AT THE TEA TABLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12065, 29 May 1920, Page 5

AT THE TEA TABLE.

SOME TOPICAL TALKS. “How will this country fare after the meat commandeer ends on 30th June?” enquired the Critic “There are some who believe that it will mean injury to our trade and industries. Dr ing the last five years the commandr r has meant that the Imperial Government has paid or is to pay ns, nearly 150 millions of money. ” “We should have received millions more if the mniket had been free,” said the Politician “The Imperial Government did not commandeer to benefit our producers, but to secure fell supplies for the British people, and protect them against what would have been the natural consequence of scarcity, that is high prices. Where they benefited us was in protecting the trade routes and providing steamers to take away our produce. Where they have blundered has been iu allowing tbe storage rooms to be glutted. The only thing that may injuriously affect us by the cessation of the commandeer is if it prevents us from obtaining th® freight carriers. ’ ’ “But what about the storage room?” asked the Sage, “What will be the use of getting carriers if they have to remain at the docks with full cargoes?” “The Imperial Government will have to clear the stores iu its ovvm interests,” said the Critic, “for the meat is deteriorating every day, and there are starving nations in Europe to whom it should be sent at once,” “What effect will the termination of the commandeer have on land values?” asked the Critic. “Some think it may plunge into difficulties those who have been giving high prices for laud, and I notice that some leading (iuauciers are of the same opinion. Others consider that it will not so seriously affect those who have held their land for many years, and who successfully weathered the storms when meat was practically unsaleable, dairying had not developed, and wool netted about fourponce per pound, if the grower was lucky. They say these will b® merely ‘as you were,’ while th® others will be ‘as you weren’t’ because the latter have locked ap their capital iu the laud.” “I don’t share those opinions,” said the Cynic. “I have noticed that if one product of the laud falls iu value the producers speedily turn their attention to something else that will yield results just as good. It is quite possible, of course, that unreasoning panic may affect land values, hut on the face of it the removal of the commandeer, which means a free market, should give the producers even bettor results. The whole world is in want of our products, and it is only a question of getting them to market. You may trust our traders to fin ; a way. There is absolutely no reason to be afraid of the future. If you can get hold of a good farm at current rates, don’t be foolish enough to let the chance slip by iu the hope of getting it cheaper later on, for the odds are a thousand to one that you will be disappointed if you do.”

“I wonder when we may cease wondering nt Yankee impudence,” said the Critic. “The Americans seem to believe that they should influence and even control the actions of all the other nations. The marvel is that they have this effrontery when their cherished Monroe Doctrine prohibits other nations interfering in their affairs. The other day’ a State Secretary in Washington actually asserted that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee conld take any action it thought fit concerning resolutions relating to the Irish question ” “Modesty never was a Yankee characteristic,” remarked the Cynic. “Still you cannot question the right of any people to do as they please. Their exercise of it may be foolish or offensive, but as one of tbe *ankee poets himself said ‘The right to ba a cussed fool is safe from all devices human; it’s common, as a general rule, to ever critter born of woman ”

“It doesn’t natter what tho Yankees 3ii3* to .1-1 c;tain or about her,” s-iid the Sage “Her Statesmen will still pursue their objects perfectly unruffled and will merely smile when she bird o’ freedom squawks. Sir Auckland Geddos, I notice, has just been telling them flow Britain feel in regard to eomc-matters, and it n just possible that he may lead them into better ways.”

“Mr Massey has stated,” said the Politician, “that fie is extremely pleased with the personnel o' his ussy Parliament. So ho ought to be, considering that ho has a good majority on whom he can rely. He was particularly complimentary to the new members or the ‘colts’as he called them.” “I hope the driver of the State coach will guide those colts along the right course,” said the Sage, “and that- at the same time he will not beep his reins too tight, for we do-uot want ‘dumb, driven cattle’ as our representatives, but men who will have opinions of their own and the courage so express them and to act on them, even though in some cases these may not precisely accord with tho views of their leader. Unless I am nvrtrknn some of the new members w.ll oe something more than mere voting machines. I want tc ass Mr Maseey introduce some real reforms, and fibers is cortainly ample scope for him. So far we have been suffering from over government, and rvo want greater liberty in many things, as well as restoration of the power of law and th« authority of Government. A JAYE PENNE.