The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. SATURDAY, JULY 22nd, 1916. CURRENT TOPICS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7752, 22 July 1916, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. SATURDAY, JULY 22nd, 1916. CURRENT TOPICS.

Red Cross Work. When Mr David McLaren visited Waipawa a few months ago he made a stirring appeal on behalf of the Red Cross Society. As a direct result of that appeal the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee decided to devote the net proceeds of their shop on the last Saturday in each month to the fund, and also to hold a weekly sewing meeting for the making up of garments for the use of wounded soldiers. The former proposition has resulted in nearly £6O worth of goods being sent forward in two months, but the sewing meeting has hardly been the success hoped for by those most keenly interested in the work. Attendance at the meetings has not been encouraging, and the work is falling on the shoulders of two or three enthusiastic workers in the patriotic cause. This is not as it should he. Everyone is directly interested in seeing that our wounded do not suffer for want of comforts and hospital necessaries, and equally everyone can contribute a share in the work, however small it may be. An ample supply of ihaterial already cut out is available at the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee’s room, and the hon. secretary is in attendance every Thursday afternoon to hand material to workers and receive made-up articles. It is to be hoped that this gentle reminder will have the desired effect. • • • Six O’clock Closing. A very decided stand has been taken by the Government on the question of the early closing of hotels, and iifdeed it is didicult to see how it could have been otherwise. The only alternative is a referendum, which would involve the country in very heavy expenditure at a time when everyone is advised to practice economy. Advocates of six o’clock closing will, of course, say that the adoption of their' view would mean a proportionate saving to the public. But that is not the point. Any alteration of the hour for the closing of hotels would mean big claims for compensation, and there is no call at the present time to arouse embittered feeling over a subject of such a strong controversial nature. If Parliament passes an antishouting law which can be made effective it will have achieved more than many people think possible. For the rest it is better to leave well alone at this stage. t f I The Price of Meat. A matter of considerable public interest was ventilated in the House by Mr G. Witty, member for Riccarton. He called the Prime Minister’s attention to a letter appearing in a Christchurch paper in which it was stated that the Imperial Government was making 12s 6d on every lamb carcase sent from New Zealand, i The lambs were sold to them at 12s 6d less, so that they could be sold at a cheaper rate to the people of Great Britain.; He asked whether the Prime Minister would see that the people of New Zealand got the chance of cheaper meat as against the people in the Old Country, unless the meat was needed for the troops. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey said that he had not sufficient data to reply to the question. He thanked the hon. member for calling his attention to tfie statement that the Imperial Government were making a profit of 12s 6d on each lamb carcase. Part of the mutton sent from New Zealand was used for the troops, but none of the lamb, lie would have the matter looked into. Correspondence had been passing on that very subject between the High Commissioner and himself, and he hoped to be able to make a statement in a day or two. Instead of the cost of placing the lamb on the British market being 2d a lb, it was costing no less than 2£d. There were many charges that the people of New Zealand didn’t think of, and which had not been thought of before the war. Through the shortage of shipping, the Imperial Board of Trade had to pay very high charges for the storage of meat in New Zealand. Approximately, there were two million carcases in store in the Dominion, and that had to be paid for after the first month. At the other end, also, the Board of Trade had got three million carcases in store. They also had to be paid for; and there were commissions, and so on, which all mounted up. As soon as he had the particulars he would make a statement on the mat* ter. Mr Witty asked whether it would not be better to sell the meat in New Zealand and not pay storage. Mr Massey said that the price paid in New Zealand was regulated by the

price paid by the Imperial Governernment, and he was convinced that the price of meat would have been very much higher in New Zealand, especially ift the winter, if the arrangement had not been made with the Imperial Board of Trade to take over the whole of the meat available for export.