AT THE TEA TABLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12090, 26 June 1920, Page 5

AT THE TEA TABLE.

SOME TOPICAL TALKS. “What is this!” exclaimed the Critic. ‘‘Surely there must be some mistake! I read that the Victorian Fair Profits Commission has alleged that the Victorian woollen mills have been making undue profits. Now I remember that these mills were established on the ground that they would supply the people with cheaper goods and the people so firmly believed this that they agreed to charge a high duty on imported woollens to keep out the manufactures ot the Motherland,” “Don’t you know” said the Sage, “that the people always have to pay dearly when trade is restricted for the benefit of mouopol'.sts? In this case it seems fairly certain that the public have been fleeced by two methods—by the State Customs duty and by the monopolist profiteer.” “Why is it?” asked the Cynic, “that our Board of Trade, that bores

all other traders, particularly the little fellows, has not tacaled the question of how much profit our woollen mills are making? Is it because they are large concerns and it is preferable to war on the weak? Or is it because some of our politicians are interested? I tnink the hooka of all companies who are working under the shelter of a restrictive tariff should be examined thoroughly. Ido not mean examined by ordinary auditors, whose chief business is to ascertain whether they are correct, but by competent and independent business men who will ascertain the actual profits, even when these may he camouflaged hy the process of writing down assets or other devices. ”

“Trade, like Charity, covers a multitude of sins,” remarked the Critic. “Some nations that were recently horrified by the diabolical actions of the Bolshevists are now ready to grip their bloodstained hands and give them the benefit of trading. Greed for profit must surely have a benumbing effect on conscience and obliterate all thought of the interests of humanity and civilisation, I notice that Canadian manufacturers have clasped hands with the Bolsheviks for a bribe of a million of money in exchange for railway material. ” “That’s nothing,” said the Oynie. “The British Labour Party want to embrace the Bolshies, whom they evidently regard as brothers. Probably, however there, is little difference between the British anarchist andjffie Bolshevik. Their languages are different, but they have the same aims,”

“Salary grabbers are evidently very unpopular in' 1 Australia just now,” remarked the Politician. “It ought to be a warning to our. politicians not to grab too much, when they notice that every candidate for the first seat vacant since the theft is pledged to repeal the Bill under which legislators legalised looting. ”

“What do the Australian politicians care for unpopularity?” said the Cynic “They will take care that their seats will be secure at least for three years. They may even extend their term of office, as onrs did, or go even better, making it for the term of their natural lives. In the meantime they have collared the cash and will continue to do so as long as they can possibly retain their seats. It is dirty money, but it will buy as much as if it were clean.” “Which reminds me,” said the Critic, “that Australia is unlikely to get much more money from Britain, whose capitalists are beginning to realise that Australia’s policy is not only impoverishing her, but is attacking their interests. ” “Those who subsidise opposition are fools,” remarked the. Critic. “That not only injures the helper but usually makes those helped ungrateful and apt to regard the action as a sign of weakness.”

“The fact that the Australian financial Institutions are offering high prices for money,” said the Sage, “shows that things are perilously near a collapse. ” “My chief fear, said the Cynip, “is lest the Australian action Will force up the rate of interest in our own country.” A JAYE PENNE.