postponing a rather heavy expenditure of public money. The time is not opportune for the erection of very costly buildings.

RECREATION SPORTS GROUND. On more than one occasion we have found it necessary to draw attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the sports ground at the Pukekura Park. It is therefore pleasing to find that -.tops are being taken to reconstruct the committee which some nine or ten yeais ago was formed to take over that ground and effect improvements thereto. A large sum of money was spent in the work, which certainly reflected great credit on the committee, but they have never been able to get free of debt, and have fallen into arrears with rent due to the Board. Whilst the enthusiasm was keen for the first few years of the new regime all went well, but as time went on the enthusiasts, from one cause or another, dropped out, and now tlie.-e are but a few remaining. Meanwhile the sports ground has been getting int.* a most unsatisfactory condition, causing a most unfavorable impression on visitor to the beautiful park. A meeting of those. interested in sports of all kinds has been convened for to-morrow (W»d. nesday) night at the Town Hall, wh.'ii it is hoped that a response worthy of the cause will be made. With an adequate committee imbued with the right amount of zeal and discretion, much work that is urgently needed will stand a chance of being carried out, and a plan of campaign organised for raising the necessary funds. The public may be relied upon to assist, but only when it is clearly shown that those in charge will do wiitt is necessary. The present is not a very appropriate time for raising money, but there are ways of so doing that will command public support. The convenor of the meeting, Mr. ,T. Clarke, is thoroughly in earnest in this movement, and that should be a guarantee that, ei'-*n duo assistance from the sports clu')s, the time will not be far distant when the sports ground will be as creditable to flic town as is the,park.