HERE AND THERE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1920, Page 3

HERE AND THERE.

(By, D.J.H.) Land is still selling and re-selling at top. Land agents are newly born every week, and horse trainers, dentists, tailors, and jacks-of-all-trades are investing a few pounds on the land totalisator. All hands are pocketing the divy, even the goody-goody who denounces gambling. The man who deposits his mortgage on the third or fourth step runs the risk. I venture to say there is no country in the British Empire where the land laws want revising and are so out-of-date as in this little Dominion of ours. Will the land law question be gone into by our legislators during the next three years? I doubt it. The Maori is still getting battered about by these same land law?. A deal lately made will put about £27,0(10 into one pakeha's pocket, and this in Taianaki, (he boasted home of the small holder! Buyers of ready made suits, or, as the trade terms them, ,; box suit?," wonder at their scarcity in the shops. I have been informed there is a keen demand for them in England, and as fastas they are made thev are exported and bring from £lO to £ls in the Old Country. The shifting of our High Commissioner (Sir Thomas Mackenzie) is causing concern to many thinking sellers of produce. He is to be replaced by a man with no commercial experience of the kind which is badly needed amongst the mo.«T astute men in the world. Party politics is the game, and the country's welfare is a secondary matter. Cement users have had to sit with folded hands for some time, and Tara- | naki could do with a local works. Why [not Toko, where lime cit.i be got and Ohura coal is not far distant? All appointments made by the State just now are strictly on the party basis, and those who decryed this procedure are carrying it out to the letter. I had reported to me a few weeks ago. a glaring instance in connection with soldiers' land. A certain man's name was suggested as competent to a new fledged M.J?., but he said "No! No!" and one of the right political ilk was appointed. A move is on the hoard which will he pleasant news to the general public, who will benefit. Briefly it is to import and export from Taranaki, more cheaply than hitherto, by merchants, etc, pooling their purchases and wares and securing them direct from the oversea, ports to New Plymouth. This will do away with transhipping charges and delays in forwarding. The same applies to producers, who will be able to see their products leave in good condition and at less cost than the old primitive way of transhipment. Old customs hecome a sort of second nature with some people, and die hard, but they will have to go.