Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, '07. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8998, 9 November 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 'O7. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE result of i :io recent municipal elections in Britain lias given a .severe check to the progress of socialism, hut even the mo:,t. hopeful cannot regard it as more than a temI notary reverse The causes ci the i no donht. in m , :: , .y <■:'.<■:• of puvely local i!H'-';:s;-, but if s.uuns probable that the extravaganca of Borough Councils, where socialistic Councillors have been in a majority, has alarmed the ratepayers and led them to prefer men of less advanced opinions. The outrageous language used by Mr Grayson, the recently elected mo a) tor of Parliament for Colno Valley and the indiscretions of Mr Keir Hardio in India, must also have done something to discredit socialism in the eyes of sober minded men. No one can, however, seriously i believe that tho battle is over. It has, in fact, only just toon entered upon and the final result is still uudoeidoL The trend of political development is undoubtedly towards socialism, and it remains to bo seen whether the good sense of the masses will put the br<jak on the progress in that direction before it is too late. A great number of the legislative proposals, which have been approved of lato years/.arc in the direction of socialism, but might well have been pnssod Ik pronounced individualists and are chiefly dangerous, because thev may bo used as stepping stones to undiluted socialism, fortunately hitherto among all the experiments and philanthropic ventures which have'been made there still remain standing l' !l ° two foundation principle!; of the frco system of industry, uuremoved as yet, though threatened and somewhat impaired—private property and the, private employer—the captain of industry. On tlicsejrests the industrial tide of our civilisation, just as its domestic sido rests on the, sister institutions of marriage and tho separate home. So long as those two principles of industry aro maintained wo cannot have socialism; but if thoy axo nndermiued, the free system is gone, and'sonic new .systorn must bo devise;! to carry on the work of tho nation. We jlmshayo ■

a touchstone' by which to test new propsols which must he condemns .if thoy attack private property or private cutorprise.

THE"rain which has fallen in Aus trali* appears to have had a steadying effect on the wheat markc- and sellers the* seem to find it impc aiWe to obtain 5s per bushel. In tins country sellers recently cotsi-lered Cs or even higher, a fair price and there is every probability that those who have held wheat in the hope ot extracting the last penny on a rising market will And that the ffiuns they have counted on will not, he realised. It is a pleasing fact that the extra- . ordinary rise has boon temporarily j ■checked as the cost of living at pre- | sent is very high and must press , very hardly on those wiU large j families and small incomes J.ho ; increase in the price of bread alone : would not perhaps be very serious,_; Vat when in addition comes a riso ; in the price of meat, milk and pota- ; trs While all vegetables still re- . win very dear, the housekeeper | finis that the weekly allowance will, not go nearly as far as it used Even , now the outlook is not very bright f hut at any rate there will be no ex- . cage for a further rise in the price of bread and the genial climatic ,-v-ditions have rendered a large •oi. nimntion of firewood unnecessary.