GENERAL NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14256, 6 January 1920, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS

Speaking of the babies of England brings to mind the fury all decent Englishmen and women are feeling just now at the presence of Germans In London at this “Fight the Famine Conference.’’ This discussion is over the 140,000 cows which the Germans stole irom Prance and Belgium during the war, and which the peace terms demand to be returned. The Huns argued that they did it to save the lives of the German babies. We now intend to save the lives of Belgian and French oabiea, who are sadly needing good, pure milk. But this is not the only thing which is infuriating British people, but the fact that people like Lady Courtenay and Lord and Lady Parmoor are actually entertaining these 'brutal people to dinner. The former actually gave a dinner party to the Germans at her house in Cheyne walk, Chelsea. The press here is naturally ringing with denunciation. It was kept very dark, or 1 fear the Huns would have had a bad time, for dozens of demobilised men, the fathers who had lost sons in the war, \vere waiting to give these men—well not the sort of welcome they would have cared about. I for one feel ashamed to think these people, who want to make friends with a nation who have shown themselves *o be without honour or even respectability of any sort should call themselves British. —London correspondent. In a letter from London to a gentleman in Balclutha, Sir Thomas Mackenzie says: I ‘As you know, we have successfully passed through a great crisis, caused by the railway strike. It in part arose through the poor conditions which prevailed for so many years in the railway service, and the fear of some that wages might be reduced. Profiteering also must have had an enormous influence upon the minds of the railwayman. One wonders how men with families can live on what in called the maximum wage. Eggs to-day are 5Jd each, and other foods priced in proportion. As for clothes, it seems that the place is fairly mad. My wife went the other day to buy a mantle, and the lowest-price one in the shop waa £l5O, which she could not look at. For ray own part I had put off buying eiothee for a long time, but recently was obliged to buy tvro suits, one at 14 guineas and one at 18 guineas, and four guineas for an extra pair of trousers. I have just ordered a dozen cotton shirts at 25s each, and for lining the shoulder in a coat £4 10s waa charged. On<f wonder whether, if price continue so high, the country will ever again be able to attain td commercial and manufacturing prominence. Jf prices do not go down, countries like Zealand will be afforded the opportunity for developing industries for which they have the raw material; indeed, the c'nft of living and conditions there are 'Car better than in the Older Lands.”

“The woollen and worsted goods trade is still holding its quiet trend,” stated “American Prices Current” last month. “Clothiers are still bringing their influence to bear in the men’s wear field to induce early action on the new heavy-weight season. Openings next _ month would be in accordance with ideas expressed in some quarters, but w'.' ( , pasted mill agents regard this S 5 h little too early. The raw wool situation is not unlikely to change in tone during the next six months. Even Wool dealers themselyes are showing evidence of belief that some of the efforts nbw being made may succeed in reducing the price of wool. It is understood that the attitude of the Boston wool trade is now in favour of a protest against further shipment of Australian wool for auctioning there after the initial shipment now arranged for. Worsted yarn spinners show a conservatism of sentiment which is leading to the condition where some refuse to take advantage of the Immediate situation to sell far ahead at top prices. They would prefer to do business on a lower basis if that could be brought about easily and naturally, and they will give it a chance to develop.”