Rangitikei Advocate. THREE EDITIONS DAILY. (12.30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3.30 p.m.) THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1913. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10640, 8 May 1913, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. THREE EDITIONS DAILY. (12.30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3.30 p.m.) THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1913. EDITORIAL NOTES.

TWO Fishers hare been sailing, or rather travelling by train, and endeavouring to arrange that Australia and New Zealand shall enter into a fiscal arrangement which shall not fee disadvantageous to either, and which also cannot therefore be advantageous to either. It is admitted by onr Mr Fisher that Australia will not give New Zealand even as good terms as it gives to others, and therefore one is inclined to wonder what good purpose has been effected. It is regrettable that there has been any attempt to play the reciprocity farce, the benefits of which have frequently been proved to be unsubstantial and illusory. Moreover such arrangements delay the adoption of a rational system of Customs taxation. The Customs duties should not be used by the State for the purpose of up any sooalled “industry” in whioh a few only are engaged, because this makes the whole community suffer for their benefit. Our politicians should be compelled to take a course in political economy to teach them the absolute folly of a country depriving itself of the benefit of the services of others at cheaper cost than that at which they can perform the work themselves, and to realise that although counters, or coined pieces of metal, may be sent out of a country it benefits if greater value ia received in return. If the Minister of Customs desires to aid prosperity, lower the cost of living, and at the same time increase the revenue, he will cease playing with reciprocity, and instead will convert restrictive into revenue tariffs by lowering the duties. We sincerely trust that our Parliament will refuse to sanction any “reciprocity” arrargemeuts that may have been made.

THE Prime Minister lias made it clear that it is intended to force the ' true settlement of the land at ail possible speed. There was never any doubt as to this intention, though Opposition detractors have been striving to make capital out of the fact that all the land is not yet settled, though the Ministry have been only a few months in office. But during that short period more has been done to secure the genuine settlement of the land than in all the years during which previous Ministers were striving more to [add to the burdens on the laud than to promote its.productive use by callable men, and the fact that in the North Island 100,000 ont of 250,000 acres will be ready for settlement by the end of June is a sufficiant refutation of all the calumaies that have been uttered. It is also satisfactory to note tliat legislation is to be introduced to overcome native land difficulty... ami that the “Ta.i-hofi;”.;pp|Jpy-has gone, with.the Ward': Ministry into oblivioh.' ’ ! '• ‘ j WiTSha v buoy a at revenue, amT a | 1 loan successfully raised, Mr Massey 1 I is justified iu being hopeful, though; | I when ho took office he and his Min- | I istry had to perform the difficult j task.of restoring the credit of New * | Zealand and placing its finances in a -

satisfactory condition. The loan, fortunately, was raised on better terms, than previous loans, which the muddlers of finance made short* dated, thus benefiting only the moneylenders and the underwriters, and causing this country to pay exoessive sums for commission, etc., at short intervals. The last loan is for a lengthy term, whiah will give the Treasury time to arrange for its repayment on due date, or at least for its reduction. It is to be devoutly hoped that “financiers” such as those who raised loans previously at any price and on any terms will never again bs allowed to deal with the finances of New Zealand. It would he a public calamity if they were again afforded the opportunity of mismanaging affairs.

IN another column the Dominion Secretary of the Overseas'Club publishes a letter attempting to show that the Club is self -governing and has no connection with any newspaper. But he has to admit that it was formed by subscribers to the Daily Mail and that the Mail devotes a page to its nse. A largely circulated paper does not give a page of space without expectation of profit, and the fact that the original members were subscribers to the Daily Mail is sufficient proof that the Club was organised by that journal, and its formation was undoubtedly a clever scheme to promote its circulation and increase its profits. But of course this was done only for purely patriotic reasons, according to the amiable gentlemen who have been induced to believe in the Olub. It will no doubt for a time, continue to collect shillings from membeis for badges which may cost about a penny a dozen, and are possibly “made in Germany.”