Ashburton Guardina. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1909. THIS AND THAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7728, 23 February 1909, Page 2

Ashburton Guardina. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1909. THIS AND THAT.

There is no reason Nkw Zealand why, with the syiM \nupactures. perb material available at a cheap rate, one single imported garment should be worn m New Zealand. At the Exhibition m Christchurch two years ago the " sweated industries exhibits were closely studied by visitors, and drew forth sonic strong expressions of honest indignation that slavery such as those exhibits indicated should exist m England. If New Zealand is to do her share m remedying the evil those exhibits wore intended to expose, her best course is to be loyal to the handicrafts within her own borders. The very best cloth for the clothing of mankind and womankind is woven m New Zealand, so that to send Home for clothing is a waste both of time and of money. If the fastidious lady with nothing fit to put on would but look round and see for herself what is being manufactured at her own doors, she. would be so charmed with the result of her examination ithat she would never wear other garments than those from New Zealand looms. Then, we grow m the dominion hides as well as wool, and we have boot and shoe factories that ought not to he allowed to languish for want of local support. Here also there is no longer room nor reason for the sneer of primitiveness. No better finished footwear can be found anywhere than that offered at a reasonable price to the people of New Zealand by the makers who have established that industry amongst us, and to pass them by and give preference to goods imported from any other part of the world is an act of disloyalty to our own country and a slur upon her workmen. Fortunately furniture is somewhat too heavy to import to any great extent, but some proportion is still brought over sea, though it is difficult to understand for what reason. We have superb timber here for the cabinetmaker's work, and to go past him for furnishing is quite unnecessary. The same tiling applies to confectionery, fancy biscuits, cocoa and chocolate. These are largely consumed m the colony, but the factories engaged m thoir production are not as well patronised as the merits of their products deserve. There are men, however, who would import button-holes if they could. The suggestion that local manufactures should be branded with an official Government stamp, if put into practice, is aimed at the removal of this hard dying prejudice, but a personal trial of the products of colonial industry would probably be sufficient to secure a settled preference for those products.

The Funds OF Local Bodiks.

Local bodies are frequently perplexed bccmise their expenditure exceeds their revenues. Large overdrafts are not uncommon, and cjuite lately the credit of the Waihi Borough Council was stopped by the bank until some provision had been made for the reduction of the overdraft, which had become disproportionately large for a small municipality. For these overdrafts, unless there is a set-off m some other account, a rate of interest running as high as 6 per cent is charged, so that the banks, with usually the best of security, do very profitable business. Of course, it may so happen that a local body has a credit balance, but, apparently, the law governing county councils and road boards does not contemplate such a condition of tilings, and no provision is made for the investment of funds for which there is no immediate use, so that they may earn interest. The question arose recently at the meeting of a local road board, whether the credit balance, which amounted to £700, could be ■ placed with the Building Society, which pays a fair rate of interest on current accounts. But, on referring to the Act, it was found that the board had no such power. All moneys received by the board have to be paid into its account at the bank within seven days, there to remain till required to meet such liabilities as the board may incur m carrying out its duty to the ratepayers. Therefore, as no local body has the right to levy a rate without first preparing a schedule of the works it proposes to carry out with the money so obtained, and as the works should undoubtedly determine the amount of tlio rate, the ratepayers interested m the instance referred to might fairly ask how the credit balance accumulated. Surely, m any ease, if the rates collected arc more than the- board needs, the amount of the annual rate should be reduced m proportion to the amount of the accumulated balance, , or suspended, until that balance has been expended on necessary 1.-> works.