NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 170, 13 April 1933, Page 10

NOTES OF THE DAY

In their attempts to cope with the traffic in drugs the difficulties of the police in all countries are enormous. A cable message announcing the discovery of four secret heroin factories with an out- 8 put of a ton. per month gives some idea of the magnitude and ramifications of the evil. The real problem is to get comprehensive and efficient international co-operation. That is one of the big tasks of the League of Nations, which in recent years has done much valuable work in suppressive organisation. Its efforts are not confined to propaganda, but include measures for police co-operation*, and the organising of a special vigilance department for ferreting out the “big men” in this nefarious traffic. No doubt this latest coup will be claimed as one of several which have been accomplished by the League’s organisation.

At least one point in the comments of Mr. Frederick Hutson, a London meat retailer on our New Zealand meat, merits attention. Mr. Hutson is inclined to be dubious about the future of chilled New Zealand beef. As to that, expert reports of the recent experimental shipment are distinctly encouraging. Mr. Hutson, however, lays strong emphasis on quality. That essential to building up our produce export trade has been frequently stressed in these columns, but it will bear repetition. It applies not only to beef, but to all -our lines of export. Quality is the only sound basis of successful marketing. With beef and cheese particularly the British people have a discriminating palate, and this fact should constantly be borne in “mind. % /

There is a breezy optimism about the views expressed by Mr. F. W. Doidge, secretary of the Empire Crusade, whose visit to New Zealand ends to-day. Mr. Doidge champions the cause of Empire trade under the Beaverbrook plan, and his whole-hearted advocacy and sturdy confidence in the future of Britain make wholesome reading in these days'of timidity and half-measures. In the course of his. brief visit Mr. Doidge has repeatedly emphasised the opinion that Britain will be amongst the first of the nations to step out on the road to better times, and that her leadership will be an inspiration not only to the British Empire but to the world. There is a good deal to support this view. Confidence in the future is a bracing tonic rather needed just now. A few judicious doses from the right quarter would quickly produce a healthier and brighter outlook. * * * *

Once again the question of Zoo charges has engaged the attention of the City Council. The problem is two-sided. It is argued, and with some show of reason, that if the Zoo were free the loss would be balanced by extra tramway revenue. The choice is between seeing the Zoo for the price of a tram-fare, or paying an extra shilling phis the tram-fare. In these hard times people think of their outings in terms of pounds, shillings and pence. Into the question, further, has been projected in recent years a sentiment against zoos that cannot be run on a scale which will place the comfort of the captives beyond the vexed question of ways and means. That they have an educational value is admitted. But there are many things of educational value which, though desirable to have, are beyond our means. We may finally have to come to the point of admitting that a zoo in a city of restricted space like Wellington is one of them.

Whatever may be the outcome of the Moscow trial the fact remains that the indictments have been framed on a basis outraging all principles of British justice. The “third degree” methods adopted by those who interrogated the accused were such as to upset their mental equilibrium and lead them to say anything to satisfy the inquisitors. In these circumstances it is rather difficult to follow the reasoning of those members of the Labour/Party in both Houses of the British Parliament. They declare that the Government’s representations to the Soviet authorities might have had more favourable results had a different tone been adopted. But this was . not an occasion for mild protest. The Government was entitled to insist with the utmost vigour and firmness that the accused engineers should at least be given bare justice. Part of Britain’s prestige in the world rests upon the knowledge that at all times and in all places she is prepared to espouse the cause of the wronged and oppressed. It would indeed be. strange if on an occasion involving the lives of her own subjects she were to substitute for a stern “must,” a milk-and-water "please.”