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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16547, 23 September 1919, Page 2

It is highly satisfactory to find that the French have found it possible to make a very considerable reduction in tho peace establishment of their army. Tho number will now be 350,000 instead of 518,000 in France, and about 90,000, besides natives, in the colonial army. The period of service with tho colours will also be reduced from three years to one year. This last change will be a groat relief to France, for recently young men have had to spend tho years from 20 to 23 in military training. The extension from two to 'three years was made in the attempt to compete with the army provided by ihe larger population of Germany. There are people who complain

that to ask young New Zealanders to spend four months in camp, so as to he reasonably prepared to defend their’ country, would be too great an interference with industry and would materially reduce our efficiency. It is curious that in Germany, whore two years’ military service was demanded, there was no lack of business efficiency, in fact the complaint was flint the Germans were running rings round us. Even trance, with three years military service, showed considerable efficiency in trade, despite the fact that she was short of both coal, and iron. Japan also puts her young men into training for two or three "years without dropping behind in the race for wealth. The Dominion will shortly have to make a definite decision as to military sendee, and it is wise to look outside our own little islands before deciding that military training is ruinous to morals and business as well as unnecessary owing to the possible, creation of a League of Nations.

If our correspondent has gathered from our comments that there is no profiteering in Now Zealand ho cannot have road very carefully. As to the remedy, he seems to have none except to “do something” to the Government, presumably put it out of office and substitute another. But no Government in anv country has succeeded in stampinn- out profiteering on preventing the cost of living from rising, and it would seem that no Government is likely to succeed. The people can apply a much more effective remedy if they choose. In July last a food boycott on a small scale was established by Jewish women in Dorchester and Mattapan (Mass.) In a few days jncat was down seven cents a pound. Attention was then turned to fish and poultry, and other food products would receive attention later if necessary. But the bakers had taken the hint and dropped the price of bread from 20 to 14 cents a loaf without waiting for any application of the boycott. We have not suggested going without food as a means of bringing the cost of living down, but it is not so much in respect

to foodstuffs as to clothing, etc., that prices have become unreasonably high. And in respect to those we repeat, without intending to bo “humourous,” that the people have the remedy largely in their own hands by “making shift” as it were until prices' drop. _ There is profiteering no doubt, and it will continue as long as trades and industries are so rushed with custom that they cannot fulfil all their orders. If “F.D.” can suggest a bettor check to piofiteoring than that of “doing without” wo shall bo glad to hear of it. Changing Governments is a slow process and probably not an effective one, but if no one will give half a guinea for a .pair of gloves which ought to be sold at less than half the price the trader will soon modify his demand.