NOTES FR3M SYDNEY

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1920, Page 6

NOTES FR3M SYDNEY

(Our Own Correspondent.)

PROFITEERING— THEN AND NOW.

The mediaeval profiteer, if history speaks truly, was not far behind his modern prototype in cunning and price fixing. But even in those far-off days the profiteer was known for what he wias worth and was treated accordingly. Bakers, for instance, who gave shortweight, were sometimes drawn upon hurdles through the streets of the town with the defective loaf hanging round their necks. Tho seller of bad wine was compelled to drink a draught of .. the wine which he sold, while the remainder was poured over his head. In Australia recently we have had a Commission inquiring into the doings of the profiteer. As far back as 191.1 a Commission was appointed in England to undertake a similar task, and reported iv part as follows: — "Tho forcstallcr is a manifest oppressor of. the poor and a public enemy of the whole commonality, and country who hastens to buy" before others, grain, fish, herrings, or anything vendible and who designs to sell moro dearly what he has so unjustly acquired." This is what they thought of thc^ profiteer in the 15th century. We think the same to-day. Arc we ever going to do anything more than think?

WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR?

There is a growing dissatisfaction among the workers of Australia with the institution called Parliament. The chief complaint is that there has been plenty of talk but little done. This talk, moreover, has cost a lot of money. The members of the Federal House have recently raised their salaries to £1000 per annum and the scs: sion now over, they are going to take a few months' rest at about £20 per week. The audacity of the Federal members in raising their own salaries in the fashion they did was the cause of much unfavourable) comment, especially in labour circles and probably '• had something to do with the appointment of «a commission Avhen the question of an increase in salary for members of the New .South Wales Assembly was brought up. The commission has recently reported lhat members of the Slate House deserve £S7s"pcr annum. Probably they Avill get it. The money goes. The first few weeks of the* session that is now closing tkis devoted almost entirely to a mud-sling-ing competition. The intelligent workers of the State arc asking why they should be asked to piay a high price for that sort of thing. Tho old age' pensioner gets 15/- per week. The politician £15 £20. It won't always be so. OFF TO LONDON..

One after another of our Premiers go to London. Hughes was thercAbr a long time— is going again soon. Thqodore, of Queensland, has just-re-turned. Now Premier Storey, of New South Wales, is off to the political niecca of the British Empire. We have cables, efcut nothing it seems, worth while, fan be done over" the cables. Wo must go personally and when we go Aye must take our jwives and our daughters and whether we be Labour or anti-Labour we must dine with the Kir.g if we get a chance, arid, of course our wives land our daughters must be presented at Court. We are very democratic, sometimes inclined to be a little Socialistic in sentiment at this end; but as we draw near to London with its many traditions, its very proper etiquette, Court ceremonial, and so on we "put the softpedal" on our revolutionary string and for the time being become one of the set — or try to be. It's all very pretty, but salvation for the working class is not in this direction, no matter what labels are used. MUSIC. -"--"-'-"• Iv a few weeks' time the New South Wales State. Orchestra is going to pay you another visit. Crowded houses havo greeted this orchestra in Sydney an-.: Melbourne and iall those in New Zealand who love music and have an opportunity of hearing these hard-work-ing players should do so. BATHING A LA MODE. Recently in one of Sydney's shops a bathing costume was displayed in the window, priced £100. • Another firm hero has gone one better and imported a similar 'article at «£l2O. It consists of — cloak, parasol, bag and cap, shoes and tockirigs. The costume itself. is~ made of silk. You ask what need of a parasol, bag, etc., for bathing. AYe don't know. Look up Crudcn's p~ncordancc.