NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Waipa Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 1009, 21 October 1920, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

SUGGESTED BUTTER BONUS

IN putting forward its case for a butter bonus the Trades and Labour Council computes that the workingclass household consumes one pound of butter per head per week. Averaging households as comprising five persons each it thus reaches the conclusion that a special bonus of 2/6 a week should be paid to all workers to meet the increased cost of butter that they and four dependants a-piece—-which they may or may not possess—may or may not consume. Bread and butter, we are told, is the main article of food at two meals a day in working-class households. If the Trades Council statistics of consumption are representative we should say it was not bread and butter, but better and bread, that is eaten. The general consumption shows an average of half-a-pound of butter per head per week for. the Dominion, but the Trades Council protests that this does not apply to the families of trades unionists. . We should like to hear how much bread goes with this pound of butter per head per week It is not a case, we hope, of Falstaff's halfpenny worth of bread to two gallons of sack. Britain has got along in good health on a ration of two ounces of butter a week, but the Trades Council wants provision for the consumption by one New Zealander of eight Englishmen's rations. There is moderation in all things, but not in Trades Council appetites.

FUTURE OIL SUPPLY. THE future supply of oil is of supreme importance to an ever-increas-ing number of industries. Doubts have recently been expressed that the supply of oil was likely, in the future to prove unequal to the demand. The Petroleum Times, which is published in London, has no fears of such a contingency. In a leading article published in its issue of July 17 last the paper says that "in spite of all the pessimism we hear as to the inability of the oil-producing fields of the United States to even meet their own requirements in oil, it can be asserted with safety that the production of crude oil in America has now reached figures which far surpass all previous records, and if only the same success continues to attend oilfield operations as that which has characterised them during the first half of the present year, the total 'crude oil production of the United States for 1920 will exceed 400,000,000 barrels, or approximately 60,000,000 tons." Such a definite statement from an authoritative source is distinctly re assuring, and though the editorial admits that there is still considerable difficulties in securing regular equipment, for oilfields operations, field work'in the whole of America's oilproducing States is proceeding far more actively than was possible iif the earlier months of the year. The impetus of high prices has stimulated oil production and caused widespread development operations even in the old oil regions. As might be expected however, "wild-catting," is being indulged in "to a degree never registered before." Another element which contributes to an increasing oil supply is the deeper drilling which is taking place i» some regions. This deeper drilling* has tapped new oil horizons, and the Petroleum Tinfes knQws of no case where it has totally failed to reveal new and hitherto untouched oil reserves, and a considerable portion of the increased American output is due to deeper drilling. "Large as America's oil production has been in the past," concludes the editorial, "there is not the slightest doubt that by a continuance of. the present activity a large gain will be registered, not merely for the present year, but for a long time to come. As in the past, the United States is showing its capability to 'deliver the goods."

The widespread resentment displayed at the increased price of butter was illustrated the other day on the waterfront by a somewhat significant incident, reports the Dunedin Times. It was an exchange of views between a Customs man and a waterside worker. Said the Customs man to the watersider: You fellows will have the moral support of the whole community behind you in blocking the export of butter. It is profiteeiing pure and simple. "Yes," replied the watersider, "that is all very well, but what about you Customs men taking the moral support of the community behind you and refusing to clear the butter ships. No ship can leave port until the Customs clears her." This retort was evidently unexpected, for the Customs man scratched his head, and rumour says he preferred to remain an element of the moral support of the community, rather than a factor of that direct action which he was prepared to applaud as a policy for the waterside workers. Imperfect digestion of food produces acidity—flatulence and sick headache. Sharland's Magnesia—corrects the acidity, relieves the flatulence and removes the headache. Sold everywhere. M 3