TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 69, 21 March 1912, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Reading between the lines of the annual report ,of the WelThe Voice lington' Chamber of of Commerce. Commerce, just issued it is clearly seen that the council of that body is concerned as to the future. It refers to the 19071908 period, when the valuo of imports exceeded that of export* by £1,380,281, and next to the following year when the value of exports was £3,784,154 over that of the year immediately preceding. For the year 1909-1910 there was the still larger balance of exports of £5,856,978. But for the year ended 30th September the balance (as hus been pointed out already in The Post) of ■exports over imports is narrowed down to what the Chamber of Commerce Council describe* as "a serious decline, the exports exceeding the imports by £1,300,696 only. The exports, then, have dropped two millions and the im ports have increased two and a-half millions." Further, it is 6hown that "the margin of exports will not be sufficient to meet the obligations of the Dominion for interest payment on loans.'' The situation may not warrant so much concern as the remarks in the report would imply } but at the same time they should not go unheeded by traders as a body, wholesale and retail. Better prices for butter and cheese cannot bo looked for next season, for this is a record due in some measure to unprecedented dry weather in the dairying countries of the Northern Hemisphere. The price of wool six months hence i« a matter of conjecture, by reason of the great industrial disturbance in the United Kingdom, by no means at an end, and which must seriously affect values, even if peace between employer and employed were proclaimed to-night, for money not earned cannot be spent. The frozen meat market is a very uncertain quantity, and both South America and Australia cannot be regarded as other than serious competitors in mutton, and, to some extent, in lamb. In any case, whatever happens in tho various markets, the warning— for such it is— of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce is entitled to respect, even though subsequent events should prove, as we devoutly hope, that things turned out better than they promised at the oucet. It appears as though the intervention of the Federation of LaMaking Ready bour in the Auckland for the Fray, dispute is not going to enhance the prestige of that militant and clamorous body —a prestige that did not come out of the recent Wellington tram trouble un scathed. The doctrine of syndicalism has not proved at all palatable to the : general public, nur has it proved the deadly weapon Us apostles fondly imagined. Syndicalism received a rude repulse in Brisbane, and signs and indications point to p, similar shock •if the Federation throws down in Auckland that gage it speaks of so loudly. An interesting development has arisen in connection with the Auckland dispute. The Farmers' Union has determine*} (as it advised some weeks since) to come into tlie field and help to fight the battle oi the general public against the syndicalist* in the event of ah open rupture, and it hasseoured promises of co-opera-tion of firms in the Northern city. Such a movement is quite in accord with our expressed views on the matter. If the revolutionaries want fight the most effective resistance that can bo offered is for the public to take up tho tools that have been discarded, and do the work that othera have refused to do at the order of the Federation. Such a plan, was worked with an excellent success in Brisbane recently, and we have no doubt but that similar tactics can be employed with equal effect in New Zealand. Nothing but sheer fanaticism could hold out long against the sight of people unilintr. cheerfully to keep the wheels of industry moving; and it is very probable tho Federation will come tc recognise that as well as the besh man. This idea is the most effective embarrassment that has been conceived so far to check the violence of the syndicalists, and one calculated to deter them from a careless plunging of the community into industrial chaos. We have stressed before our sympathy with constitutional and rea,' sonable labour, as we know it to exist here and elsewhere, but there is nothing in the doctrine of syndicalism that commends itself to us. it has proved itself ruthless, selfish, and mostly without reason, und bo far as we can discern, has no real regard for the betterment of tho mass .of industrialists. But the new terror is fast losing its potency to. affright. And added to that, its latest interference has brought to the front such a strong body as the Farmers' Union, armed with such an attack-turning weapon. We hope, not for a strike, but that in the event of an upheaval being precipitated, the defence movement begun by tho union will be taken up with equal courage by other public bodies. The latest development, we feel certain, will be greeted with satisfaction, by M. tolerant minds throughout the Dominion. The new Board of Management, which was sot -up at a The City special meeting of the Tramways. City Council a few weeks ago to take over the control of the detailed operations of the city tramways, has certainly made a good start in placing the position of (Jie municipal enterprise so clearly before tho public in its first report. Citizeue want to know not only the sources of inoieatsed revenue but the outlets of expenditure, which show* a tendency to increase at a greater rate than the receipts. For the first time an explicit statement is given of the various items which show an increased outlay. Thus, while the revenue has increased by £4744 4s 9d. the working expenses have increased by £5706, and if increased capital charge* are added, by £7324 4s. This has meant a reduction in the eni'plus for eleven months' working out of the twelve of £2579 19s 3d, as compared with the corresponding period of the preceding year. Increases in wages of employees — motormen, conductors, and others— amount to £1161, but a much larger increase comes in repairs and maintenance, totalling aßout £3000. There is ateo an increase in power expenditure of £1028, though, at the same time, the power expenses per unit of power have Won ledueed. According to the repeat of the board, tho ofQniug of the Wadtelowu line und

the Karori extension are accountable for a large proportion of the traffic expenditure increases. On the other side of the balance-eheet must be mentioned, also, the fact that tho estimated loss of revenue by the strike was JD2300, and the not los 3 £1200. When these iteniß are taken into account, it will be seen thai, had the working of the tramways been normal, the financial portion would bo much the same as last year— the increase of revenue being rather more titan counter-balanced by the increase in expenditure. This position cannot be described as altogether satisfactory. The Board of Management has much to do before it can restore public confidence in the working of the tramways. Councillor M'Kcnzio has asked for a very cornprehennivw return, with the idea of ascertaining exactly how the tramways stand. A report on the general hnee suggested by him would c«rtainly afford a basis for all-round improvement.