Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8997, 8 November 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

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\VH referred the other day to the proposal to enlarge the borrowing powers ot local bodies so as to cuab.e Am to proceed with necessary works, without the delay caused by the present limitation. flic livmia vi i'wed to include auy provision oi Hie sort in tho Bill before the House and it may appear to those who arc huioraut ot the situation that the proposal would plunge the Government into largely iucreasod borrowing to provide the money that woult bedcmaiidcd by local bodies. As a matter of fact, however, few County Councils at present require to borrow up to the £<looo limit and an extension of their power to £IO,OOO would not alfoct their position or tempt them to incur increased liabilities. .The present system, however. penalises counties wocio large, amount of development work ■is irmtired and where tho i-cldlers ic.ro enterprising enough to wish to rain (homselvcs to pay the cost cu work. Autouo who u; ticqiuuutc.l

with the difficulties which have to Vo mot with when it is proposed to ir.ise a loan for metalling or coast meting a bridge, well Knows that if "agreement is arrived at by too settlors concerned, it is an overwhelming proof that tho work is an absolute necessity. Not only is the work whan completed an advantage to those who pay for it, but increased revenue "at once accrues f.to Government from tho increased valuations which are promptly placed on the properties served by the improved moans of communication and indirectly tho railways profit largely from the greater traffic which is possible with better roads. It is true that Government provides money to local bodies at less than the market rate of interest, but even supposing that money is lent at 1 per cent less than it could bo obtained elsewhere tins only amounts to a gift of £lO per annum on every £IOOO lent, until the loan is extinguished, a sum that is certainly returned several times over to Government by increased valuations and greater tiallic. The point wo wish to make

is: That the refusal of the Premier to loud more money to load bodies strikes the most energetic Bottler*, the men in fact who most deserve to be assisted in their struggle to help themselves and incidentally to advance the prosperity of the wuolo Dominion. THE love oi paradox which distinguishes the Attorney-General, Dr. Findlay, often leads him to make strange statement's which must, prove a little trying to his more soberminded colleagues. Just after vho premier had boon assuring the House that tkvrc was nothing socialistic about lie- hr-'i'l hull.-;, Or. nindlay endeavoured to enliven iho moribund Legislative Council by the statement that lie was a oocialist and that lie gloried in it. Ho one, he said, who addressed himself vo history and studied the tide of jii>man progress could do other than confess himself a Socialist, else lie would set himself against human progress, v.de as sir Ckainporiain bad said, spelt human kindness The Now Zealand Tim;.:- at 0;>co took the trouble to explain that Dr. Findlay did not moan what his words scorned to imiicuD, hut that ho attached a special meaning of his own to the socialism. On Monday evening

Dr. Fiu'Uay himself found it advisable to withdraw from tho pc»iti-cm ho hail taken up, which in' did with j tho rkiil which mark-. the sin'x-.-.-uu- j advccai,*. 11;’. reminded the Council] that »u- Vi'..-: der.l.ng with erni'-ii-i.- • which staled riutfc rim present Laml 1 Dill nml tho measures of tho la : filicou or sixteen years were base i ou Socialism and ho had said the., if t'.iat was Socialism ho was glad to be called a Socialist. Ho was nor afraid of shibboleth or catchword, because ho believed rhs.i uhon it ciiroo to tho real rest of public life he would ' judged by what lie had said ami i >:w. Dr. Findlay understands os well as anyone in the Dominion what socialism really moans : he cither is a true socialist or is rawly playing to the gallery w hou lie professes to be one. Either hypothesis shows that lie is not a suitable member of Cabinet in a couutrv where tho x je °pio do not believe in socialism.

V'.’E regret to loam that an extract recent It published in our sporting notes lias been taken by sonic to imihv excuse for a recent ouendcr against racing rules. There is no necessity to again refer to tho facts, but we may point out that tins journal is desirous or doing everything possible to assist those who endeavour to secure tho purity of sport. This purity is desirable in tho intern csis of tho public as well as in th - o of racing itself. If tho latter is to lie worthy of support and encouragement by honest men then all c>\v. stiouablo practices mu»t bo promptly r.unprcsse.d and efficiently punished. There are, fortunately , many who love the sport for Itself, and who are trying to prevent it being used merely for gambling or overreaching purposes, and.on their efforts it will greatly depend whether in the future a visitor to a course ■ will be forced into the jiositiou of vifhor allowing him.vclf to be swindled. or becoming a participator in some d.cvico. tv* despoil, or be able to roly on straight running and fair pi, iv. At present li’Cro are uuquestionably too many who regard racing as a menus ol existence, fcaml v-'hi fellow the mootings throughout the Dominion. Tho c areful observer of these will certainly come to the conclusion that their profits are not clue to their superior skill or knowledge. and that mere “luck” cannot lie so constant and unvarying as to procure them regular income. The betting public pay for their support. Il\ mother coii-.eiTi rlcssrs Darrau.l aul Abraham refer to r. subject of greet interest to all farmers. The letter is of course a valuable advertisement for tho firm, which prides itself cm supplying pure seed, but the facts are such as should, be known by all farmers. Wo have seen some of tho samples referred to as imported from Australia and which contained largo quantities of California thistle and other noxious weeds. It is'evident that under existing conditions farmers cannot exercise too much caro in .'selecting their seeds. Our laws ore defective because while they provide for the punishment of farmers who neglect to eradicate noxious weeds, they do not provide punishment lor those who supply the seeds of such woods. It would certainly save expense and annoyance if importers were compelled to clean all seeds before offering them for sale.