AFTER THE WAR.

Southland Times, Issue 17966, 6 March 1917, Page 4

AFTER THE WAR.

Among shrewd business men there are a number who anticipate that the conclusion of peace will be followed by a period of depression. So far as this country is concerned everything depends upon the maintenance of high prices for the products of the soil. If the markets for wool, meat, and dairy produce hold firm there is no reason to apprehend that in New Zealand any depression will set in after the war ends. Speaking generally we believe that the most reliable opinion is against the theory of postwar depression, but we are speaking now of New Zealand alone. The suggestion sometimes made that prices for our produce will slump after the war is not endorsed by those engaged in handling these commodities. As to meat, for instance, the C.C. and D. Co. points out in its annual report that as the result of the war new continental markets will ne opened for frozen meat. In all the belligerent countries serious inroads in the flocks and herds have been made, and for meat available there is likely to be a stronger demand even than before. European countries are expected to be serious competitors with the United Kingdom for supplies of frozen meat from oversea, and the influence of the war upon the markets will not cease with the restoration of peace. More than three years ago there was a very narrow margin between supply and demand, and as the result of war conditions the margin is still narrower. “The consumers in the United Kingdom,” says the C.C. and D. Co., “are not likely for some time to come to enjoy the benefits of those gluts of supply which have been experienced in past years. The competition of continental and possibly North American, markets will prevent a reversion to the level of prices which we regarded as normal before the war.” These anticipations are clearly well founded, and very similar arguments apply with respect to wool and dairy produce. After the war there must be a period of more or less acute dislocation while millions of men at present under arms are redrafted into civilian occupations. Conditions will be very unsettled, and the business world will probably be affected by a feeling of uncertainty similar to that which occurred immediately after the outbreak of war. But after the belligerent countries have settled back into peace conditions there is no reason why the world should not enter upon an era of great trade enterprise, expansion and prosperity. As to the particular case of New Zealand it is more than probable, it is almost certain, that our prosperity will not be affected as the effect of general conditions throughout the world will be to maintain the price of our products at a high level.

Almost the first man to get out of the stranded Mararoa at Orongorongo was e a camera man with a kinema-film outfit. He got on board a launch and after taking a dizzying film of the steamer from the launch got alongside tbs steamer in a dinghy, clambered on board and was soon busy turning the handle of his machine. The result of his efforts actually appeared on the screen in some of the Wellington theatres the same night. At the Mataura Horticultural and Industrial Exhibit Society's annual show last Wednesday the winners of most points in the various sections were as follows; —Pot plants arid cut flowers. Miss Edith Sleeman, 21 points; childrens section cut flowers, Miss Mary Sleeman, S points; fruit. Miss Edith Sleeman, 7; vegetables, Mr J. L. Mitchell, 27; miscellaneous and dairy produce, Mrs D. Gillanders, 20; farm produce, Mr W. Pryde, 23; industrial (juvenile section). Miss Flo McQuillan, 16; most points over whole show. Miss Edith Sleeman, 44. As the public are aware, some alterations were made last year by the Minister of Education which had the effect of stiffening up the regulations dealing with proficiency certificates. The Minister was asked by an Otago Times reporter if he could state the results of the examinations. In reply, the Hon. Mr Hanan said that Otago again headed the list, as it did in 1915. The percentage of proficiency and competency passes in Otago last year was 76 per cent., Wanganui 70, Auckland 69, Southland 68, Wellington and Marlborough C 5, Taranaki 65, and Canterbury 63. In Otago there were 1658 candidates, in Auckland 3574, in Wellington and Marlborough 1829, and in Canterbury 2556. The total for the dominion was 13,448, as compared with 12,232 in 1916. -

■lr James Allen has been advised that the second section of the 20th Reinforcements have arrived safely at their destination. Mr A. Hiscoke, was farewelled by the Club Hotel staff yesterday prior to his departure for Dunedin to join the battery at St. Kilda. At the Selinsky-Amadio concert tonight Miss Elsy Treweek will sing a song. "A World of Joy.” composed by Mrs Loughnan, of Christchurch, with flute accompaniment by Mr John Amadio. A Dunedin telegram states : As the result of raids on Saturday night Lottie Gollan was charged with keeping a house of 111-fame, and John James Roberts was charged with being a rogue and a vagabond. Each was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. At a large meeting of State school teachers in Christchurch on Saturday, the following motion was passed:—"That this meeting of teachers protest against the exemption from military service of school teachers of private sectarian schools, while the State school teachers are called upon to join the Expeditionary Forces.” A suggestion was made some time ago that school inspectors should be placed outside the cities, having assigned to them a section of a district in which they would reside and become responsible for the educational work in that section. The Hon. Mr Hannn was asked by an Otago Times reporter if any steps had been taken to carry out this sugge-stion, and, in reply, the honourable gentleman said that in Auckland recently he gave instructions to give effect to the proposal, and his instructions are now being carried out. The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times states that a returned soldier wrote to the secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, offering himself as a candidate for the Hawke’s Bay by-election. The proposal was considered at a meeting of the New Zealand Executive of the association, and the secretary explained that, as the organisation was non-political, he had replied that it was not concerned in the matter of candidates for Parliament. The reply was approved by the executive. In a letter to his agents in Wellington, Mr Henry North, of London, formerly in business in New Zealand, says; "My expenses here are very heavy, and the cost of living is very high. Income tax is 5/in the £, and will be higher. Landlord’s property tax is 5/- in the £, and rates

£l3 10/- on a £l3 house worth about £500; all tenants here have to pay rates above £25 rental, and find all gas or electric fittings: 24/- goes as far as 12/6 twelve months ago. What do you think of New Zealand mutton here, 1/4 per lb; steak, 1/10; eggs, 5/- and 6/dozen; sugar, 6d per lb; fish, from 2/4 a lb, and so on. I think it is time to see what New Zealand is like.” At the Railway Library on Friday evening a most successful function was held, being a send-off to Messrs Snodgrass and Crichton on final leave. The early part of the evening was devoted to dancing, there being a large attendance, with Mr Aldridge at the piano. An excellent supper was provided by the ladles. Extra dances were played by Misses Ollerenshaw and Snodgrass, and Mr Henricksen. Later the young men congregated, and a smoke concert was held. Mr Andrew Smith occupied the chair, »nd various toasts were honoured, hearty cheers being given for the departing guests.

The war roll of honour, compiled up to the beginning of December, embraces the names of one member of the Royal Family 14 peers, 21 baronets, 9 knights, and 9 M.P.'s: as many as 290 Companions, 114 isons of peers, 110 sons of baronets, and 150 sons of knights. The number of heirs to hereditary titles who have been killed during hostilities has now reached 118, while as an immediate result of the war in nearly 150 instances either the succession has been unduly precipitated or the normal descent changed. Succession to several other titles Is also left in doubt, and must necessarily for some time remains so, as the present holders or their heirs have been reported "missing.” Dr Hansen mentioned at last night's meeting of the Workers’ Educational Association that that body should approach the Borough Council, and make a strong claim for financial assistance. In other centres the municipal bodies strongly assisted the Association. ‘The Christchurch City Council, for Instance, yearly voted £3OO to the Technical College and £IOO to the Workers’ Educational Association. In Wellington and Auckland similar support was given. If the Invercargill Council voted only £lO It would help the Association’s finances. They wanted a library and other things and the Town Council should assist.

“The most interesting morning of my ■life,” said Dr Newman, M.P. for Wellington East, on his return from Europe on Tuesday, “was a visit to the front line of trenches in France, held at tiie time by the Wellington Rifles. The boys •were surprised to see a man not in khaki. They fired off a few rounds of the Stokes mortar for me, and 1 saw the bombs fly high and fall about the German trenches; and the machine guns of tiie Germans let oft a few rounds. They told me if I heard the rattle of tiie machine guns the bullets were past, and there was no danger, because bullets travelled faster than sound. Though my •visit fascinated me—still 1 like Lambton quay better. After visiting the front 3 feel I want to take my hat off to every one of our Infantry privates, for every man who has done his bit there is a real man and a perfect hero.”

“The plain duty of every loyal noncombatant at tho present time is to do his bit by working to the fullest extent of his power, in order that our production may not only be maintained, but increased, and by practising a reasonable measure of thrift and economy,” said the Hon. Arthur M. Myers (Minister of Finance) to a Wellington Post reporter on Thursday. “Our economic stability after the war depends very much on the attitude taken up at the present time by those who are responsible for the daily output of the nation In every department of industry. I would like to point out that, in my opinion, the cultivation of the habit of saving against the contingency of hard times that may come after )he war, and also of lending such savings to the State, Is a matter to which the thoughts of the whole community •bould be directed at tho present time.’’

The establishment of a branch of the T.W.C.A. in Invercargill has been fully Justified by results as is evident from the fact that there are fully 350 members, of whom 90 belong to the Girls’ Department. The record of the Invercargill branch compares very favourably with that of older branches in larger centres, in membership, in number of the educational classes and the attendance thereat, and in general growth. The rooms, which are very comfortable and well-equipped with reading matter, etc., are open all day, and are a great boon to girls at lunch hour, for those who have not time to go home can spend that hour there in comfort and rest, •nd can obtain tea, etc., at a nominal cost. The fete to be held to-morrow in the grounds of Mr A. F. Hawke, Duke Street, Gladstone, is in aid of the funds of the Association, so as to enable it to widen Its sphere of influence and do yet more efficient work among our girls.

An extraordinary find was made on Saturday afternoon at St. Heller's Cay (Auckland) by a resident, Mr F. C. Hutchinson. While walking along the beach east of the wharf, he saw something white in the sand near the mouth of the creek, just above high water mark. On examining it he unearthed a skull, and after some further investigation with a trowel, laid bare three complete human skeletons, two of adults and one of a child about three years of age. All three were covered with about nine inches of sand. They lay with ,feet pointing in various directions, the assumption being that they were those of Maoris, seeing that Europeans, if buried in such a spot, would be laid side by side. One s-kull bears a round perforated hole, which seems to indicate that the owner met with a violent death. The teeth are complete and perfectly sound, an unusual thing except in a Maori. Mr Hutchinson communicated with the constable at Ellerslie, but the latter, being convinced that the skeletons were those of natives and that the deaths had taken place maJiy years ago, decided to take no official notice of the matter. MATHESONS, LTD., stock the genuine "No Rubbing” Laundry Help. 1/- packets with “Thinkers” Notebook free. Don’t be humbugged with mere Imitations!

Save your money and buy your Groceries for prompt cash, from BAXTER’S, Dee street. "Small profits; quick returns.”

Beautifully clean clothes without rubbing. "Easy Monday” Laundry Help does It Packets, 1/-; does eight weekly .t;asblnca>

The winner of the sheep-guessing competition at the Caledonian Society's Gymkhana was Mrs Lea, of Ocean Beach, who guessed the correct weight, 1051bs. Other correct guesses were made by H. Buckingham (Drummond), C. Stead (Greenhills), and J. H. Stephens (North road).

All British, new Tweed Hats, Caps, Neckwear, Shirts, etc.—UNDRILL’S, opp. Post Office.

Quality is the keynote of THOMSON & BEATTIE'S goods, and in these days of high prices it pays to buy quality goods. Amongst the new goods now showing are some exceedingly smart English Worsteds for Costumes. Also the ever popular Navy Coating Serges with a full guarantee for fast colours. Costumes from these superior fabrics can be made for you at prices from £6 to £7 15/-.

"The weak I will make strong.”—Wilcox. Such is the message of Baxter’s Lung Preserver to those who suffer from coughs and colds, sore throat, or weak lungs. Its unique medicinal properties have proved of the utmost value In building health and strength. Quickly overcomes coughs and colds, heals throat soreness, promotes the health of the lungs, vitalises the whole system. Popular for fifty years—a sure guarantee of its efficacy. 1/10 could not be better invested than in procuring a big bottle of Baxter’s Lung Preserver. Sold everywhere.

LADIES’ COATS. —F,very lady should see this high-class selection —every Coat specially selected. Tweed Coats in all wool, beautiful refined patterns, sellingat 52/6, 57/6, 60/-, 65/-, 72/- to 90/-; Tweed Coats, fur-lined, for motoring, 6, 7 and 3 guineas. Many Tweed Coats at 25/-, 25/-, 40/-, and 45/-. Rainy weather Coats in covert, gabardine,\ rainproof, materials, newest designs with and without belts, nice large patch pockets and perfect fitting. K.O.S. J a speciality. Prices, 25/-, 39/6, 47/6, s*/6 to 90/-. Sports Coats in tweeds, wool, silk, and silk and cotton mixtures; all colours. See windows and showroom at H. & J. SMITH’S Progressive Store. x

Tee largest and most up-to-dat* Garage in the Dominion is now being constructed for Messrs G. W. WOODS AND CO. on the same site as their oid premises. In the meantime the Garigo is in Leven Street, and the Offices upsiulru in the federal Buildings. Full stocks of cars and accessories are now on hand. x

Sheets, table-cloths, everymlng In the washing made spotless without rubbing by using "Easy Monday” Laundry Help.

Having in view the not far distant dates on which the Easter Holidays fall, Messrs PRICE & BULLEID, Ltd., Tay street, hawe "got off the mark” in good time with their new Autumn and Winter stocks of Millinery and Dress goods to ensure special orders being executed in either the Millinery or Dressmaking workrooms in ample time. Having thoroughly qualified experts in charge of these two departments, customers may rely on perfect satisfaction every time, combined with prompt delivery and, what is of great importance, a moderate charge. Anticipating heavy bookings for Easter trade, intending customers would be well advised to look into the Costume or Millinery question at an early date to ensure delivery, as Messrs Price & Bulleid, Ltd., only book orders that are sure to be finished by the date promised. Simply steep, toil, rinse; don’t rub. Use "Easy Monday” Laundry Help. Clothes spotless. 1/- packet lasts eight weeks. Grocers.

FIRESTONE DOUBLE-CUBE TYRES—DOUBLE DISTANCE TYRES.

In addition to extra quality In seven places, Firestone Tyres are Double-cured —slowly and gently. This makes the rubber and fabric one uniform whole—the tyre is no longer a series of layers, but one unit of strength. Because the "curing” is slow and gentle, there is no terrific heat to scorch the stamina out of the rubber and fabric—Firestones are truly "live rubber" Tyres. These are reasons why you get "most miles for the money" in Firestones. If your garage is out of stock, write to P. H. VICKERY, Southland Agent. x

The summer holidays are approaching and many people will be arranging for the vacation thai they have so well earned. Holidays are necessary in the best of times, and they are all yie more necessary In these days when those who are not fighting are shouldering extra burdens. The utmost effort of the Empire's manhood and womanhood Is called upon, and it is essential that everybody should keep absolutely fit. There must be hundreds, in fact thousands. in Southland for whom a Change is essential, and these will be interested in bags and trunks ic which to carry their belongings. A little good advice may not be out of place. There are bags and bags. You can buy a suit case, a Gladstone bag, a kit bag, or a brief bag, that will last one journey, or, for a few shillings more you can buy a real leather article that will last for years. Which is the better bargain? la any argument needed? Go to Ritchie and Co., Dee street, whore you can buy guaranteed real leather bags, and where you will have the biggest selection in Southland to choose from. You run no risk. You get an. absolute guarantee—and you will get satisfaction. You will also get better value, because Ritchie and Co. are 'argo buyers and can sell on a small margin.

SYNOPSIS NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.

On page 1— •Wanted, girl. Wanted, youth. Lost, necklet. For sale, dogs. House to let. Found, bicycle. Wanted, rooms. Wanted, bushmen. Wanted, boarders. For sale, motor cars. For sale, typewriters. Try Baxter's Hava tea. Position of book-keeper fined. Tenders called for asphalting, etc. Sewing machines, etc., at London Piano Co. On page 3 Albion Pictures at 2 and 7, Grand Pictures at 2 and 7. Popular Pictures at 2 and 7. Selinsky-Arnadio concert in Theatre at 8. See Sketches of Anzac at Victoria Hall tills week. W.C.T.U. meets to-day at 3. Notice re Stewart Island service. Try "Standard Lacqueret"—Smith and Laing, Ltd. Send-off 27th Reinforcements, Municipal Theatre, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Garden Fete at Gladstone on Wednesday afternoon at 2.30. On page 4 Serviceable footwear for men and boys at The Red Boot, Tay street. A few final sale bargains at McGruer, Taylor’s. On page G Wymlharn stock sale, Thursday, March Sth. Woodlands, stock, sale, Thursday, March Sth.