The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY. MARCH 5. 1920. PRICE-FIXNG.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12016, 5 March 1920, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY. MARCH 5. 1920. PRICE-FIXNG.

IN our opinion the producers in this country have allowed some dangerous precedents to be created by the

State. They have done this because, during the war, their sense or patriotism induced them to submit tamely to any restrictions and to be willing to sacrifice profits for the sake of the welfare of the Empire, This was creditable to them, though it was not politic, because whenever injustice is allowed its application is apt to extend. The producers were also the only class who were compelled to make sacrifices; the profits of other classes were, on the contrary, greatly increased. It was apparently assumed that the producers were not affected by the cost of living, or, if they were, that this was a matter with which the other classes were not concerned; at any rate their interests welre ignored, For instance the workers und dealers in leather were able to seize profits, from which the producer was debarred by an embargo on export; the dairymen were compelled to take a fixed price tor their products, lest some portion of the largely-in-creased wages of the workers should be obtained by them; and the meargrowors had the same restraint applied to them. The wneotgrowers have also submitted to regulation of the price of their produce. Now there is no valid reason why any Government should dare to fix the price of anything the individual produces, which in every case should be regulated solely by the law of supply ana demand. The only plausible reason advanced for interference in this case has been that it is desirable to encourage the growing of wheat in this country, and one aspect of this question therefore is, that it professes to guarantee the grower a better and more certain price than would otherwise be obtainable. It is obvious, however, that if the country was well suited to wheat-growing, and v it it woul d always be a profitable crop, as it is, say in Manitoba, there would be no need to fix a price to ensure the growth of a sufficient supply. The farmer’s own interest would impel him to produce ti e article. If he can get better results by growing some other crop, then it is questionable whether it is for the general benefit to induce him to grow the less payable—whether it would noy be more in the public interest to import) what is required. We strongly doubt whether Government interference is beneficial when exerted either directly or indirectly. In any case, having allowed these precedents to be created, the producers should be wary, lest the principle be extended, and they eventually find themselves toiling for fixed prices, and prevented from gaining any of the advantages attached to an open market. The producers have everything to gain by perfect freedom of trade, and there are already indications that attempts may be made to apply heavy export duties on certain products in addition to the excessive import duties now levied, which greatly increase the cost of the supplies the producers require.

The amusement tax in -1918-19 returned £40,290, but in the nine mouths of the 1919-30 year it has provided £4C, 7UO,

It is reported that a Manawata firm Ims bought out a butter factory near Dannevirke and has guaranteed the suppliers 2s (id per lb for batter fat for ten years.

■Motorists autl cyclists should note that all accessories are stocked by' Messrs Neiisen Bros, Broadway, Marton. Motor and cycle repairs executor, at shortest notice, ami the firm hare for sale new and second hand machines at reasonable prices. All classes of motor and general engineering work undertaken.*

The tug Kopntai, former! owned. 1 by the Otago Harbour Board, foundered off Sydney Heads. x The crew were saved. '

The Federal Commodities Commission has granted-the Texas Oil Company’s application for increase in the price of kerosene to 34s 6d per case and benzine to jibs.

Owing to the unsettled {state of the country and lack of accommodation, the authorities deprecate visitors proceeding to Gallipoli before May, 1921.

During the past month there were 18 births, 6 deaths, and 9 marriages registered in Feilding compared with #1 birth, 4 deaths, and 2 marriages in February last year

t The petition of Mr J B Hine, the unsuccessful "Government candidate for the Stratford seat, to have the election sot aside, will be heard by the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Chapman on The general executive of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association in Wellington have supported a request from the Grey branch and decided to appoint a deputation to wait on the Prime Minister and urge Shat no further referendum should be taken oq the licensing question for at least nine or twelve years.

Frencn seagoing captains handecf an address to the Cabinet, expressing disgust at the Supreme Council’s decision that German vessels captured at French ports must be handed over and pooled. They definitely declared that they would not give them up. On the other hand, French able seamen had agreed among themselves to sink the whole lot rather than do it.

In the House of Commons, Mr Gilbert drew attention to the fact Shat the Port of London Authority has stopped the sale of colonial fruit at the docks, and suggested that trnit might be sold directly it was landed without the expense of ing to mark-ts. Mr McCurdy replied that the committee v/as iuquring with a view to providing additional market facilities.

6 The Times’ correspondent at Athens states that the court-martial has completed the trial of the former Constantine’s army chiefs, who were, accused of handing over Rupel Fort to the German and Bulgar troops. Colonel Metaxas, who is now taking refuge in Italy, was sentenced to dearh, and General Dousmanis to imprisonment for life. The Supreme Council is considering economic questions... It ascertained that wholesale prices have increased over those ruling before the war as follows:—In France and Italy 300 per cent; Britain 17 per cent; Japan 160 percent; America 120 per cent. It transpired that Germans were receiving less than half the nominal food calories estimated necessary per individual.

Mounted police charged and dispersed outside Westminster an excited procession of 3000 ex-soldiers and sailors who marched from Whitehall to interview , the Premier regarding the dismissal of ex-service men from Government factories. Sticks, stones and bottles were freely thrown. The police used their batons. Fiftv-live who were in the procession were injured, as was one police inspector.

A well-known American who lives in Loudon has received a letter from one of the sons of the late Theodore Roosevelt announcing that, with his two brothers, he has “embarked” in business The young man makes no secret that cash is not so plentiful as it promised to be at oue time, The new, Roosevelt venture is a cheap restaurant scheme to be known as the Paulisto OaJe Inu. The late Mr Roosevelt left an estate worth about £200,000, but the greater part of it was bequeathed to the girls, the Off! Roman ex President maintaining that “a lad who could not make good with £4OOO to start with wasn’t wortli troubling about.”

A Warsaw message tells the folowiug sensational stnry:— A peasant from the Ukrainian border, who was a war prisoner for three years, returned home to see his parents. He learned at the village inn that his parents believed him dead- He decided first to visit them incognito. He knocked at the cottage door, produced a roll of notes and secured a night’s lodging as a wandering stranger. The parents did not recognise him. They withdrew to a corner to hatch murder for the money. The father went to the inn for vodka. The innkeeper congratulated him on his sou’s return. The fattier ran home. Too late ! His wife met him at the door with a bloodstained knife in her hand. She had killed her son !

The annual sports 'will be held at Hunterville on Wednesday nest, and an attractive programme has been arranged. Horsemen are well provided for. Mr T A Duncan donates a cup tor the Maiden Jump, and Mr Stevenson a trophy tor the Maiden Pony Jump, Mr Bull ‘a trophy for the Open Pony Jump. Lady rider of best lady hack will compete for a bracelet donated by_Mr W Bartlett and trophy by Mr Bruuton. Mr J Brice has given a £ls 15s cup for the Hunters’ , Competition. Liberal prizes have been awarded for school children’s ponies, and also foot events. Refreshments will be obtainable on the ground, and a dance will be held in the evening.

A painful sensation wak caused on the R, M.B. Tofua, which arrived back at Wellington on Wednesday from San“Brancisco, when the ship’s surgeon, Dr, Lake, was found dead in his cabin about a week before the vessel reached the Californian port. It appears that Dr. Lake had been ailing, but his death was quite unexpected. Ho was discovered at 1 p.m, lying quite 'dead in his pyjamas. The bo iy was buried at sea. Deceased had made a number of trips in the Wellington-San Francicso service, having previously been on the Palooua, which vessel the Tofua succeeded in that running. Dr. Lake, who was about 46 years of age, left a widow and ’two young cl ildren in San Francicso.N.Z= Times.

Cue of the most striking and noticeable features in the change of the season is the change of displays of seasonable goods on show in the leading drapers. This is particularly noticeable to anyone passing Messrs Lloyd’s Ltd, Marten’s big drapers. There may be seen a very fine display of new goods fur autumn and winter use. -The attractive goods on show a're only a portion of some large shipments just opened, and bought and shipped prior to the recent heavy rise in prices. Messrs Lloyd’s Ltd extend to all a hearty invitation of inspection. JNo one pressed to bay.*

Beaters’ correspondent al Paris states that a pearl dealer, carrying a bag of pearls valued at £32,000, and £6OO in cash, was knocked down by a bludgeon. He lost everything. The fat beast donated by Mr A 1 ex Stuart for the guessing compotiti on at Marton Show was killed this morning and will be oh view in .Broadway to-morrow morning between? and 8 o’clock.

Owing to the Town Hall not being available in March to suit the Oremona Family of Musicians their visit to Marton has been postponed until their return from the South, about first week in Tune.

At Wanganui yesterday a woman charged with stealing two silkblouses from McGruer and 00. ’a was remanded in custody till Monday. She iu a married woman with four children, and though she expressed regret and pleaded for liberty the Magistrate said shoplifting must be stopped. In the introduction to the report of Marton Show in yesterday’s issue it was stated that Miss Kiddiford rode Mr D G Kiddiford’s Dugal'd in the Ladies’ Jumping Competition, whereao it was Miss Fitzherbert, who receives .-Messrs Smith Bros. ’ special for rising the winner, and , also a special from Mr-.G. Winton for best lady rider. Government has arranged to assist the soldiers in the Mangapurna Settlement, about 75 miles up Wanganui River, to provide themselves with telephone facilities. Under this scheme the settlers can erect and maintain a line, the Government supplying material at cost price and allov/ing the settlers who enter into a bond, 10 years in which to pay off capital and interest.

On the 10th of this month the tenth annual show of Raugiwahia Horticultural and Industrial Association takes place, and reports indicate that it will be more stressful than ever. There are large classes for horses, cattle and sheep, Mr Gower is giving a medal for the amateur who wins the fat sheepjudging competition. Horticultural and Industrial classes have always been strong and promise to be equally attractive this year. Private advices have been received from Londogn to the effest that large accumulations of butter are held in Holland. The produce was intended for distribution in Austria and Germany, bnt finance could not bo arranged. From the same source of Information, it is learned that enormous stocks of dried milk are held iu Holland, and the prices for new season’s produce are £SO to £6O for skim milk powder, and £75 to £BO for full milk powder.

The wedding of Miss Ngairo Kiddiford, the youngest daughter of the late Mr B J Riddiford, a member of one of the best-known pioneer families iu New Zealand, and Mrs Riddiford, of the Lower Hutt, to Mr Randall Dudley Kettle, who was a Lieutenant-Colonel of the N. Z. E. F.. and distinguished himself by gaining the M. O. and Croix de Guerre (son of Mr and Mrs N Kettle, ot Napier), took place at Stf James’ Church, Lower Hutt, on Wednesday afternoon.

Und ir the will of the late Mr George Joachim, a legacy of £IOO has been bequeathed to tho Otago Art Society | ifter another personal legacies have been paid, .the residue of tho estate will ultimately be divided in the following mannerist. Mary’s Orphanage, Mornington, £500; St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Mornington, £SOO. Half of the remainder will go to the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, quaner to the Church of England, to the general church fund/at Dunedin; and quarter to the pensions fund at Dunedin of the Church of England.

The gorgeous scenery in the vicinity of the Rangitikei jßiver, which appeals to so many travellers on the Main Trunk, is just now attracting the attention of a party of artists who are visiting Ohingaiti, revelling in the sights and sketching. The beautiful grounds on the hank of the river which were placed at the disposal of the Ohingaiti Sports Committee on Wednesday were an eyeopener to many visitors. With no very great outlay the property could be turned into an i leal spoitsgroand, which would be one of the most picturesque in New Zealand. The hope was expressed that the committee will be able to secure the property. Wednesday’s success will spur the society on to greater tilings, and it ij safe to assume that they will sooner or latex acquire grounds which will be as attractive as the show they have promoted.

The death occurred at Wanganui yesterday of Mrs Gregor McGregor, wife of Mr Gregor McGregor, manager of the Muurikan State Farm. The deceased lady was 65 years of age. She took a very prominent part in patriotic work .daring the war period, and in recognition of her great services she was made a member of the Order of the British Empire. She was a | daughter of the late Mrs S H Manson, and w T as born at Karatia, on the Wanganui River. When quite a girl she, with five other girls, was chosen by the late Major Kemp to accompany him when he, with his people, went in pursuit of To Kooti, up the river, thence across country to the Waikato, through the Urewera, and out to Opotlki, and on the East Coast, and she travelled the whole distance on foot, and underwent very great hardships. Id was she who led the war dances, and at Waioreba she climbed a tree under fire *and hoisted the Union Jack.

Dessert Apples, 10s 6d and 12s 6d per case, Peaches, 6s 6d to 7s 6d per case. Pears, dessert or bottling, 3d lb, 251 b. 5a 6d. Cooking Apples, 3d per Id or 7s Gd case. (401bs) —J. ,B. Barrington, ’Phone 394.*

McGruer’s Autumn Show of new Millinery, Coats, Costumes, etc., is now on. Never before have McGroor’e, been able to display such an extensive range of choice new wearables. A cordial invitation is extended to the ladies to inspect the new showing.*

A special display of autumn millinery novelties is no n being made by Mesrss Low and Gregory, The Economic, Marton, These have been specially selected by experts from the leading makers * in the world’s fashion centres, and the styles are therefore absolutely correct, while prices will he found very much below those likely to bo obtained for later shipments daring the coming season.*

Messrs H A Goorlail and Co., land agents, Bulls, have some new announcements in to-day’s issue. *