NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Waipa Post, Volume XII, Issue 942, 15 May 1920, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE PRINCE

WE know what sort of impression the Prince of Wales has made in New Zealand. But what impression has New Zealand made on the Prince ? Straws show how the wind blows. In a letter to a little Maori girl at Greytown who presented him with a mat the Prince says he is pleased to accept it as a souvenir of his first visit to New Zealand. This may legitimately be taken as indicating a desire on the part of our Royal guest that his first visit shall not be his last. New Zealanders will hope that before many years have passed they may have the pleasure of entertaining next time both a Prince and a Princess of Wales.

THE COMMANDEER

THE decision of the Imperial authorities to sell the commandeer mutton at sixpence represents a big loss, but will probably prove the shortest and least expensive way out of a difficult position. On March 15 the price was fixed at ninepence a pound so that the new figure represents a drop of fifty per cent. The Government has paid an average of about fivepence a pound for the mutton, and on top of this hasthe freight and cold storage and establishment charges. A recent estimate put the loss with the price at sixpence at from seven to ten millions sterling. There appears to be some dispute ab to the exact quantity of meat remaining in store, but it is undoubtedly large, and we shall be lucky if the 'glut is ended twelve months hence. Sixpence a pound to the butchers means about a shilling a pound retail for the best cuts, which is about half what English home-grown meat was fetching a few weeks back. At this figure there should be room for a decided increase in consumption. ' It is welcome news also that shipments of New Zealand meat have meanwhile been disposed of in th« United States, as it will help materially to ease the situation. 9