NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 58, 2 December 1930, Page 10

NOTES OF THE DAY

Such institutions as the new Ewart Tuberculosis Hospital, which was opened yesterday, have no doubt helped to reduce what used to be known as the “white scourge” to much less dangerous dimensions. Fifty years ago tuberculosis was one of the principal causes of death but its incidence was halved in the following quarter century and has been halved again in the 25 years sihee 1905 That is a wonderful record—to reduce the death rate per thousand from tuberculosis from 16 to 4in less than two generations. The achievement of medical science in this sphere is the more important because, unlike cancer, tuberculosis claims most of its victims at a comparatively early age. In these vital statistics, the tragic feature is that while New Zealand has been gaining ground in dealing with tuberculosis, she has been losing it against cancer which is now responsible for more deaths than any other cause except heart diseases. It is to be hoped that, since the searchlight of science has been turned on cancer, results may shortly begin to show that will reduce the toil of this disease as has already been done with tuberculosis. 4> » * •

In the fortnightly trade review cabled from London, a summary was made of the good and bad signs in the existing economic situation in Britain. Among the good signs it was encouraging to note "the improvement in tone and employment in most textile trades.” Textiles, including wool, cotton, silk, artificial silk and linen, constitute Britain's greatest single industry but one which, outside the silk trades, has suffered almost continuous depression and grievous unemployment for several years. Even so, textiles accounted for 31 per cent, valued at 228 millions of the total of British exports last year and that in spite of serious labour stoppages, the most considerable occurring in the Lancashire cotton industry. If the present brighter outlook is indicative of the coming of more settled and prosperous conditions, it is going to mean a very great deal to Britain and, indirectly, to New Zealand. Far-reaching reorganisation has lately taken place in British textiles, especially wool and cotton, and considerable sacrifices made by both employers and employees. The industry is .now in a fair Way to compete successfully when markets expand with the lifting of the present world-wide depression.

Trade opportunities in Europe that New Zealand should exploit are discussed by the Belgian Consul, Mr. A. Nihotte, on his return from abroad. Mr. Nihotte points out that the Dominion buys 2| times more in value from Belgium than she sells and suggests tliat we should take steps to redress the balance. Certainly it will pay New Zealand to open new channels of trade although Continental tariffs make development difficult. At the present tune, however, our export trade is too largely dependent on the British market and the producers’ boards should be prepared to face initial difficulties in pioneering other outlets. So far as Belgium is concerned. Mr Nihotte suggests there should be a sale for New Zealand cheese, apples and honey. Producers of these commodities have their boards whose resources should enable them, to undertake the work of exploration. In point of fact our honey has been enterprisingly handled in several European countries, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia, and New Zealand apples are also gradually gaining Continental custom. At the same time there are further benefits that could probably be gained by spying out these old lands for new markets.

Professor Macmillan-Brown thinks England will take as long as she did after the Napoleonic wars to get out of the present financial depth. Certainly there arc many points of resemblance between England’s economic condition 100 years ago and to-day. Even the old Poor Law and the new dole might be compared although the earlier system of relief was far more demoralising than the modern one. But though there are these points of similarity there is a whole world of difference. Chief among the changes is the mechanical revolution. Machines have greatly increased productive power and, although more capital was destroyed in the Great War than in the Napoleonic campaigns, probably less time will be occupied in replacing it. The minds directing capital are also much more enlightened to-day and the labour force is much greater ! ti numbers, physique and intelligence. The comparison of 1830 with 1930 might be carried further but enough has been said to show the pit falls in trying to predict tire immediate future by going back 100