DAY BY DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14267, 19 January 1920, Page 4

DAY BY DAY.

A shortage of any essential commodity has the invariable effect Hamilton of increasing the demand ' Sugar for it, at the *same time Hoarders bringing into greater evi-

dence that outstanding trail in human nature—selfishness. Immediately the average person learns that something he or she wants is about to become scarce, they rush out to corner as much of that article as possible, without the least consideration for the needs of others. The law in England during the war was very severe upon food hoarders, and rightly so, for otherwise it would have meant that the rich would have cornered the supplies to the starvation of those in a less fortunate position. The people of New Zealand do not know what it is to suffer a shortage of foodstuffs, and perhaps a few weeks of standing- in queues for hours at a stretch on cold, wintry days with snow thick upon the ground, for a few ounces of food of which previously they had been receiving pounds, would he an excellent lesson to some of the gourmands who are at present gobbling up all the sugar possible. If certain people persist in this kind of thing-, it simply means that if the storekeepers don't take action themselves by absolutely refusing supplies where hoarding is suspected, then the Government will have to resort to individual rationing, as in England.

The coal shortage is wide in its effects. Hardly an industry exists Shortage the vitality of which is of not dependent on a supply Cement. of the fuel that is conspicuous by its shortness. jn fact every branch of industry throughout the Dominion is either directly or indirectly a sufferer. There is one productive agency which has been allowed. to suffer inordinately, namely, the cement-making industry. Though inconspicuous in itself, its absence in any degree of bulk causes it to become a product of importance. A realisation or this has been forced on to carpenters; 'bricklayers, and building firms in no uncertain manner' of late. Direct handlers of the stuff would, of course, in the ordinary trend of events, be impeded by its shortness. But it also has a reflective result on labour employed in carting gravel and bran'ches of 'trade that «re required in building operations. The manager of a large hardware firm in Palmgfston North" said the other day that for six months !!ie prospect' had been becoming ni'ire and more gloomy, till now the siluation had become so-acute that unless Ciovernment intervention was forthcoming a complete stoppage in the building trade was imminent. There was a constant, and increasingly clamorous demand; for .cement from all parts of the district. He would, he stated, lave no difficulty in dispoi/.ug of a thousand lons off-hand. And the supply in comparison was infinitesimal —that is it' it. did actually materialise. In these days, when housing accommodation is limited and people are dubious of building, even if labour is available, anylhing which further hinders construction is to be doubly deplored.