The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1916.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1916.

BRITISH CABINET CRISIS. • The resignation of Mr. Asquith at this crucial period of the war has a far greater significance than appears on the surface. There is not the slightest justification in assuming that Mr. Asquith has retired from the position of British Premier on any other ground but that of placing the urgent need of the Empire before every . other consideration. He has evidently realised that the parting of the ways has been reached, and lie must assuredly recognise that the head of the Government must now bring to the discharge ol the onerous and all-important duties of the position a virility and exceptional activity in order to eppe with the Strenuous task of organising the nation's man and woman power in response to Germany's i'hallenge, and infusing into the conduct of the war a far different oolicy to that which has

brought about the woeful disaster in Greece. Jt is quite possible that there has been friction of a kind between Mr.

• nith and Mr. Lloyd George over the conduct of the war, and tin constitution of the War Council, but that alone would not have caused Mr. Asquith to I resign. He cannot possibly have failed to note the trend of events, and,;above iall the imperative necessity for a man I of action and quick decision to guide the destinies of the Empire. His 'long and honorable services have endeared him to the nation and his brilliant gifts have earned for him the respect and esteem of outside nations. Not for a moment would he stand in the way of a new order of government once he was convinced that his retirement would help to win the war. Under normal circumstances. Mr. Asquith might have continued for some years as Premier, but he has passed his three-score years, and has suffered .bereavements that must have left their mark on his constitution. No Premier has ever been subjected to such a fierce strain as has fallen to the lot of Mr. Asquith, and it \ r :, not to be wondered at that his power of initiative has been unduly strained. The position of affairs is so serious that no necessary action must be neglected for a moment, and the need for a younger, more vigorous, and more determined man is essential to the success of the war. Whether Mr. Asquith's successor will be Mr. Bonar Law or Mr. Lloyd George is as yet in doubt, but Mr. Bonar Law would make a suitable 'Fremier if, as is suggested in this morning's cables, Mr. Lloyd George and Sir E. Carson can work together and run the war on condition that Admiral Jellicoe and General Robertson have a free hand. The only question is as to whether these two determined men can go hand in hand, but if they can, there is no question that Britain's future policy will be vastly different to the dilatory and vacillating' tactics of the past. The war has to be won, and this means that the statesmen at the head of affairs must be equal to the emergency. The Empire and the war dt.pend largely on the steps taken now, so tfoat uo further mistakes should be made. la the light of circumstances as they exist, it would seem that tJe re-organisation of the British Cabinet and War Council as outlined in the cables will prove satisfactory. Although Mr. Asquith lias severed his connection with the Cabinet, we may rest assured his mature experience will always be at the nation's service. THE DAIRYMEX. The dairymen of Taranaki will derive no consolation or satisfaction from the letter addressed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce to the Taranaki Farmers' Union. His reply is practically a restatement of the views of himself and his' colleagues at the recent conference in Wellington. The dairymen evidently cannot hope foi redress of the disability imposed upon them by the Coalition Government. The tax is a special and unfair tax, despite what the Ministers and their newspaper supporters say to the contrary The dairymen are taxed £1 per cow l —that is what the %d. impost works out at—for the benefit of other members of the community. They are denied the opportunity of obtaining the full market value for their produce. It is always dangerous to interfere with the law of supply and demand. In this case it is operating with particular hardship in respect of one of the hardest-working portions of the community. The ordinary working man can command the market rate in the way of wage?. This Ij denied the dairyman, who works—he has to work—usually twice the hours of the ordinary Aoi-kmaii. not f.ve an! s half days a week, but sev-.'n days a week, with no break at holiday timas. He has to be there day in and day out, v>et or fine, and so, generally, has his Wife and most of the chili: en. It was said by a membeil of th* Fanners' I L iron at Hawera tin .ith.?r day, wiiose ; opinions are always worthy of respect, 'that he doubted, when everythihng vas considered, if the average dairyman : veeived more than 3d. per hour for his :ibor. lint even if he earned four times '■•. at amount —and, a'te- allowing for isses. depreciation and interest rn the pital invested, no certainly do m.t jink he can, I'te.n ; r. liese times ol ';.; h prices—shoj •! the- rest of tlic rumamity begrudge him it? He is entitled x every penny ne earns. W.u.'.l a i trades unionist !>3 safhf.id with a fh.il- ' ling an hour, early morning, late atnight work, no holidays, no opportunity for diversion—a monotonous drudge of i: life? Xot he. The price he is getting - liow for his produce is admittedly high, but how about the mam years when he received but a pittance for Ins r.-ro-ducc? Was there there nytry in the laud to make up the price to produce a living wage for the unfortunate dairyman? Xot ic, all. The genera! public wns not eoncenivl with hi.-, lot; he was left to. take his cham-e in the open market. When there is an opportunity for him to get :i fairer return for his toil, the Government stops m and takes from him twenty >-liii;in<p per cow per annum for the benefit of the public, who had ur concern for the dairymen's welfare n the unj~ of'nd\crsily. Tiierr ii mother thing to consider. The Im i " Is heavier now than ever it v \ ' "ill be heavier Ntiil the long! • .• b*t ! . Who is going to pay i ; ivicn? The work- , ing man <ai::i i= ".ire. It is the ]<:'ndii;cr wiio ' 'n foot tiie bill. To do <o hi l *.' \ ' cry penny the ! market w\\ . \l!:iistcr< complain of the gi'i. ._•.-' ■'. t'i? dairvoien,

contrasting their behaviour with that or those who are going to the front in protection of the Empire anil the farms of the producers; but the dairymen of Taranaki, at any rate, are doing their duty in this respect just as fully as any other portion of the community, as the figures will show. Moreover, the absence of their sons entails great hardship on those who are left. It was hard work before to man and efficiently conduct the farms; it is a great deal harder now. It is unjust to accuse the dairymen of lacking in patriotism. They are just as patriotic as anyone else, and they are prepared to make pecuniary sacrifices, but what they object to is being specially taxed for the benefit of other sections of the community, when the other producers, much better situated than they ever can be, are" receiving top prices for their produce. The Government had the chance at the beginning of the war to put all producers on an equality by either commandeering the produce of the country or imposing an export tax,, and the present action of the Government to appease one section at the expense of another springs from that lack of forelight, business acumen, and stateamannliip. By their action in this respect alone they have shown themselves incompetent to manage the affairs of the country, and the reflection forces itself upon one that the old order of .party government, after all, had much to commend it, for then a Government would never havS dared to perpetrate u;eh a singularly unjust tax as the one in question upon what we, without hesitation, claim to be the hardestworking section of the whole of New Zealand, and therefore entitled to support and encouragement.