NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

Although as a rule members spend Wednesday afternoon complaining that their questions have- _ not been answered properly, yesterday was an exception. Nearly all the time was spent discussing oranges and lemons and how to get them from the South Seas. It was generally acknowledged that the Government stcamei Maui Pomare was doing good work in this respect—even if this ship was running at a loss. It was agreed, that she was doing pioneering work in opening up these South Sea Islands at a time when no private company would undertake the work. It was really quite pleasant to listen to members from all parts of the House in complete agreement.

Depressing news concerning the outlook tor wool prices not uncommonly finds its way into the cable messages about this lime of the vear. Last year it was reported that the stocks held by Bradford were considerable and that some of the firms were financially weak. Now the Bradford correspondent of the Yorkshire Post reports that consumption is so limited that “there is no talk of scarcity of wool, but discussions extend to losses made by those who bought wool from Australia during February and Tvlarch.” One takes much of this with a pinch of salt. In spite of these depressingadvices, wool buyers have not shown any great reluctance at the following wool sales. Moreover, a more optimistic opinion of the wool outlook was expressed by Mr. Herbert Mortimer, of H. J. Mortimer Ltd., of Bradford, when interviewed in Auckland a few days ago. Mr. Mortimer thought last season’s prices should at least be maintained. There is hope that our woo! clip for next season will be the largest yet recorded, the. Hocks of New Zealand being larger now than ever before. The total number of sheep and lambs returned this year is 27,001,236, which exceeds the previous record of 26,538,302 for 1918.

Some exception was taken in Parliament yesterday to the Public Trust Office appearing in the role of a brewer and advertising beer and stout for sale. If the advertisement had related to boots or hats or flour or motor-cars it is probable it would have escaped attention or at any rate passed muster. The products of a brewery, however, to some people are quite outside the regions of respectability. Yet if the Public Trust Office is to carry out its duties with proper consideration for the interests of those who have placed their trust in it, the businesses which come into its hands must be handled to the best advantage. It may seem rather curious to find the Public Trustee, even in a nominal sense, filling the role of brewer or baker or hatter, but it is still more curious to find people taking exception to him doing so when lie is merely carrying out the plain duties of his office. It so happens that in the case under review' the brewery business forms part of the Macarthy J rust, the most, munificent and wisely-disposed bequest ever made to the people of this Dominion by a public-spirited citizen.