WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

TRADE WITH GERMANY. WOOL AND PATRIOTISM. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Dec. 1. The resolutions adopted at the meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers' Union yesterday show trade again, in the language of Richard Cobdcn, as the healer of national dissensions. Two or three years ago anyone Who had talked of New Zealand supplying raw material to German manufacturers within the next decade, would have been denounced as a traitor to his country and as an ingrate to the gallant dead who had given their lives for the freedom of the Empire. But here we have a body, fairly representative, of the helpers and the sufferers in the war, practically demanding that the Government shall make arrangements with proper financial guarantees, for the supply of coarse wools to the German mills. There is no need to deplore the incident —it was inevitable from the flvst-Mrot it means the beginning of the renunciation of the cheaper kind of patriotism, THE WOOL-GROWERS' DIFFICULTIES It would be. unfair to the wool-grow-ers to assume that their readiness to resume trading relations with Germany is due to the difficulties confronting them in disposing of this year's clip through the ordinary channels. It is obvious, however, tlint\the finance of the "holding over" scheme is not working out quite so satisfactorily as the Prime Minister hoped it would, Unless new markets can be found able to consume a good deal more wool than Germany is likely to take, and unless South America and South Africa can bo induced to co-operate on a common basis in carrying out the scheme, the growers may rind themselves in no better position twelve months hence than they are now. Meanwhile the Government is suggesting an advance of only 00 per cent, at London parity on wool in store and the banks are. disphvynig no disposition to compete for the business. At the moment the wool-growers' lot is Undoubtedly a hard one. THE GAMBLING SPIRIT. The Minister of Internal Affairs is displaying most admirable zeal in his efforts to check the growth of the gambling spirit within the Dominion. His latest move is to stop boys under fourteen and girls under sixteen soiling raffle and art union tickets, and the people of Wellington, at any rate, will wish him success in his minor campaign. The itinerant art union ticket seller, whose age varies from six years to eighty, is a positive nuisance in the capital city, and if the community can be relieved from part of this irritating tax Upon it* pocket and its patience it will be duly grateful. But Mr. Anderson will require much more active assistance front the police in this matter than his col' league the Minister of Justice has re* ceived in the administration of the new clauses of the Gaming Act if his good intentions are to be made effective.

THE COMPLACENT CONSTABLE.., The failure of the police, armed with the legislation of last session, to seriously interrupt the operations of the bookmakers is becoming a jest and a scandal. Some steps appear to have been taken in Christchnrch and Dunedin to stop illicit betting on the old scale, but here, under the very noses of the Minister who put tho new law through Parliament and the Minister who ia entrusted with its administration, it is going on just as merrily and almost as openly as ever. The most disquieting feature of this astounding state of affairs is the evidence it bears of either the indifference or the incapacity of the police. No one else seems to be in ignorance of what is going on, but the complacent constable round the corner has reported to his chief that never a bookmaker can be discovered.