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Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1920, Page 2

There was an item of news in the cablegrams the other evening which should tend to make all sections of the community think. The Chairman of the Canard Comany in London hinted at the coming of a freight war which \vr calculated to have world-wide effect He alluded also to the vicious circle under which wages were rising nmf production decreasing, with the inev itablc increase in the cost of living. What was hinted at ean be guessed only—a freight war, a section of the greater commercial war to come to pass between the rival nations. Shipping must be returning to normal requirements and as a consequence the freer exchange of supplies now possible will mean more competition, which :n turn means falling freights. Once there is i. break in the abnormal it will s; re id :nr and wide, and just as soon es weights are affected, the price of ommodities will be involved also. This i'll) apply alike to imports and exports,

and when the equilibrium is disturbed there will be a difficulty in forseeiug H’o olid. The situation thus presents occasion for serious thought, for it siigg sis that high prices for commodities and the labour which produces them, are at their height. London is the centre of, the world’s business, and the head of a great concern like the Ouiiard Comipany has opportunities of watching the trade barometer very closely. His suggestion of an impending change, cannot bo ignored, and folk would do we 1 ! to accept it as a warning and prepa-e for the rigorous times ahead. There las been a false inflation for some time. The millions of borrowed money urgently required for war purposes, have all gone in expenditure—and now the giant hills have to be paid. Financial demands in the immediate future will put more and more pressure on the people, and with less and less paper money fibout, the stringency will be felt, and then we shall realise that we are in tho throes of tighter times calling for more and more effort on the part of ail.

The local branch of the mutual ailmiratioft society when in solemn cohchtve on Thursday evening last devoted more time apparently to this journal than to the serious business in hand—placing tho heaviest impost on record on the long-suffering ratepayers. Perhaps the •semblance of agitation was but camouflage, something to cover up the freaks ; but tho fact remains that the ratepayers have to foot a bill—the laigost on record, the handiwork of this econo-mically-run body! The assumed irritation of the several speakers against what this paper has said does not mat ter. lA, newspaper has a public duty to perform, and it cannot discharge its duties honestly day by day without treading on some folks’ corns. But what we have said heretofore about the Charitable Aid Board we stand by. rin)' latest remarks were founded on the published statement of tlie Chairman, and if the members are perturbed at what was said they must look for the text of our remarks in Mr AA’ild’s -i' ll statement. The personal reference to ourselves was prompted by the pique felt by one of tlie members at tlie praci itis attitude of this paper over paying -patients, and such being the case we are not perturbed. At the same rime let us remind the gentleman that abuse is not argument, and will not hide the serious financial plight into which he and his colleagues have allowed the Board to drift. The ratepayers have now to come to the assistance of these self-sacrificing members. While acting as they do without mouo v and without price, their management is proving extremely expensive to the people vho have to pay all the time. Mr AA’ild "e----called an alleged scandal, but his memory is short lived if he forgets what the attitude of this paper was. Also, his fast report reveals a. position where he admits the members have been neglecting their fluty in a palpable way and members are unfair enough fo blame their officer for the leakage fi' r m patients who do not pay.

The monthly meeting of the AA'estlapd Chamber of Commerce takes place at 7.30 o’clock to-morrow evening. The Executive in connection with the Royal visit will meet at the County Chambers at 8.30 o’clock to-morrow I evepipg. The ‘‘Welsh” choir practices at the band room to-night at 7.30 o’clock. Punctual attendance, please. Recruits welcomed. To-inorrow afternoon at 2.30 p.m., Messrs Jeffries and Co. will hold an extensive sale of first class furniture, fruit and poultry in the Mart. Even to-day there is a chill in the air which makes man awake to the fact that winter is here. Anticipating his needs we wish to announce that our H.B. stock of men’s and boys’ overcoats is really surprising, in values and styles. In fact, considering the present day prices our stocks compare very wed with values 3 to 4 years old. Call into

our branch at your first opportunity and you wijl surely bu convinced of H.B, values. Dnu’fc be uncomfortably cold, call into H.B’s to day and furnish yourself with a nice c.osv sweater coat, p warm pair of gloves, or probably a easy muffler might add to your personal eom- ’ fort, Attention js drawn po McGruer and Co’s great sale of boots sad slipes at ' Keller’s Sample Rooms, Weld Street. ' A great opportunity to purchase footwear, including ladies’ and gent’s evening shoes at startling prices. Gents’ evening shirts and gloves are now procurable at Schroder’s, where also ladies’ evening gloves in suedes, kid and fabric, large selection of evening goods and trimmings, scarves and fans nrp fimtyng rapid sale. —Advt. Grocers, listen I! f .“Jn rjvery sense of service that thoij rendevest thou thyself nfff being served” (Browning). Therefore, push ’‘KEEP SMILING” Boot Polish at 8d per tip, Colombo Teas, Coffee, and Cocoa. < Cheapest and best in the market. Ob-; tainable at McLean’s, store, • Rcvell Street, Hokitika, and at Kuinnra June-' tion. Sole agent for Westland.--Advt.