Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9396, 17 March 1909, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

AT the Addington inquiry the officials are having things all their own way and are joining in a chorus of approval of the conditions prevailing in the workshops. It is obviously impossible for anyone not fully acquainted with the works to controvert the opinions expressed,

and the public can only hope that all is as well as the evidence would lead them «o believe. It is only when definite figures are put forward that it becomes possible for an outsider to criticise the conclusions that witnesses desire to be arrived at. We are definitely informed that Messrs Price Bros, deliver A engines under contract at , £3998, and Mr Beattie stated that this was only £B4 less than the cost of production at Addington, while it is cleverly suggested that Messrs Price Bros, have made a loss on their contract owing to an increase in the rate of wages under the Arbitration award. Yet an analysis of the figures gives a totally different impression. “Each A engine” said Mr Jackson, “costs us for wages £2531, and for material £1779, making a total of £4310. In that is included the cost of fitting the Westinghouse brake (£210), and the cost of p?inting |(£3B). If you add to that the profit or commission that we charge, on a basis of 15 per cent., the total cost per engine is brought up to £4957.” Price Bros, deliver an A engine for £3999, which includes everything (labour, material and fixed charges), but not the Westinghouse brake. The whole question depends on what is considered a fair addition for profit and fixed charges. Mr Jackson, in referring to these, mentioned 15 per ' dent, as a proper addition. This is obviously absurd when we consider that it includes profits, charges for rent, interest and depreciation on capital laid out in machinery, office and management expenses. One witness assessed the proper allowance at 100 per cent, on cost of labour and material, but putting it for the sake of argument at 25 per cent, this reduces the cost of the labour put into the engines by Messrs Price, making allowance for cost of material and Westinghouse brake, to £1419, as against £2531 in the Government shops In other words labour at Addington is nearly twice as expensive as in private works. Even on tbs assumption most favourable to government work, Addington, with shops, machinery and management given in free, cannot produce work as cheaply as a private firm. And this is the evidence not of hostile witnesses, bat of men in charge of the shops who naturally wish to put the best face on matters

AT the banquet to Mr John Stevens at Marton last evening politics were barred and all present of whatever political colour united to pay honour guest of the evening. The fact that numerous politicians all eager to plunge into the fray reestrained their ardour in order to make the occasion something more than a mere party rally »was the highest compliment that could have been paid to the late member for Manawatu. Mr Stevens himself gave another example of!J the high public spirit that has always distinguished him by stating that his experience would always ha at the service of the present representative of the Manawatu electorate if required to further any objects of public interest Mr Newman the offer>ud erred to the fact, of which he bad |abundant evidence, that evcjy resident in the electorate had the kindliest feelings towards Mr Stevens. The success ot the evening showed that it is possible in New Zealand for politicians to bury the hatchet and join in honouring a man who has for many years been identified with the progress of one of the most prosperous districts of the Dominion and who both by long public services and the courage with which he has borne a severe physical affliction has earned a high place in the esteem of all in the district.

THE export returns for New Zealand provide the best test of the prosperity of the country, and it is satisfactory to find that those for February last show a considerable improvement on those for the corresponding month of last year. The butter and cheese exported in February, 1909, were valued at £451,718, as aganist £321,171 for February, 1908, Frozen mutton was valued at £170,000 against £97,000 in February last year, and lamb at £300,000 instead of £179,000. Wool shows a slight fall from £1,463,789 to £1,152,846, and hemp, as might have been expected, a big drop from £59,000 to £20,000. So long as the value of our products exported goes on increasing there is nothing to fear, as the payments for goods exported will soon make money more plentiful.

§The social to Mr Stevens at Marton last evening did not pass without a fine sample of the bull. A speaker remarked in ringing tones “I regret that many present this evening are absent.”

A letter signed “One of Rangitikei’s Electors’’ is declined. We cannot publish an anonymous attack on any politician. Besides this objection we notice that'the-letter has already appeared in print, and therefore could nor, be reprinted by us. The Perro-Ooncrete 00. of Australasia which has carried out most of the new''wharf construction in Auckland and has erected ia number of buildings in the city is to be wound up in consequence of the pressure of creditors. It asks to be allowed to complete present harbour contracts under a liquidator. Dunedin housewives are distressed at the existence of blue spots in the bread. It was at first alleged that the colour was due to the branding material used on the "flour bags, but this idea has now been discarded, and an investigation of the matter has been entrusted to Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P., who is a scientific man of some distinction.

The River Commission estimate the cost of the work recommended at £350,000,- not £35,000 as stated yesterday. ‘ Whelch has now settled down to thorough training for his match with Fogweil. He scales 10 stone and is in, much better form”thau |when he rowed in Australia.

Speaking to a yesterday, the Prime Minister expressed bis belief that tiie money market will be relieved in a month or two. This will be good news for the public generally. An application to vary the award with regard to the flaxmilling industry has been filed by the employers with the Clerk of Awards, in Wellington. The application was not signed by any of the employees. Shortly before 11 o’clock last night a fire broke out in Palmerston, destroying Oollinson & Ounningbame’s r tailoring establishment aad part of Thacker’s boot shop £in the Square. Thos. Grieve, one of the best known settlers in Southland, died suddenly, presumably from heart trouble, at his farm “Waitui,” Mataura, yesterday, while harvesting. He was four years manager of Bushy Park Station, Mataura, and was 57 years of age. The Supreme Court sessions opened yesterday at Napier with a calendar of nine charges against eight persons. None was of a serious character. The Grant) Jury threw out a bill against William Anderson, charged with receiving cattle which he knew to be stolen. William Black was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for breaking and entering.

It is stated that a school teacher in a school near Pabiatua looked a little girl in a cupboard, and presumbly (says the local paper) forgot all about her, as when she opened the door to let her out, about an hour and a half later, she fainted, and restoratives had to be applied. The matter is one that will engage the attention of the school authorities concerned.

The Supreme Court opened yesterday at New Plymouth, Mr Justice Chapman presiding. Albert Kapperley, aged 18, sent up for sentence for horse-stealing received three months without hard labour; John Edward Lister, aged 24, twelve months’ bard labour for theft, and a similar term for housebreaking, the sentences to be concurrent. The trial of Dr. Goode , ia„ likely to last three of four days.

Last night the social to Mr John Stevens was catered for by Mr E. Whitehead, of Feilding. Judging by the manner in which the numerous knd tempting delicacies were disposed of we can safely say that all enjoyed fthemselves. Mr Lambert, manager of Mr Whitehead’s business, had of course been under a great disadvantage in having to bring everythingfrom Feilding, but this goes to prove that he deserves praise for the very creditable way in which be carried out his part of the proceedings.

J, H., Gunson, merchant, issued a writ claiming £2OOO damages for alleged libel against Gaddis and Blomfield, proprietors of the Observer. The suit is in respcet of an article published in the issue oflthe paper named of the 13th., concerning the recent Harbour Board election. Mesasrs Gunson, Heather and Craig were returned," but the election was afterwards declared void by Mr C. O. Kettle, S.M.

The insurances in the Palmerston fire last night on the stock are as follows Oollinson & Ounuinghame £llsO in Commercial Union. £750 in New Zealand, £SOO in the Northern. Thacker £3OO in New Zealand, £350 in Alliance £350 in Commercial Union. The amounts on the buildings are i Oollinson & Onnninghame £IOO in Oommefoial Union and £550 in New Zealand. Thacker £450 in New Zealand. Both buildings are owned by Waldegrave Bros.

No anxiety is as yet felt in Christchurch regarding the non-arrival of the Nimrod from the Antarctic, Captain England who took the vessel South on her first trip, interviewed, states that it is impossible to fix even an approximate date for her arrival aod even if she does not reach New Zealand till the end of April there is no occasion for anxiety. Everything ’depends entirely upon circumstances and the movements of the exploring party in the South.

Mr K. Dalrymple, a New Zealand representative polo player, and a prominent member of the Rangitikei team, had the misfortune to sustain an injury to his hand which may prevent his playing in the coming tournament. Mr Dalrymple was in Palmerston yesterday, says the Times, and had the bone examined under the X-rays, but it has not yet been decided whether his hand will be in a fit state to allow him to play. If Mr Dalrymple is unable to plav his loss will be severely felt by the Rangitikei team. the meeting of Committee of Manawatu A., & P. Association yesterday, the date of next Spring Show was fixed for November 3rd, 4th and sth. Messrs D. Thomas and J. Bal. sille were elected to fill the vacancies on the Genral Committee caused by the appointment of Mr Aldwortb asa vice-president and the resignation of Mr J. T. Lang. The question of using the Lincoln College scholarship of £2O per annum to assist Palmerston Technical School was referred to sub-committee to report at next meeting. On the motion of Mr Wheeler it was resolved that next Biennial Conference be . held in Christchurch. ' t ■

In charging the Grand Jury at New Plymouth, in connection with the charge of murder against Dr. Geode, Mr Justice ; Chapman said that a condition of drunkenness or intoxication was no excuse whatever for a crime, aud that so far as insanity was concerned, if any such question was suggested here that 'might be a matted of defence, but it was not the duly of the Grand Jury to enquire into matters of defence at all. What they had to enquire into was whetlv! r the evidence made ont a prima from case, rendering it proper that the case should be publicly tried and the guilt or innocence of the accused established. The Grand Jury returned a true bill and the trial will open this morning. that things are dull, money scarce, trade not what it used to be. With us our sale has beena great success. New goods from best British manufacturers now opening. This season we intend offering special inducements to cash buyers, Neal’s store,_ Peilding, is the right place for economic buyers of Men’s and Boy’s wearables.*