WEATHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17711, 4 December 1925, Page 6

WEATHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

MEAT EXPORT TRADE. There are unmistakable signs that the New Zealand sheep farmer will receive less this season than last for his produce. Mr A. R. Ilassan, an authority on the Australian meat export trade, reports already a heavy fall in the values of mutton and lamb in London, and the possibility of a further decline next month. Ilis remarks on the situation were given in a cablegram published on Wednesday. As the selling season for wool in New Zealand opened in Wellington last year with what have since proved to be excessive prices, and then fell away to the discomfiture of buyers and speculators, so,prices were paid for sheep and lambs for the export trade that involved exporters in very heavy losses. So much has l>een admitted in reports made public of several freezing companies in the Dominion who lxmght stock for export as meat. Prices paid for stock were not sustained, or anything like sustained, by consumers, and the position was made worse for the buyer hv the decline in the values of wool and skins and some other by-products of the freezing industry. Now a recasting of ideas will have to be made, and the matter is one of New Zealand importance. seeing that the value of meat exports last year was roughly £10.000.000. of which mutton and lamb represented £5.500.000. The Dominion must expect to have a reduction in its returns from mutton and lamb, unless the difference is to be made up in volume—that is, more meat for the same money—“ Post.” Wellington.

MR CHAMBERLAINS REWARD. Some old-time aristocrats who wore the decoration of which it was said that there was “ no d d nonsense of merit about it ” may turn in their graves at the thought of a commoner like Mr Austen Chamberlain receiving the Garter. Why, he does not even belong to an old family; his father made screws! The Garter, however—the most coveted of the English orders of chivalry—is sometimes given for distinction alone. Nobles like the Duke of Marlborough and the Duke of Portland wear it solely because of their rank. Others, such as Lord Rosebery, Lord Derby and Lord Salisbury, combine public service with membership of the high aristocracy. Lord Grey of Fallodon, Lord Milner and Lord Kitchener were given it purely for service to the State. Mr Austen Chamberlain receives it for his share in the Locarno Pact. These recognitions have an importance in England that may seem strange to colonials. When Kitchener was attacked by the Northclilfe Press Mr Asquith recommended him for the Garter. It was a means of showing the nation that Kitchener had the confidence of his Sovereign and the Government. Mr Chamberlain deserves the honour. He has done at least as much as any other statesman to frame the Locarno Pact and secure its ratification.—“ Star,” Auckland. EULL PARTNERSHIP. It is somewhat incongruous that while the world is congratulating itself on the signing of the Locarno Treaty Lord Jellicoc should make an appeal on behalf of the British Navy. With one Washington Conference completed and another in prospect our late Gover-nor-General sets the annual appropriation for naval purposes at £69,000.000. This is nearly double the expenditure in 1909-10 and over one-third more than that for 1914-15. It is, perhaps, natural that a navy man should believe that a huge naval expenditure is necessary, even when the Powers show that they regard war of all classes as extravagance; but, if there is any sincerity at all in the appeal for a reduction of armaments, the invitation should be extended to all countries possessing navies and the restriction should be in money, not in ships. There is no reason why the people of the United Kingdom should be heavilytaxed to keep up the tradition of the Navy, for expensive fleets in a world revealing convincing signs of war-wcari-ness are undoubtedly a luxury. With the leading principle contained in Lord Jellicoe's article we are entirely in agreement. The dominions should contribute more liberally towards the amount it is considered advisable to expend, and our share is not exorbitant, if it is agreed that we cannot maintain adequate strength for less than £69.000.000 annually.—“ Southland DailyNews.” APPEASEMENT AND RECONCILIATION. No treaty- ever drafted was in itself a guarantee of stable peace, but there is nevertheless a great deal to support the high hopes awakened in Europe and throughout the world by the signing of the Locarno Pact. These hopes derive substance and reality- less from what is embodied in the treaty itself, important as that is. than from the earnest and cordial spirit in which the representatives of the European nations have co-operated in what his Majesty the King has well described as a great work of appeasement and reconciliation. It is not very long since the note of truculent defiance sounded by- the German Nationalists seemed likely to dominate and determine the policy of their country. On the other hand. Britain and the other Allied countries which more or less shared her views appeared to have poor prospects of inducing France to modify the uncompromising attitude that found expression, early in 1923, in the occupation of the Ruhr. To-day international relations in Europe are happily- transformed. Not the Allies only-, but the Allies and Germany are associated in laying the foundations of “ a great collective work for the continuity of European civilisation.” The agreement reached in these conditions is nobly planned. It creates no alliance of any kind, but is in essence an exchange of mutual guarantees to uphold the law of nations, and to cooperate in bringing to a peaceful settlement whatever disputes may- arise.— “ The Dominion." Wellington. GAMBLING* AND HYPOCRISY. The. announcement of another art union with prizes amounting to £SOOO will occasion widespread surprise and resentment in view of the declaration by- the Minister for Internal Affairs three mont.hs ago that no further permits would be granted for the disposal of larger amounts than £SOO. Subsequently, a statement by his Department on the supervision of these lotteries included an explanation that the limitation would not be imposed on applications then in hand, but it is doubtful whether there was general appreciation of the significance of that qualification. Its meaning is now demonstrated by the dimensions and the character of the Oamaru enterprise. How many more applications for £SOOO sweepstakes were in the Department’s hands at the end of August? Are they all to be granted, at intervals of three or four months, so that the actual value of the limitation will be indefinitely- postponed, and the countryencouraged to indulge in gambling for several years? These are questions which the Minister should certainly

answer. It is sheer hypocrisy 1 o describe these huge sweepstakes as art unions and to pretend that alluvial gold is anything more dignified than hard cash, which the Department professes to ban—The “ Herald,” land.