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CURRENT COMMENT.
Such ambitious achievements in thea
trical work as the Grand Opera season
how being conducted by Count and Coun
tess FiliDini. and the performance of
'Bay Fever' by the Repertory Club at
the TheatreRoyal this evening in aid
of the unemployed, are examples of the
creative vigour latent in the community
which energetic leadership can call forth.
Probably the partial eclipse of the 'le'giti-
mate' stage and the concert platform
by the 'talkie' will enlarge the oppor
tunity everywhere for sound amateur
work. This may lack somewhat the
'finish' of professional work, but it has
an individuality and freshness of interest
of its own, and a high cultural value.
The Grand Opera season has 'discovered'
local artists capable of acquitting them
selves with distinction in roles that tried
them highly. They nave invited and
earned the approval of serious criticism,
and it is to be hoped that their work
will continue to enrich the musical life
of the city. It is a pity that grand opera
should be regarded by so many people as
a 'highbrow' entertainment. Anyone who
can appreciate a theme song -should be
able to enjoy the melodies of Verdi and
Gounod. The Repertory Club also has
a long record of thorough and intelligent
dramatic work. .
That the Bill to enforce a compulsory
wheat pool for the Commonwealth would
be passed by the Senate with small
amendments is an assumption made by
Mr. J. S. Teasdale, trustee of the West
Australian Pool, which is scarcely war
ranted. Growers' opinion in all the States
has been hardening against it. It is
being recognised as 'an attempt to In
crease the hold of the sociaUstcumuni
ficatlonlst party on the farming con
stituencies of the Commonwealth,' to
use Senator Lynch's phrasing. The
Government, of course, desires the con
trol of the money received for exports in
London, but there are better .ways to
secure that than by taking 'over, the
direct - business control of Australia's
second exporting industry. One year's
guaranteed price, largely at their own ex
pense, might prove a very bad bargain for
the farmer if it involved putting his
business for an indefinite period into the
hands of a party which represents pri
marily the unionists of Sydney and Mel
bourne.
The problem of . co-ordinating unem
ployment relief is to save waste and over
lapping, to cover the work requiring to
be done without leaving gaps, and to
preserve the initiative of individuals and
separate bodies. In a labour which de
pends so greatly for- its value on personal
enthusiasm the fewer the regulations the
better, but some uniformity in principle
is necessary to preserve even-handedness
and close co-operation. The appoint
ment of a co-ordinating officer would be
useful. Such an official would need to
possess the quality of tact, for the keen
ness of voluntary helpers is often sensi
tive.- To ensure smooth and ami
cable working, local voluntary
bodies and groups ' organising
efforts to relieve distress should
be strict in keeping accounts and
balance sheets in. proper form. Unneces
sary unpleasantness often results from
well-meaning laxity in the handling, of
funds. In the organising of small
weekly contributions, the collection of
clothing, and the finding of 'odd Jobs'
there is still a great deal to. do. The
fortunate are not yet awake.
The scrutinising of prices charged by
retailers and manufacturers in order to
detect cases of -undue exploitation of the
very. high measure of protection recently
granted, is a logical consequence of the
Increased tariff. The community has
to pay for the increased protection, and
It has the right to satisfy itself that
privileges are not being abused. Professor
Glblln. of Melbourne University. has
recently . commented on the fact that
Australian manufactures in the past have
been handicapped by unduly high retail
charges. But what is. everyone's business
is too often no-one's business. The Prime
Minister (Mr. Scullin) proposes to appoint
an officer to investigate complaints, and
make public offences against the spirit
of 'the undertaking to keep prices down
in which the tariff was granted. The
effective supervision of public opinion,
however, will depend on the alertness of
local bodies taking the trouble to master
the technique of 'inquiry. The appoint
ment of a 'vigilance committee' by. the
Women's Service Guild in Western 'Aus-
tralia was a sound step. The matter is
also of interest to the Housewives' Asso
ciation, a very powerful body In some
Australian cities. Inquiries must, of
course, be careful ana thorough, and
traders who are 'playing the game' 'will
be the ones to assist and benefit by them.
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