DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 124, 18 February 1933, Page 16

DOMINION TOPICS

Our Butter Exports. During the six weeks from the beginning of the year, deliveries from New Zealand have totalled 12,724 tons, the weekly arrivals having been less in the last fortnight than in the previous month, as against 12,635 tons in the corresponding period last year. Aus- >' tralian deliveries have been less regu lar, but have amounted to 13,430 tons, as against 12,949 tons. But while current supplies of New Zealand and Australian butters have increased by only 570 tons, stocks of those butters have increased in the six weeks by 3800 tons to 12,600 tons —the former representing 86 per cent, of the total increase and the latter 66 per cent, of the total stocks. Since New Zealand and Australia supply less than half the total importations into the United Kingdom, there seems to be need for explanation of these disproportionate figures. It certainly appears that, if supply has run beyond demand, the excess originates from other countries, and the adverse effects have fallen mainly oa New Zealand and Australia, and especially on New Zealand. —“New Zealand Herald.”

Tiie Sage Prescribes. “The idea that the Government can shelter itself under the aegis of political economists is demonstrably ridiculous. What is the rule that we may be guided by in our businesses, or in the business of the country, when we are called upon to govern? The rule is that of commonsense,” and commonsense is a complete answer to the proposals of the Bill.” This is an excerpt from a, powerful speech against the exchange legislation of the Government uelivered in the Legislative Council by Sir Francis Bell He appealed to the commonsense of the Council and of the country, and it is evident that we want to get back to elementary methods. Sciences may assist in promoting progress along all lines, but human judgment is prompted from within, and is the same now as it was at the beginning of time. The need of to-day is a return to practical tilings, which means that no check should be placed on the ordinary processes of business, and that commonsense and vision should dominate national action.—“ Southland Daily News.”

How Is It Done? If it is correct, as stated by the Minister of Employment, that in numerous cases wireless sets and pianos, as well as other articles of luxury, have been purchased by relief workers on the time-payment system, there must be many drawing relief pay straining thehiselves to make it cover a bare subsistence, who would like to know how it is done. The average dealer, one supposes, does not allow his goods to go out on the hire purchase system without satisfying himself as to the financial standing of an applicant for such extended credit, and it is unlikely that the small pay allowed for relief would impress even the most trustful shopkeeper with the idea that it constituted ability to'meet Instalments with unfailing regularity.—Auckland “Star.”

Optimistic Okums. The new exchange policy is to mitigate the present unemployment position, and bring about a much needed impetus to industry. National income and spending power will be increased. Tlie burdens of the people will be lightened. There will be the certain absorption of a large number of those at present unemployed. The increase in the rate of exchange will not increase the cost of living. There might be no surplus exchange to be bought in London. It will protect the present wage level,, and the beneficial effects will be felt by every man, woman and child throughout the country. The deficit will be about £4,500.000. There are. of course, many other claims made by the advocates of the new policy, but those mentioned cover a range sufficiently wide to be representative. The claims made for most political programmes are usually optimistic, but on this occasion they may be said to border on super-optimism, and for that reason the actual results will be of greater interest and importance.— “Christchurch Times.”

See-Saw Financing. No manipulation of currency or any other political expedient can keep a country’s finances “on the rails” if with a decreasing revenue there is at the same time progressive expenditure. The figures for three-quarters of the financial year are a wonderful testimony to the resiliency of New Zealand in spite of a series of unprecedented economic attacks. But the courage developed by past records must have wise guidance if it is not to be wasted, and the resources of the Dominion, magnificent as they have proven, must not be expected to stand up to an impossible strain. It is not mere prudence, it is actual self-preservation which demands a general and thorough scaling down of national expenditure, and it is the duty of the Government to show the way.—“Taranaki Daily News.” Retailers’ Prices.

People who purchase goods from retailers are naturally critical when prices are advanced, and it is nor surprising that the consumer should be annoyed when he sees an advance in the price of goods which have not had to pay the increased e .change and the sales tax. Two points must be considered. however. Every importer who had not actually paid for the goods he had in his shop prior to the rise in the exchange would become liable for the increase due to the exchange. Some firms who sold goods at Christmas bad to pay 15 per cent, more than the original landed cost, because they could ; not or had not remitted the money for ; payment before January 20. This j might apply equally to materials im- i ported for local manufacture.— | "Southland Times.” I

Parliamentary Manners Frequent reference lias been made to (lie proneness of party leaders and political partisans to indulge in recriminations and invective against tho-e in the opposite camp. So cotninon has the habit become that one sometimes wonders if it is possible for a man to enter the political arena and retain his status as a gentleman. Recently in rhe House of Representatives a leading Minister entered a mild protest at the abuse which had been levelled at the members of the Cabinet, and urged that those who had held such important positions were at least entitled to the respect of members of the Chamber. It was a re- I proof well merited, but it is doubtful I if it. will have the desired effect so long i as our legislators appeal to the basest rather than best instincts of their conslit uents. —"Waikato Times.”

More Bureaucracy. It is most necessary that sales tax legislation should make adequate provision for appeals against assessments, and that the powers of the department charged with administering it should be most carefully defined. So far, this aspect of the Government’s Bill seems to have escaped the attention of members of Parliament who, as might be expected, are mainly concerned with having this or that item added to the list of exemptions. They would do well to examine closely section 18, which gives the taxpayer the right to appeal to the Minister against an assessment by the Minister. This means that the Minister for Customs, who is now in charge of the measure in the House and will later control its administration, will also act as judge in any appeal arising out of its application. What is more, as judge he will dictate the procedure of his own court, for apparently he alone can decide what is “a reasonable opportunity to the appellant to be heard.” —Christchurch “Press.”

Country Party Politics. We have always opposed the establishment of a country party in New Zealand, because it would break up the strength of those opposed to Socialism and Communism into rival factions, which would be a great gain to the Socialists. The evils of this system have been shown in Australia, where it enabled men like Messrs. Lang and Theodore to get into office and do an enormous amount of harm. The same ar--1 gument applies to,a town party, even if it goes by the name of the All New Zealand Party. The policy, as set out in a message in the “Taranaki Herald” on Friday, is perfectly colourless, and could be agreed to bv anyone. It is natural that at the present time many people should not see eye to eye with every item in the policy of the Coalition Ministry, but no committee of any sort can carry on if members who do not succeed in getting their views carried at once resign in a huff.—“Taranaki Herald.” The Fanner’s Windfall. It is true that butter has advanced twopence per pound, but it is still oue penny lower than last year. It will be a cause for great satisfaction if the cost of living does not rise during the coming winter. It has not risen in Britain, despite the fall in the. value of sterling. So far as the farmer is concerned, the same authority holds that he will benefit very greatly. It is true that he will pay a little more for fertilisers and some other necessaries, but the increase in his monthly cheque' will give him a net benefit of 13 or 14 per cent, on bis return. Many farmers are finding it so hard to make ends meet that they will be very careful in the spending of their windfall. It will not be so large as to permit any extravagance. but it should do something to relieve the pressure that has been experienced recently.—“Taranaki Herald.”

The Motorists’ Lot. It is highly regrettable that the motorist class should be called upon to bear so much of the brunt of the pressure of exceptional circumstances. Petrol is rightly claimed to be an essential business commodity, and it is not to the benefit of the community that the cost of it should be so high. 'Taxation does not account, however, for more than a proportion of the difference between its cost at the wells and the price at which it is sold in New' Zealand. There seems room for the suggestion that, if it has a mind to do something in compensation for its plan to extract another half-million from motorists, the Government might find stronger reasons now than in the past for considering the usefulness of an investigation of the position in respect of the marketing costs of petrol with a view to determining whether a reduction cannot be effected that would ease the situation.—“Otago Daily Times." Our Produce in London. The first sign that Great Britain intended to keep a margin, not only for her foreign trade, but also for the protection of her own farmers, was the restriction placed upon meat imports. It is now mentioned as a possibility that a similar restriction may have to be placed upon dairy produce from the Dominions, for on account of the prevailing low- prices no duties on competing foreign imports will be heavy enough to nullify the effect of competition. If the foreigner cannot obtain concessions in trade treaties, his next course will be to dump produce regardless of price. The effect of such action on the Dominions is easy to imagine. Perhaps it may yet be proved that Imperial trade isolation In the present complex state of world economy is an illusory goal, that relief can come only with world adjustment.—Christchurch “Sun." Unnecessary Legislation. The Education Amendment Bill, which provoked the gibes of Labour members by its proposals for reinforcing powers of discipline over teachers, does not appear to contain much that is really required. We see no cause for quarreling with the principle that ( teachers should be placed on the same basis with Civil Servants, but there are new' difficulties with teachers which, by the exercise of proper tact on the authorities' part, cannot be reasonably adjusted at the present time. And both parties are educated when that tact is made the medium for their settlement. Such clauses as “the appointment of a teacher may be made by the transfer from one position to another position (whether in the same or in a different school), or otherwise." cannot easily be conceived of ns adding anything new to the law. Two sessions a year, which has been our recent portion, can be disturbing to the public as well as trying to legislature. Parliament will be better for a rest. —Dunedin ••Star.” A Challenge to Women. Because feminine choice determines the demand for all household commodities and the direction of family expenditure, women are in reality, though perhaps unconsciously, the directors of industry to-day. As lhe r president of the Canterbury Manufac- : hirers' Association told a group of business and professional women yesi terday. “Women have gWat powers in ! spending or withdrawing money.” and | it is significant in the depression indus- . trial leaders have launched their :ip- ! I>eal more directly to them. But i feminist circles in New Zealand are ' now beginning to feel that the times are testing women's position and finding il weak. The ideal of labour on the same terms ns men stands for little or nothing when both sex"s are out of work. Women are confronted with diminished dividends, a contracting labour market, ami a return to n dependance they have learned to dislike.—Christchurch “Star.”