NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15625, 3 June 1914, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

, WORLD'S MEAT.StCTLT. Tub world's meat supply is ohe subject of an article in the Journal of Agriculture by Mr. E. Clifton, who is at present in the United States. Mr, Clifton says: — "It is possibly not recognised how immense is the' grating industry of America. The number of animals slaughtered annually is 88,358,815. Of this number, hogs represent more than 60 per' cent. The proportion set out is: Hogs, 60.2; sheep and lambs, 16.7; grown cattle, 15.4; calves, 7.4; other stock, as goats, kss tlian 1 per cent. It is also accepted that the ratio of consumers to producers is also increasing—that ii. tho population of the town is becoming further and further out of proportion' to the community on the land. There is again the fact that individually there is a greater demand for animal foods. Those who were content with meat as supplementary to their general dietary now consider animal foods as tho chief sustenance. Tho exportation of meat from America to Great Britain fell from 162,000,0001b in 1908 to 680.0001b in 1913, a perfectly insignificant quantity, so much bo that it is probably not a true export, but represents mere shipping requirements, It would appear that the immediate result of this shortage of meat •will create a competition between tnoso countries, 6uch as Great Britain, that are accustomed to look for their meat supply to outside countries, and those, such. as America, that aro only now requiring supplementation by importation. Tho esta.ilis.'ied sources have been Australia and New Zealand, Canada and Argentina. The nations now add to these exporting countries other lands—as. for instance, the comparatively undeveloped parts of South America, including the central re gions of that Continent. Already cattle raising is being exploited in Brazil. The other sources that may participate aro South and Central Africa. It cannot, be excluded from calculation that there is an enormous latent power of meat-production in all countries, and particularly in America. The farmer can astonish the world if he but devotes himself to stockraising ; this i well within his power. Tho price of fattened animals offers every inducement to the farmer to enter into this lino of business."

MR. ASQUITH'S STRENGTH.

"At the moment there ran be no question that politically the most important personality in the country is Mr. Asquith," says the Spectator (a Unionist paper). "For the time lie completely dominates the political situation, and though Mr. Lloyd George may be more talked about, and may evoko greater enthusiasm at Radical meetings, it is Mr. Asquith to whom both his own followers and his opponents look for a decision in the present Parliamentary crisis. It is, indeed, in Parliament itself thH Mr. Asquith's strength essentially lies. He is, before all things, a great Parliamentarian. Mr. Gladstone once called himself 'an old Parliamentary hand.' Mr. Asquith cannot yet fully claim the first epithet, but he has already shown a power greater than Mr. Gladstone for managing Parliamentary situations. He succeeds because, by intuition or by training, he has acquired tho knack of extricating himself and his party from difficult Parliamentary situations. In the conditions , under which wo live tuioh a knack may almost bo described as a form of statesmanship." Mr. Asquith recently said he was the last person to'.'desire 'fixity 'of tenure. Having' been' now for eight years' in the discharge of important'and responsible duties, and for nearly six years at the head of the Government,' he was sure they would sympathise with the desire which ond who had been exposed to that experience would welcome as some measure of relief.

PUBLIC TRUST BUSINESS. Since the inauguration of his department in 1908 the British Public Trustee has transacted business to the value of over £110,000,000, Some 6000 trusts have been administered during that period, and these have in all involved a sum of £50,000,000. Other wills which have yet to mature, but of which the department has already been notified, amount to nearly £60,000,000. The average value of wills proved by the Public Trustee is about three times as great as tho average value of wills proved by private persons. This shows that, contrary to what might bo generally imagined, it is those whose meant are above tho average who make use of tho State TrusIce. They are in a position to appreciate the security afforded by a Public Department. On the other hand, services are freely rendered to a largo section of tho public whore estates are under £2000 in value. These smaller estates, indeed, constitute 43 per cent, of tho whole business transacted. Tho Public Trustee [joints out that it is increasingly difficult in all ranks and condition;) of life to find persons competent and willing to act as private executors and trustees. Many who aro really suited for these positions are too busy to carry out their duties efficiently. Money controlled by tho State department produces a good rate of interest. Oil an average trustee investments during the past year yielded £3 19s 4d and nmi-trusteo investments £4 10s Id per cent. Over £8,000,000 worth of stock is held in Home railways alone. The Public Trustee is now responsible for tho welfare of over 900 children, and he reports* a growing tendency to place funds raised by public subscription in his hands for administration. The Titanic Fund is keeping well within tho actuarial calculations, and, regarded as a trust estate, is now largely automatic. Although tho department, i 8 often forced to accept unremunera'J-e business its financial position is excellent. A cash surplus of £14,585 is reported, and if fees earned but not yet collected are included, the exiess of cash and assets over all expenditure since January, 1908, is £23,835.

SINGLE TAX THEORY. The recently issued report of the English Departmental Committee 011 local taxation is a document of considerable interest. This committee was appointed by Mr. Lloyd George, .and it is not unreasonable to assume that in selecting his nominees ho did not go out of his way to find peoplo who were opposed to his political views. The tribunal which lie selected was, to put. it mildly, a. friendly one. Yet this committee has reported unanimously against the single tax theory of local taxation. The committee consisted of 13 members. Seven of these expressed themselves opposed to any system of land value rating for local purposes. The remaining six signed a separate report, which begins with the statement: "We concur with our colleagues in rejecting, as impracticable and impolitic, any proposal to raise the whole amount of local rates by a rato on land values. A sudden transfer from the old to a new basis of rating would cause intolerable dislocation of values and tenures of property, and a complete transfer, even if only gradually effected, would bo open to other objectiomi." 1