Ragitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1900. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9403, 25 March 1909, Page 4

Ragitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1900. EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE deputation which waited on Mr Millar with regard to the Kitchener Street crossing at Marton Junction obtained assurances which leave the position clear, and it now remains for the residents of the Junction to decide what they want. The two questions at issue are first, the provision of access for foot passengers from Kitchener Street to the railway platform, and second, the provision of a bridge or level crossing for vehicles. With regard to the first, the ..Department will provide an overhead footbridge at its own expense,. This bridge will cost £SOO and a subway would involve an expenditure of £I2OO. Therefore, if a subway is required residents must provide £7OO towards the cost, a sum we feel certain they will consider excessive for the comparatively trifling advantage gained by having a subway instead of an overhead bridge. As to the second point, a traffic bridge would cost £IBOO of which the Department would provide half in addition to giving some land. The acceptance of this offer would necessitate the sacrifice of the footbridge or its erection at the cost of residents as the traffic bridge would not serve the same purpose. This seems too large a scheme to finance and we are reduced to the proposal for a level crossing at Pipae Street. The cost of this work would be £4OO. The Department is willing to spend £IOO in putting in cattle stops and doing other work on the line, and the County Council would, we understand, spend about £IOO, thus leaving £2OO to be raised by. a special loan. This scheme is quite within the region of -possibilities, and we should recommend its adoption. Residents would thus secure a footbridge to the station and a level crossing by rating themselves for a loan of £3OO. If they wish more extensive work done they must provide the money. As the Rangitikei County Council has to meet so many pressing claims it is not lively to be able to spare much for this work.

OUR telegraphic‘news has recorded the experience of an old settler in New Zealand under an. infamous law which has been placed on our Statute book in pursuance of the policy which aims at making this country a close corporation. This man had been thirty years in this Great Loan Laud of labour “tapu,” and he want to England for the benefit of his health. The object of the voyage was, unfortunately not attained, and he therefore started to return to his home here. But this law was invoked to prevent his landing on our sacred shores, for his illhealth had made him practically a criminal in the eyes of those who keep watch and ward to prevent other human beings landing who may be in search of health. We boast about our health-giving climate, but this is only to tantalise the broken-down, for we forcibly prevent them,from coming to regain health. It is rather curious that in Butler’s “Erewhon,” the scenery of which is laid in New Zealand, this writer about half a century ago stated that the greatest crime among the Erewhonians was ill-health. It was an imaginative work, but the writer was a prophet, and our legislators have given his theory effect. Under this inhuman law a man who visits another country in search of health may be permanently exiled from the country in which dwell all his friends and relatives, and in which are all his interests. In the case under notice the man defied the law and came ashore. It is astounding that such a law should ever have been passed or should be permitted to exist in a country which claims to be democratic. The rich man, of course, can obtain entry, even if he has hopelessly broken down. The golden key will unlock the gate. But the poor man who wishes to return to his friends and family, who may desire that his bones should rest close to where the remains of his loved ones lie, is treated as one who has no right to breathe the air of New Zealand. He has little chance of being allowed to land. It is no wonder that the incident has aronsed indignation in the locality in which this victim of man’s inhumanity to man is best known. It reflects disgrace on all who were instrumental in the passing of such a law, and disgrace will attach to the new Parliament if it allows it to remain on the Statute Book.

AMONG the men who are gradually taking a high place in the world General Botha is one of the most interesting. A few years ago he was an obscure Boer leader, but as the war progressed it began to be evident that he was the one commander of real military talent among the Boers and it was considered a fortunate circumstance that a man of such quality had not been in surpreme command of the Boer forces from.the first. At the close of the war he became the recognised leader

of the Transvaal Boers and showed such ability that he was chosen Premier of the Colony when it was given representative institutions. Contrary to the expectations of many the new Premier showed himself quite at home in his new position and though his professions of loyalty to the Empire were received at first with some feeling of doubt as to what they were really worth, it has long been evident that the General has at heart the welfare of both the white races who for so long were bitter enemies. Daring the long conferences which considered all the complicated problems involved in the proposals for a United South Africa, General Botha was the most influential and conciliatory of all the delegates and there can be no doubt that when the Union has been accomplished he will have very strong claims to the position of first Premier of United South Africa. All this has been aocomplisbed without in any way pushing himself into pnblio notice. General Botha is a taotitnru man who seems to avoid the limelight with the same skill he, showed in avoiding the British forces during the Boer war. At the time of the Premier’s Conference in Britain while Mr Deakin and others were filling the newspapers with long and eloquent speeches, General Botha said little and was chiefly a listener. But nevertheless he seems able to aofe, and we believe that the future of South Africa is safe in the hands of this silent man.