THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1909. TOPICAL READING. DULL TIMES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3172, 24 April 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1909. TOPICAL READING. DULL TIMES.

Business in produce of the fields is exceptionally dull all over New Zealand. Money seems scarcer than produce. A Dunedin merchant admits without enthusiasm that things have not Deen so quiet for years. The people buy sparingly. As for fruit, the market is described as sickly. Most of the fruits is imported. The demand is weak, and especially so for Island oranges. All things considered, it is contended that the people are either exercising thrift or have not the money to spend.

NATIONAL DEFENCE. Beyond all question, it is the duty of every New Zealand youth to train tor the defence ot his country, and the duty of the Government to enforce this training. But beyond mere training there is the supreme question of arms and equipment, and this question demands official reply. We are told repeatedly that in time of danger every man in the country could bn called into the militia, which means that we should raise, to aid our volunteers against a trained enemy, an unarmed mob for which there were neither arms, equipment nor officers.

THE MONEY MARKET. We believe, says the Auckland "Star," that the Government might 1 do a great deal to relieve the situation by borrowing more largely at Home under the Advances to Settlers' Act. Money is still urgently needed to aid in the development of the country, and Government csn safely do a great deal for us in this way, without imperilling the country's credit or complicating their financial operations now or in the immediate future. And money secured in this way will become available to settlers upon much more favourable terms than if furnished through the agency of mortgage companies, which look for heavy dividends upon their invested capital.

SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS. Farmers are not the only ones who are complaining of the shortage of tru&ks.Coal-Hiirie*propri.etors through-

out Otago are at the present time loud in their complaints over a serious shorage of railway waggons, the annoyance of the position being accentuated by the fact that lately a number of railway waggons have according, to the statement of the Minibter of Railways, been removed to the North shortage is beingffelt by the companies very seriously indeed, and one manager states involving both the companies as a whole and the misers as well in considerable loss. Only a few hours a day were being worked in the various mines, and m some instances operations hadj been at a standstill for a whole day at a time, for the simple reason that the waggons were [not there to take the coal away. The position, if unaltered,* would acute as increased, as the not be able to meet orders. An urgent demand is to be made to .the Minister for additional rolling stock.