GENERAL NEWS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 4946, 21 September 1914, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

Tlac report ol tlie Australian Oofnamodities Commission states that immediately war was declared the wholesale grocers raised the prices of imported commodities by 7J to 20 per cent., and in one case one hundred per cent. The Commission disclaims any intention to interfere with routine sales of perishable products so long as no attempt to corner the market is made. A Dunnevirke meat buyer for a large firm mentioned in converation with a News reporter that in view of the high prices which stock were bringing some Government suction should be taken. In a time like this it was unfair that those at Home who were fighting our battles should be made to pay excessively high prices for their meat. “If farmers took last year’s prices for beef and mutton,” he said, “they would do very well.” At present he was paying 33s per 1001 b for bullock beef for shop purposes in, Wellington, while nearer Napier as much as £2 per 100 lb had been paid. Last year the price was never much above 30s to 33s per 100. The same conditions existed regarding mutton, sheep being 5s dearer than last year, and from present appearances, unless something was done, prices were going to be exceptionally high right through, and the Old Land consumers would suffer for tile benefit of speculators, whom he considered were reaping the benefit. “Many people, have not the slightest idea,” he said, “of what a hold the Beef Trust has in the Dominion. A good lot of stuff that went away from New Zealand last year went through the Trust. The stock goes to the freezing works, it is sent Home and then we do not know where it goes. I think the Government should take action to make the price as reasonable as possible for those who are fighting our battles at Home.” What is described as a “cold-blood-ed and insulting letter” sent to a lady cost a man named Thomas Wood £lO and costs at the Palmerston North Court recently. The accused was charged with having caused to be delivered to Mary Emily Butler an indecent document, to nit, a letter. SulJ-Inspector Marsack eta tell that in July last, several advertisements appeared in a paper in the following words: “Gentleman in hotel business would like to meet a young lady to manage same. Will consider matrimony with suitable person.’;’ Mrs Butler answered the advertisement, and had an interview with accused, who stated that he was negotiating for several hotels. This was not true. Eventually accused arranged with Mrs Butler to manage a hotel, and she gave up a good position to do so. He then sent her the letter complained of. The consent of the So-Hieitor-Generai to the action whs handed to his Worship. Sub-inspec-tor Marsack contended that, from the scries of advertisements, the matter was planned deliberately, and the letter was written cold-bloodedly, and was a deliberate insult. On behalf of the prisoner, he added had he had been on a drinking bout at the time, and was drinking heavily.

Tn a speech at Gonvillo Mr W. A. Yeitch referred in vigorous terms to the exhibition of "blue funk” on the part of a nervous type of business man. Some of these, he said, were even afraid to pay their debts while the crisis lasted, because they were of raid they would have none left. There were people with money to invest, and good investments waiting for them, but they kept their money tied up. That spirit, if persisted in, was going to cause us the very trouble we wanted to avoid. There was not t.lio least occasion for it. Now Zealand was going to reap a big financial benefit by the war. The trade routes? were open, and we were going to get good prices for our foodstuffs and wool. There was ample civil it. in New Zealand. None of our wealth had run away. Every man, woman and child in New Zealand was worth just as much now as before the war. His advice to every business man would bo that while showing the same reasonable caution, as lie would at any time, he should keep as many o.f his employees as possible in employment. That was the surest way to avoid disaster. They should give lip croaking about the tremendous distress there was going to be in New Zealand. There was not going to lie any such tiling. The country was still here; it. could produce all the food its people wanted, and it. was litter nonsense to say it couldn’t. The greatest burden wo had was a few business pessimists. We wanted to got rid of the croakers and replace them with a few cheery optimists. E/veiryono, ino matter whether he could afford to give £IOOO or only lia-li a crown, should show that he a.-us in sympathy with and prepared to Ill'll) tin' Mother Country, and that he had every confidence in his