The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1929. A REFORM BLUNDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1929. A REFORM BLUNDER.

Tun amendment moved by the Leader of the Opposition was doubtless framed, says the Christchurch Times, to stimulate the farmer agitation that is being engineered through lout the country, but wo venture to think that it has caused more embarrassment than pleasure in farming districts. As a motion of want cf confidence it fell

Hopelessly flat as soon as it was moved, because Mr Coates himself confessed that lie did not expect to receive Labour support. As a protest against the government’s proposals it was equally ine.iective. The one gjod purpose it served was to provoke the Prime Minister to a reasoned reply, and to draw from the Leader of the Labour Party an empiiatic declaration that his party was prepared to assist the Government to carry out its programme. l«rom tlie point of view ot me farmers themselves Uio motion has been a lirst-class blunder, because it has rendered a liun--red times more difficult tJie discussion ot the operation ot the Government’s proposals, and may have prevented some scores of land-owners from obtaining needed relief. The position before Mr Coates spoke was time the United party and the Labour Party were certa.n to unite to carry through the broad policy of the Budget. In those circumstances the wise course lor the triends of the farming community was surely to concentrate attention on those cases in which the proposed taxes would operate harshly, and to obtain a reasonably time in which to arrange tor the realisation or reduction of estates. The Reform politicians have taken a different view of their responsibilities and their opportunity, and we say without hesitation that the small farmers of Canterbury will have every reason to regret ti’iat they allowed themselves to be misled by those who posed as .their friends. The posit.on, as Sir Joseph Ward, explained it in the House, is that some (ifciot) owners of properties in excess of £'12,50d unimproved value will pay super-tax and 550 owners who at present. pay no tax will have to pay land tax in lionsequence of the reduction of die mortgage exemption! Now inevitably, as we have seen, the owners or some properties that are either showing losses or are barely paying their way will suffer hardship, and it is a very proper request that such cases should be given special consideration. But the Reformers in Parliament, as we have indicated, have callously ignored tlie claims of these sufferers. Now let us look at another side of the master. Virtually onehalf the occupied land outside the towns is leased from the Crown, or from Natives or from local bodies, and this proportion includes the great majrity of the larger Out of 85,000 farmers in tne country, 74,000 have holdings of under 600 acres, and only 27,000 of tiiem will pay any tax at all under the new proposals. That is to say, nearly 60,000 farmers are not affected by the Budget scheme, and of those who do day taxation not one in ten will have his levy increased. in these circumtsances there is no shadow of justification for the panic that is oeing engineered in the farming districts. The Reformers, for reasons of their own, have obscured thejacts and alarmed and deceived thousands of farmers into believing that the Government proposed a robber raid on their properties. The people who have „ a legitimate complaint and whose cases are deserving consideration haveoeen thrust on one side. We feel particularly strongly concerning this aspect of the position, because nowhere else in the Dominion can there be so many cases of real hardships as in Canterbury, with its high proportions that' are incapable of economic subdivision. Canterbury had jit Lie reason enough to thank the Leader of the Opposition in ohe past, and instead of joining now in the political agitation that is being engineered by the Opposition it ought o be busying itself with the preparation of its case for special consideration.' The Budget proposals will be carried into effect and the public as i whole will applaud the Government | for the stand it has taken; and we venture to think that when this .artificial agitation against the proposals has died down the vast majority of the ! farmers themselves will be ready to praise the statesmen whom they are now being invited by the Reformers to upbivaid. I

At - The Hague the controversy over the Young Plan is still in progress, and the situation has been defined more clearly and precisely by a formal Note from the British Government. There 1 is no reason, in logic or justice, why Britain, having made unparalleled sacrifice for her European debtors, should .now consent to the modification of the scale of reparation payments adopted at the Spa Conference, more especially as she is now called upon to make fresh surrenders for the benefit of States which have already received generous concessions from her. The other Powers have endeavoured to meet Mr Snowden’s claims by suggesting that Britain be reimbursed for her .losses under the Young Plan in certain wavs. But the British Note po : nts out that tnese offers amount to only about one-fourth of the British claims, and that in any caes they are made at the expense of the smaller states, and would not reduce the shares of the Great Powers ‘which are better able to stand the loss. The case of Italy is a particularly flagrant one. For Italy, after accepting from Britain a settlement of debt that was admittedly .marked hy extreme generosity, now expects Britain to reduce her own claim* so that Italy shall have a ! substantial sumlus over and above her war-debt linbil : +v. And it should not ' he forgotten that, if +he Younor pjan is admited. of th« surplus of S2 rv "' PO'\. 000 which she has paid to Ame’P.a in excess of her receipts from her European debtor's. A German newmaper comolains that Mr Snowden has foncrht his battle throughout not, ns a Labour leader, but as an Engh'shnirn. No higher cnmnliment snv* the AimMand Star, could be paid the Chancellor df the Exchenner. and lie knows bv tin's time that ho has the public feeling of

Britain and the Empire solidly behind Uilll.

Miss M. Douglas, of. Waitaha, inserts a notice of thanks in this issue. Don’t forget the Hockey Ball on Wednesday night, Aug. 28th. Bully-off at 8.80 o’clock.—Advt. The s.s. Gael sailed for Bruce Bay yesterday at 2.15 p.m. with a general cargo. A meeting of the Hospital Ball Committee will be held at the Board Boom's this (Monday) evening at 7 o’clock.— Advt.

Mr L. Reid, of the Hygiene Fish Mart, leaves by to-morrow's express for Lyttelton, where he will conduct business with regard to regular supplies of fresh fish.

The death took place at Westland Hospital this morning of Mr Irara luhuru (Boh Williams), aged 43'. The late Mr Tuhuru leaves a wife and a family of five, four boys and one girl. One son died only a few weeks back.

The death took place at Westland Hospital this morning of James Boyd, formerly of Rimu. Deceased was 93 years of age and in earlier years followed the occupation of a miner. He leaves a. nephew, Mr Forsyth of Kanieri. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock.

Mr Robert James Crichton, Apiary Inspector, of Cobden, who was admitted to the Grey Hospital about two weeks ago, suffering from a severe wound in bis left forearm, died early yesterday morning as the'result of his injury. Deceased was a single man, aged 46. He had seen considerable war service. He is survived 'by his mother and two sisters. It is understr>"d that possibly an inquest will be held.

Visit the Economic Crockery Shop and inspect the huge selection of stainless cutlery, best quality and lowest prices.—P. Stephen, proprietress Advt.

A good night’s entertainment is promised music lovers and dancers tomorrow night when at Rimu when the concert and ball organised by the Rimu people will take place. Lots of Hoki tika talent will be heard at the concert together .with items by residents of Rimu and Woodstock., Performers at the concert from Hokitika are reminded that Keenan’s bus will call at their respective residences to convey them to the concert. The floor «or dancing lias been, specially prepared and the music, will be supplied by the Blanch Hand Orchestra 1 of six instruments.—A'dvt’

The Chairman’s report of the Kokatahi Co-operative Dairy Coy, Ltd., stateslt again gives me pleasure in presenting the thirtieth annual report a.nd balance sheet and again con- ; gratulate your Company on having a very large increase on the previous year’s output. For the season just ended, the Company has received from its suppliers 280,0301bs of but-ter-fat from which lias been made 337,2841bs (150 tons llcwt lqr 241bs) of commercial butter, which is an increase of 24 tons locwt lqr 71bs over the previous year’s output. I The increase is due no doubt to new suppliers and to top dressing of pastures. Your directors have pleasure in reportin'! a very successful financial season and in spite of a very, low and an erratic market, were successful in making very good f.o.ib. sales. The butter export was 179.6481b5, the balance being sold on the local market, where it met with a very go'xl demand. Your company has paid for b.utter-fat during the year as follow-

ing—.Tilly Is 4d; Aug.-Sfapt.-Oct. Is fid; Nov.-Dee. Is 3d; Jan. to June, inclusive, Is 4d, and your directors further recommend‘lid on all butter fat supplied during the season, which makes the nett average, for the year over Is fid, and also recommend a 5 per cent dividend. AVe must again congratulate the manager and his staff on the quality of the butter, which has been of a very high standard. The new churn installed early in the season, has given every satisfaction. Your directors have been in negotiation with the Westland Power Company to extend their operations to this district and have been Successful and the means of bringing about that long felt want,- and before the end of September your Company will have the pleasure of switching on the eleotric energy to the factory which We expect will be the means of reducing our fuel costs very greatly. The retiring directors under the Articles of Association are Messrs J. Monk, M. Wallace, N. Harris and D. Smith. The retiring auditor i c Mr It. Wild. All these gentlemen are eligible for re-election.

Avoid coughs and colds this winter—“Nazol” ! is a sure, safe preventive. Equally good for young or old. 6' doses for Is Gd.—Advt. » Woods’ Grnt Peppermint Cure For Coughs and Colds, never fans. Stephens Bros., are offering a special line of woollen jumpers in all shades at prices Gs Gd, 8s lid, Ss Gd, 10s Gd. —Advt. “Nazol” is a famous remedy for coughs and colds, because it has been long proved to give instant relief m the most stubborn easea All chemists —Ad <■ A pleasant remedy for worms n. children—Wade’s Worm Figs. Very effective. AU chemists. —Advt.

Postponed.—The Bowling Club an? > nual meeting called lor to-morrow has tioui posDpuned for a week. Addisons have on view to-day theirfirsc siiipment of spring millinery. Inspection invited.—Advt. ■■ ■, ■ Messrs W. Jeffries and Co. notify a sale of dairy stock at Kojiatahi Yards on*"Wednesday, 4th. Sept. - Hockey one 1 are you ready? Shinty two, now be steady ! Smacky three, and off we’ll gOj.jto the Hockey Ball, ’twill oe 'some siiow. ' . i . '-i . , "Weekly social innd dance; 1 St. Mary’s,.; . Club Booms, to-morrow '(Tuesday) evening.—Advt. " ■ New shapes and designs in Berlei corsets, corselettes, and brassieries, now showing at Stephens Bros. ,See our window display.—Advt. 1 „ , '' ' / .■ ' '■"■■■'■ ■.7 - V It is with extreme regret that we-re-cord the sudden death of Mrs Lyoijs, wife of Mr Beniamin Lyons, of Staf-,,, ford, which took place at noon to-day; •• , loe deceased had a sudden stroke this ... morning at 8 o’clock and after receiv- :, ing medical attention was brought into Westland Hospital for treatment but ,;, passed away without recovering cojisciousness at noon. The deceasedwas . a native of Melbourne and came ;to , Hokitika with her father, the late Mr i). Benjamin, and resided here until her marriage, when she went to-Staf-- . ford, and has resided there ever: since. , . ; She leaves a bereaved husband arid grown-up family of one daughter (Mrs M. Domb, of Wellington) and five sons ("David, of the Defence Department,. . Wellington, Reginald, of the Armoury Department, Trentham, Lionel, of the 8.N.Z., Stratford, Lewis of the B.N.Z;, Invercargill, Clarence of the 8.N.Z., I Timaru, and Eric, in Wellington), Mrs J.-W. Kelly, of JKokatahi, a ; half-sister, and Mr A. E. Benjamin, of Hokitika, a half-brother. General sympathy will be extended to the bereaved, in- their, sudden loss;- .. '

Now opening, new furnishings in carpets, rugs, -linoleum, -runners, hearth rugs, and floortex squares; ■ all- 1 sizes.—Schroder and Co.—Advt. ' \ Messrs Harley and Co. Ltd., the Universal Home-makers, wish the general public of Hokitika to know ; ,that , their iepresentative, Mr A. Robertson, is now in Hokitika, booking orders for spring goods. The latest' styles and colourings in curtains, runners, and .\ linoleum.are now to hand. Our repre- 1 ’ sentative 1 - will be .pleased to call on 1 ’ anyone desiring to see designs of fiirni- ; ture or patterns- of, material. He. has also a-full range of, samples, including,, bedspreads, reversible rugs/ Heartb *. f rugs, eiderdowns, sheets and blankets, ‘ ' •etc. < A i: message to ckli left:'at the Red/' ' ! ‘ Lion Hotel will be immediately attend- // ed to.—Advt, . l: .