PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4606, 10 March 1902, Page 3

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(By Our Special Reporter.) Saturday. The “Manawatu Standard” states that Mr R. J. Seddon/ of Palmerston, a nephew of the Premier, has been appointed farrier-sergeant in the Ninth Contingent. Mr H. Haydon has been waited on by a deputation of burgesses, w r ho requested him to contest the Mayoral election next month. Mr Haydon did not give a definite reply, but it is generally understood that he will bo a candidate. An interesting cricket match was played to-day between the local bankers and representatives of the legal profession. In the first innings the men of briefs procured an overdraft of one from the bankers, but this was wiped out in the second innings, when the bankers knocked up 64 for three wickets, and declared their innings closed. n "~‘* lawyers were then all disposed of fov SI, and thus lost by 14 runs. Woods and Withers for law. and Harden and Hammond for the bankers, were the principal scorers, while Harden and Hammond (bankers) and Cooke, Withers and limes (lawyers) were the best trundlers.

The Palmerston Football Club has chosen the following teams to compete in the soven-a-sido tournament at the sports meeting on the 17th inst.:—A team—Slack, Torstenson, Belfit, Butlers, Rush, Fitt, Wood. B team — Smith, Wylie, Njwth, E. Wingate, Matheson, Rickards. Several prominent players being unable to take part, were not considered for that reason.

A meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Farmers’ Union was held to-day. Captain Hewitt occupied the chair. A letter was read from the secretary of the Wanganui branch inviting members of the branch to attend a public meeting in Wanganui on March loth, when the president, Mr J. G. Wilson, is to address a public meeting there. The chairman, Captain Hewitt, spoke of the bravo efforts of the Seventh Contingent to repel the Boers and moved “That this meeting expresses its admiration of the gallant stand made by the Seventh New Zealand Contingent at Bothasberg on February 23rd, and also expresses its deepest sympathy with the bereaved families.” The resolution was carried unanimously. Tho president’s report was then considered. A very interesting discussion ensued on the question of free trade, and a preferential tariff, and a resolution was carried “That this branch favours a preferential tariff within the Empire.” The executive’s action in protesting against the Counties Act was approved. A resolution was carried that the basis of land valuations should be the forced sale value. It was decided to ask the member for tho district to obtain advance copies of any Bills affecting farming interests. Tho annual meeting will bo hold in April, when the election of officers will take place.

_A country teacher was giving his scholars an original lesson in geography ihe other day. He received correct replies to his questions as to the discoverer of New Zealand, and his nationality, and proceeded tc. investigate the knowledge of his pupils regarding Tasmania. He was told that Tasmania was discovered by Tasman, but when ho asked what country Tasman came from, his pupils were dumb. Failing to get an answer he had recourse to a leading question. “ What people send the best butter to England ?” he asked. Promptly a bright little fellow, whose father manages a “ Defiance ” creamery in the village, replied “ Nathan’s, sir 1” The question of income tax as it affects co-operative dairy companies still causes considerable discontent among dairy companies. It is the tax on_ sums written off for depreciation that is objected to. At present the Government allows a 2} per cent, depreciation, and any percentage above that is taxed. As a fair allowance for depreciation oji dairy factory plant is at tho least 7J per cent., dairying cooperators are called upon to pay a tax on the difference of 5 per cent. Evidently the 24 per cent, allowance was based on the rate allowed for an engine and boiler, which is a fair enough computation, but the wear and tear on this part of the plant is a small matter in a dairy factory. A pasteuriser, for instance, will not last more than; three or four years, and a separator verylittle longer. Then the factory tinware often requires replacing at the end of a few months, and the woodware, with constant application of water, has a very short life. . The appliances in many other industries can be made of iron, whereas in dairying they have to bo made of tin and wood. Altogether there is no industry in. which .the apparatus employed is 'Abject to tho same wear and tear. It is a bad principle to tax the profits of cooperative workers at all, but it is iniquitous that only such an inadequate allowance as 24 per cent, should be allowed for depreciation for the shortlived appliances of a dairy factory-.