TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9361, 9 November 1910, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

While the Commercial Trusts Bill was

before the Legislative CounFish. cil last night, the Hon. Mr Beehan made a successful effort to get "fish" inserted in the schedule in order to bring the alleged fish combine within the scope of the Act; Dr~ Findlay objected to the inclusion of euch an article #f diet in the Bill, and pointed out' that other articles would have to' follow. However, the Council carried the amendment, but whether the House.will agree to it is quite another matter. It is, of course, an open question as to whether a combine does exist in the fish market. As Dγ Findlay pointed out, the dearnese of fish was no evidence! of monopoly, but the consumer still wants to know why so valuable an article of diet should.be so dear as it is. Surely there is rarely any scarcity in the supply. It has been suggested that the commoner classes of fish, such as schnapper and warehou are spurned by the people, and everybody goes for the luxuries—sole, flounder, and whitebait. Consequently it is only these kinds that remain high in price. This is only partly true, for most of. the other kinds are not as cheap as the cost of their production warrants. It will not hurt the fish trade if it is placed under Government supervision for a while, and it is to be hoped that the Lower House will fall in with the Upper Chamber's suggestion.

We hope the ratepayers will attend in large numbers at the The Opera House to-morrow Tr-amway evening to discuss the Scheme, proposals to be submit-

ted by the Mayor respecting the proposed trams for Palmerston. There are three propositions. The first is, whether the ratepayers require the installation of trams in the Borough. If they favor trams is the service to be (1) an electric service costing, say, £50,000, or (2) a self-contained car service to cost about £23,000. Thirdly, whether,the ratepayers are prepared to recommend the Council to grant concessions to a company to instal a tram service with the right to take over the trams as a running concern at the end of seven years or a longer period. The Council has arrived at this position that an offer has been made by an engineer, who says he is acting on behalf of a company,, to instal trams in Palmerston on conditions which will be made known to the meeting, to-morrow evening. Assuming that his company is in earnest and that the ratepayers are against the project as a municipal undertaking, there should be no difficulty in securing this much-dis-cussed service. The ratepayers will first decide to-morrow night whether they desire the installation of trams, I and if it can be done as alleged with- ; out placing a heavy burden on their j shoulders it is only reasonable to assume that their answer will be in the affirmative. This matter is one which

has an important bearing on Palmerston's future, and we" sincerely hope that there will be a large and representative meeting. It is the height of absurdity for ratepayers to stay away from a meeting of this description and complain afterwards of the policy decided upon. Ratepayers of every class should be in attendance to express their opinions, and if they will have sufficient energy to leave their firesides for a couple of hours to-mor-row night the Borough will speedily know what the majority wish regarding trams and the most desirable course to be pursued in the matter. The meeting, will be held in the Municipal Hall,, commencing at 8 p.m.