The Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1916 PONGAROA MAIL SERVICES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5358, 16 February 1916, Page 4

The Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1916 PONGAROA MAIL SERVICES.

The Kk<-t uli unn {>ll [Kir seems to be annoyed bemuse the “Herald” dared to give prominence to an obvious fact —that the Pahiatna. mail service to Pong area. is quicker and more [xipular than tli«* rival route. It is suggesited that w© have ‘‘sacrificed accuracy,” and taken an isolated occasion to etnplwusiso an unfavourable conipjarision. The comment of our contemporary is re-produced in another column to give readers the opportunity of discovering whether the imputation of imu-curacy is sustained hy proof. Wc have, vainly Kcari-hed for it. Neither docs the paper attempt, to prove hy foots the assertion that .1 delay “on one oeeiasion” has been soi/asl upon, hut ingenuously invites th© “Herald” to provide the evidence. However, our clitic nets on safer ground when quoting what must he regarded as official figures to show the steadily increasing monthly returns. It is (satisfactory to see such signs of prosperity, even in teh case rtf a rival concern. Hut if is pert incut to ask why, when enjoying such popularity and affluence, the Kketahunn OomjHiny found 1 it necessary ta approach the local mail contractor with u pro|s>sal to suhstantrally increase the passenger fares?' The figures gleefully detailed indicate that business whs not, only thriv-

ing, but richly expanding through recognition by the public of the best service available. Vet a cool attempt was made to extract higher fares from the people for whose benefit the company allegedly came into existence, and in whose interests Eketahuna professes so much concern. It is right that the public should know that the Pahiatua contractor refused to- be a party to “squeezing” the users of the service for the benefit of the shareholders.

MENACE OF THE FUTURE

Many writers and public men at Home are directing their talents and energies to a vigorous campaign against the doctrines of Free Trade and to a discussion of the wisest and most effective policy to adopt in defeating German trade after the war. Apparently it will be no simple matter to reach down to and destroy the roots of the firmly established German trade throughout the British Empire, because there will always be traders looking for profits andl buyers who want the cheaper goods. This is the most lamentable aspect of. the situation, and is notone that isolated declarations against trading with Germany will overcome. Something mor© efficacious than that is needed. There is consequently a call for national unity and determination for national ends —the salvation of England and the British Empire. For instance, in response to an invitation for co-operation from th© other side in politics. Sir Arthur Markham, jjoints out that “free trade as a doctrine which presupposes international amity and honour, falls to the ground when confronted with the situation created by a nation of criminals. Under thos© circumstances the only possible way to treat the German is for us to re-establish the old Navigation laws and to keep him and his shoddy goodvs out of the country, for we ought to have no place for Hoelie Kultur within the British Empire.” 7T ( . also mentions that profit-seekers are already at work, in a schem© to counteract the efforts of protectionists, and then surveys the heroism of Australians, Canadians, and New Zealanders who have shod their blood with their British comrades 'for the honour and safety of the British Empire. Another writer says that Mr Markham could have added that in the realm of trade also “Australia. Canada, and New Zealand have worked with a whole heart to favour the Mother Country and her Allies •against the enemy. Some years ago our politicians refused to treat- the Dominions differently front strangers, and slammed, banged, and bolted the door against closer union by fiscal arrangements. The sons of the blood bore no malice: they continued to give the Mother Country preferferenee. and when th© time came—the time of trial and danger when the heart is prove dr—they showed themselves faithful.”