TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3220, 18 June 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

THE MEAT MARKET,

Questioned whether the operations of the Chicago Beef Trust are likely to effect the New Zealand trade in a detrimental way, Mr C. A. Da Lautour, chairman of directors of the Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Frozen Meat Company stated that he did not see how the American's object to keep up prices would be in any way injurious to the Dominion. "A much more difficult question for us to consider/' said Mr De Lautour, "is that being agitated as to regulating the supplies from New Zealand. What seems to me to be the position in regard to that is that if we withhold our stuff from the Home market foreign stuff would follow in to fill its place. The only thing that will keep New Zealand to the front will be to adhere strictly to the quality of the meat that is sant Home and to ensure that quality being better than what can be supplied from either Australia or the Argentine. We were quite willing," continued Mr De Lautour, "to fall into line with any movement made in the Dominion on any lines that may promise, even by way of experiment, to give fair results." MILITARY TRAINING.

Sir Joseph Ward, as Minister of Defence, has said in effect that the Government are waiting for an indication of public feeling in the matter of military training, says the Christchurch "Press," but at least it ia better than the Premier's previous assertion that the people would never submit to any scheme of compulsory training. He now admits that he is open to conviction; i<t therefore remains for those who believe in universal training to convince him. This can best be done by a systematic continuance of the campaign that for some weeks past has been carried on throughout the Dominion by Mr McNab.

THE MINISTER FOR LABOUR. After what occurred on Saturday, two courses are open to Sir Joseph Ward, says the Christchurch "Evening News":— (1) to ask Mr Hogg to ' withdraw from the Ministry; (2) to allowjhim to remain, and share responsibility for the views and administrative actions of a man utterly unfitted for responsibilities of Minister of the Crown. As loyalty to h:s friends is one of Sir Joseph's most conspicuous traits, we do not think he will go back on Mr Hogg at this juncture at any rate. And yet he must know that if the latter continues to participate in the deliberations of the Cabinet, it will cauH3 the greatest dissatisfaction throughout the country.