Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1907. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8866, 17 July 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1907. EDITORIAL NOTES

WE deeply regret to notice Hr Massey’s strong ; loaning towards the vicious system of protection, or restriction of trade. We regret this because Mr Massey is at present Leader of the Opposition, and certain -members of the Ministry are devising methods of still further shackling the industries and fettering the commerce of this colony. The tariff question is one that will ho very prominent this session, and every nerve of the protectionists will ho strained to develop a policy which has already seriously injured the principal industries of Now Zealand. It is to he regretted that Mr Massey apparently does not realise that every so-called “industry” which can only bo carried ou by specially taxing' consumers, and preventing them from getting, cheap .supplies, is parasitic, and therefore absolutely injurious. We ’■•■vo already too many vampire, iu- : - 1 -i t Mr Massey would have , .ho ostrich, feather ■ • Joseph Ward rightly pointed (.in ...at Auckland cannot, possibly produco enough ostrich feathers to supply the demand, but a fact * like that is always dis-

regarded by > ho prutcctioiußC, "\vlio can only see that if all the people arc made to pay move for articles they require tlie local grower or maker can got more for his wares. Some Aucklanders liavo imported a few ostriches, and these unfortunate birds are striving to grow feathers as well as they could bo grown in their natural habitat. And because this has been done by the Aucklanders Mr Massey wants all wearers of plumes to pay more for their adornment in order that a few Aucklanders may get a profit on the imported birds. The Aucklanders would bo'bottor and more profitably engaged working in some of the natural industries, so far as the people of the colony are concerned. If some Aucklander manages to grow inferior pineapples and oranges under glass, will Mr Massey want the people to pay more for island fruit so that the ‘ ‘ enterprising ’ ’establishes of another “local industry” may make a profit? And if an Aucklander imports a few tea plants and manages to make them produce a few leaves, will Mr Massey want a protective duty placed on tea? And if not, why not'? One. is as sensible as,the other. Tins craze for the establishment of exotic industries, and cutting off cheap supplies and cheap services, is having very disastrous effects on the progress of this colony. It would pay it infinitely better to let the ostrich “industry” die together with all “industries” that can only exist by cutting off cheaper supplies aud levying tribute on all the people. It is especially regrettable that any

politician claiming to represent the primary producers should advocate or' countenance ■ * “protection, <3l ' rather restriction, in any form, or for any purpose.

IN the city of Wellington a com fcrenco has been sitting, composed of delegates from the bodies winch | do most of the real work of the country districts, and to which have boon delegated many duties which were formerly discharged by the general government. Unfortunately,' when the State shirked its duties 'laud compelled others to perform them, it neglected to provide money for the purpose, beyond subsidising the funds to a small ami utterly inadequate amount. The local bodies have therefore had to secure the necessary funds from the ratepayers—who are also general taxpayers—by moans of general, special, and separate rates. The whole policy ot the State in this respect has been to further specially tax the taxpayers for the purpose not only of doing j work by which all benefit, but of supporting institutions which are practically of little use to the ratepayers themselves. Even the subsidies are practically dependent on the generosity of the 'Ministry, and there is nothing assured in the way of local finance except that the local bodies may rate (die property owners up to a limit which wotild he extremely oppressive in many cases The late Premier once proclaimed that ho intended to give the local bodies “assured finance,” but the only means he adopted to_ effect this was to increase their power. That was the Liberal idea of helping others. It did not cost the Treasury u single penny to give, this “assured furnace, ” but the increased valuations have considerably helped the Treasury in the matter ot revenue from land tax. So far as the machinery for local government is concerned there is not much room for improvement, but to make the system perfect there should bo some provision of funds out of the general revenue, or from some special sources. This aid to those who arc carrying out antics delegated to them b) the general government should be fixed by law, and it should not bo posajqlo for any Treasurer or Minister to divert the money to any other use or purpose. A Wairarapa contemporary makes another suggcAhm for improvement by making electoral district a County, it remarks : “It would cheapen and simplify the work of sedf-gov eminent to proclaim some sixty odd administrative districts in th.» colon;.-, outside the principal and .to make each one an electoral envision, and bring it into line with County and judicial administration, if or the past fifteen years New Zealand has been promised improved local self-government, but wo have little faith in pledges of this kind, because the central admin! strution likes to retain in its own hands the power and prestige which, in <■. well-governed State, belongs to the local bodies. ”

Boring rights for oil have boon secured 'over 30,000 acres iu various parhs of Ashburtiou County for a syndicate.

At Tanranga Rdcliard TTarland 7 charged with carnally knowing his nicoo, aged IG, was committed for trial at the Anoklan 1 Supremo Court. Bail was allowed himself in £3OO and two sureties of £IOO each. The Sanitary Inspector reported is Palmerston Council Inst evening that there had been eight cases of diphtheria notiiied during the mouth. Eighteen building permits had been issued to ths value of £2,034.

During the year ending Jane 30th there were 440,680 bales of wool exported from Now Zealand against 415,381 bales for the preceding twelve months. There has been an increase in shipments from all ports except Dunedin, where there was a decrease of 302 bales, and Napier which shows a falling off of 2740 bales. There have been quite a number of thefts from Parliament House since the commencement of the session. Articles have been missed from the room of the Grovernmenu Whips, and brushes and other portable articles have also disappeared mysteriously. The value missing is said to bo much less than the ' ‘£4o steal. ? ’

The Government has accepted a tender fox' the Arthur’s Pass tunnel on the Midland Railway at a price under £600,000. It will be l.'ft. high, loft. Wide, pud 5 miles 25 chains 12ft. in length, and will be lined throughout. 1 The Government Enigneer’s estimate was £534,000. The conditions, provided are alternative tenders for completion in four years or in five years. The Department of Agriculture wrote to the Manawatu A. and P. Association that the department does not distribute manure of any description to individual farmers. There is a proposal that prepared manures should be supplied for experimental purposes to Agricultural and Pastoral Associations, and possibly also to groups of farmers who agree to carry out these experiments on a scheme laid down by the chief chemist of the department.

A 'delay has taken place in commencing the erection of Feilding Technical School, caused by a supposition that part of the reserve 'on which it had boon decided to erect it is really a portion of Aoraugi street. Ou the matter being looked into by Mr Goodbohoro and the Mayor'it was found that the width of the street gazetted was 40ft. as at present fenced. That being so, it is'presumed the work will ho at once commenced.

There is groat satisfaction in Hokitika at the news with regard to the letting of important contracts ou the East and West Coast railway, which will ensure completion of the lino within five years. Telegrams of thanks and congratulation have been sent by the heads of local bodies and the Railway League to the Government and members of interested, and Mr H. Qnane, of Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, who so ably kept alive influential agitation.

A pleasant echo of the Boer war comes with the announcement that Thomas Griffin, aged 23, an exsoldiev of the Scottish Borderers, who fought in South Africa, lias been notified through a Loudon firm of solicitors that a Boor lady intends to send him between £3OO and £4OO. Griffin gave Ills coat to the lady,_ who was with a largo number of refugees in an uncovered train. He pitied her, especially because she had two small children, oho suffering from enteric. A storm was coming on at the time, and the lady, who was a veldt cornet’s wife, thanked him in Dutch, and made him understand that she wanted liis name and address. The jmly things ho had wore a jack-knife, which he used to open bully-beef tins with, and his visiting card, which he gave her.

At a representative meeting at Kawhia over 20 settlers attended' to discuss a shipping proposal from an Auckland firm to start ruuniug a boat on the co-operative principle, the firm patting in £330 if guaranteed a share of trade. The proposal was not entertained. A prominent settler said that while'in .Wellington recently he was promised by a firm there that they would gsend a boat fortnightly to deliver cargo at 15s per ton. The settlers were, strongly in favour ,of supporting this proposal, all agreeing that they could, buy cheaper and sell better at Wellington. One speaker referred to Auckland’s, lack of enterprise, rpmarking that Auckland people had not sufficient pluck or enterprise. A committed of settlers volunteered to canvass the district aud get support for a boat.

THE HARTNETT MILKER. It was prophesied by certain people that the Hartnett milker would soon disappear from off tho market. Docs it look like it? 280 machines sold within three months. Somebody will surely ask for an explanation, and probably' will receive the usual reply, “wait aud see.” Como along aud see the Hartnett milking cows at the Winter Show, Palmerston N., aud reserve your order until then, if you value your herd, your comfort, aud your money, and you will do so.—O. Dahl and Co., Ltd., solo agents N. 1., Palmerston N.— Advt.

Messrs Mansell and Sons, Universal Providers, Bulls, have an . interestin'* announcement in our aavci - tistal columns relating to their cash: sale, which will continue tox one month only. They- have secured at greatly reduced rates a largo stock of (drapery, clothing, hoois and shoes, which are being low prices. The firm also publish a list of cash prices for groceries, etc.

At tli 3 meeting of creditors in „state of R- Rush at Feilding the 1) 0. A. said the value of stock was £57 fnrnitnrc £3,3 19s -and book debts £25! There were preferential claims for wages and rent, which left nothing in the estate/ It was decided to hand the furniture to Mrs Rush, and auction the stock, and Mr A. K Ratliff was authorised to collect the book debts.

The Cash Tailoring Company, Feilding, in their new advertisement, state that owing to holding a very large stock for this season of the Tear they arc giving a big reduction in both ladies costumes and gent’s suits. They guarantee their workmanship, the best m the Dominion and prices So to 40 pel cent cheaper than can bo purchased

elsewhere. At a well-attended meeting of the ivv'if'imkcrs a'd'-l sellers ot coloji.txl and “Sported boots and shoes m Auckland it was agreed that the bootmatiug industry is adequately protected by tlio present high tanff. lb was stated that the factories of the colony had more than ’they could execute, and that there had never been a time in the history of the colony when they had enjoyed greater prosperity. A Master ton paper, went on a voy.age of gcograpiiical discovery on Tuesday, and added a new name .to the mao of the \ellow East. Japanese Field-Marshal . Okuma is stated to have anticipant the American fleet s arrival -a* Synchronise." What Oknma really did mention was that the arrival ot the

fleet would synchronise, which is to sav occur simultaneously with, the chrysanthemum season in Japan. On Monday next a daily service will be established from Bulls to Pukepapa, leaving Bulls at three o’clock. This will bo a great convenience to the settlers in - the locality served. The service is the resiilt of efforts made swn’ Richards, who was also ably &upnorted by Mr Jolm Stevens, M H.R- , in making representations to the Postal Department. The contract for carrying the mails has been, undertakeu by Mr W. B. Clark, Bulls. Our warm Lamb’s Wool Unshrinkable Underclothing WM? bouglitj at old prices. We could sell these goods wholcaslo at a profit, wo in- | re.nd saving our customers the preference. See the heavy knitted wool vests at 2s lid, pants Js 9d at McEldowuey’s Stores ; - Marion, fiuuteryillo and Taihape. PB SHELDON’S DIGESTIVE TABULES Taken after meals, digest tho food. This is a natural euro for Indigestion. Food half digested is poison, as it creates gas, acidity, palpitation of the heart, 'headaches, and many other I roubles. When you take Dr. Sheldon's Digestive Tabules you can fool (...iflai’u yon arc not taking into vour'sWt<-iii'anv strong modiciuo or powerful drug! but simply the natural digestive, elements which every weak stomach lacks. One or nvo "taken after each meal will positively cure Indigestion, Dyspepsia, and all Stomach troubles. For sale by Ellis Bros., HuntcrviUe, For Children's Hacking Cough,at uiglit Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure g Is Gd and 2s Cd. :