SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 268, 4 April 1913, Page 8

SPORTING.

LADY MEDALLIST'S RETIREMENT. By Cable— Prtss Association—Copyright. Received 3, 8.35 p.m. r i s y dn ey, April 3. Lady Medallist has been definitely retired by her owners for stud purposes, and will be mated with St. Savin. WELLINGTON RACING CLUB. SECOND DAY ACCEPTANCES. By Telegraph—Press Association. m. , „ Wellington, Last Night. The following acceptances have been received for the second day of the Wellington Racing Club's meeting to-mor-row:— ' ° Second Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase, of 120 sovs; two miles and a half. -Karimoi ]O.B, Sunray 10.5, Bismarck 9-13, King Try 9.13, Makiri 9.13, Fireworks 9.13, Grit Lawless 9.7, Elwell 9.7. Hutt Handicap, of 150 sovs.; one mile.—Byron 10.5, Sea Queen 10.3, Multiply 9.11, Imagination 9.4, Semaph ore 9.4. Obhgant 9.3, Ceylon 9.3, Mon Ami 9.3 Brown Trout 8.10, Alolia 8.9, Negative' 8.9, Manitau 8.5, Lockwood 8.5, Montreal 8.0, Lady Nolan 8.0, Falsetto 8.0, Stephney 8.0. Muritai Handicap, of 120 sovs.; seven furlongs.—Awahou 9.12, Titikura 01 Huia 8.13, Carolus 8.9, Chaminade 7.11, Portland Lady 7.11, Big Blast 7.9, Elevated 7.4, Courtley 6.11, Mediterranean 0.7, George 6.7. Belmont Handicap, of 120 sovs.; six furlongs.—Huia 9.0, Suratura 8.4, Ladoga 8.1, Ainsdale 7.13, Scottish Star 7.13, Portland Lady 7.12, Gerberga 7.6, Merry Guy 7.5, Elevated 7.5, Submersion 7.i, Field Battery—Trix g (Lanyard?) 6.7, Soporific 6.7, Cadonia 6.7. Autumn Handicap, of 500 sovs.; one mile and three furlongs. Coroniform 8.10, Sir Solo B.oj Byron 8.3, Mira 8.0, Sea Queen 7.11, Merrimonia '7.4, and Dearest 7.0.

Pacific Handicap, of 250 sovs.; six furlongs.— Peronilla 9.1, Salsburg 9.1, His 1 toriette 7.9, Briarpatch 7.0, Anguish 6.13. Gerberga 8.13. Pavlova 0.11, Sartovna 0.7, Hoopoe 0.7. Suburban Handicap, of 250 sovs.; six furlongs.—Culprit 8.8, Gipsy Belle 8.5, Crown Pearl 7,13, Sanguinary 7.11, Peroneal 7.10, Makara 7.8, Naumai 7.0, Patronale 7.3, Tetikura 7.0, Styx 0.13, Piriwai 0.13, and War Queen 6.10. N.Z. St. Leger Stakes, of 450 sovs.; one mile and three-quarters.— Canute, Haskayne, Bon Reve and Bon Ton. TOTALISATOR PERMITS. A REQUEST REFUSED. Dargaville, Last Night. Replying to tlie request of the Northern Wairon Racing Club for a totalizator permit, the Minister of Internal Affairs said there was no possibility of the permit rniestion being reopened next session. He could not accept the sugges-1 tion to take a day each from the Gis-1 borne and Poverty Bay Clubs, as that j would initiate turmoil throliehout the whole Dominion. It would also be un- I fair.

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bodies were really the backbone of the Government of the country. Mr. Malone brielly traced the development of local, government, and paid a tribute to the work of members of local bodies ill this district.

ihe Mayor of Stratford, replying, aaid that if any individual wanted to know \ how crooked he, is let him get 011 a local j body. If he wanted to know how great j a scoundrel he was, let him enter Par- I liament! Ihe domain of local govern-j ment was a good training ground for Parliament. He regretted that so many of the able men of the Dominion failed to do their share in the matter of local government. Men who gave so freely of their time were entitled to all honor, which, however, they did not always get. Mr. Hathaway, Stratford county chairman, said there was no question that the local bodies had done great pioneer work. Navy first, army second, roads third—that was his conception of the needs of the nation. In this county the ratepayers had pledged themselves to loans of £132,000 for unking roads. What would Stratford be, and what would the dairy industry be, without roads? He did not consider the Government had given the county council all the assistance it should have had in opening up the backblocks. He had something to say about what he termed the erratic valuation system, and considered valuers should be practical men, competent to classify the land. Talking of the cost of roading, he said that metal on some of the roads cost up to 14s and 17s a yard. Road maintenance cost £SO to £OO a mile 011 by-roads and £7O to £BO 011 main roads.

Mr. Atliol Meredith, Whangamomona county chairman, said the only chance of getting roads in his backblock countywas to get money from the Government "at any per cent." For want of money bush land which had been felled was going back into bush. They wanted money, and the Government would have to find it. If the present Government could not get the money, then they would have to get another Government. That was all.

The chairman proposed the toast of "Our Guests." This was the first official visit of the Premier and the Minister of Public Works since their accession to power. The whole district had combined in this compliment to the Ministers that night, and he recognised that this was one of the occasions when they could afford to take polities less seriously. He was optimistic concerning some of the matters presented to the Ministers by deputations that day. He believed the Opunake line would eventually be started here. (Applause). Mr. Richards had said that day that Stratford was a poor district. The people here were too independent to be poor, but they were not individually wealthy, and there was a limit, fast approaching, to the taxation the people could afford to pay. This district was a network of roads nearly worn out. Good roads cost £2OOO a mile, and the local bodies had to receive assistance from the State. Mr. Ivirkwood said the present Ministerial visit was not a perfunctory one, but one of great importance to the district, and he hoped benefit would result. He regretted that the visitors were making such a short stay, for they would have liked to show more of the district and more fully explain its requirements.

THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. Enthusiastic uproar prevented the Hon. the Premier from speaking for quite a while. After thanking all for the cordiality and enthusiasm with which the toast had been accepted, Mr. Massey referred to his previous visits here, and said that as a private member, as leader of the Opposition, and now as leader of the Government, his reception had always been hearty here. This trip through Taranaki was partly business and partly pleasure. He gained a great deal of pleasure from meeting the people and seeing so much of the country. They had seen that day in the Omoana country possibilities of settlement that lie had never dreamed of. Nearer to the railway he had seen what was being done in the dairying industry, and he was convinced that in this connection Taranaki had nothing to learn from any other part of the Dominion, or any part of the world. He thanked the local bodies for this complimentary banquet, and he especially thanked those of his political opponents who had been associated with the function. "There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth," he said amidst laughter, and he hoped these gentlemen would repent before, it was too late. He agreed with Mr. Malone that the party system was not perfect, but no country in the world had yet devised an improvement. He suggested one. New Zealand had now Unselfish and patriotic men as the Government party, men who were pledged to do all for the good of their fellowcitizens and for the country. Get rid of the party system, he urged, by coming along and supporting the party in power. The Prime Minister touched on the navy. So far as the Pacific was concerned, there was no navy to protect ur ports, our coasts, or our trade routes. It was a position that Had to be faced bv the Government and the people of Xew Zealand. As already reported, he promised that the Government would endeavor to have it arranged that our battleship, T-T.M.S. New Zealand, should visit New Plymouth.

During the nine months of the present Government's life (here had been many difficulties to face. There had been great industrial difficulties. Tt was a matter for congratulation that there was no strike in progress in New Zealand today, nor was there any prospect of one. He hoped that soon we would get back to former conditions, that employers and employees would have more of the give-and-take spirit, and that there would be less friction and a better feeling existing. If any Government could bring that about it would indeed be a gond thing. Then there had been financial difficulties, but not with the ordinary revenue of the Dominion, whicli had been most, prosperous. He congratulated Taranaki 011 its prosperity. Tt would be a very good thing for New Zealand if two or three of the other provinces were occupied and settled as Taranaki was. I lie revenue during the year had been buovant. and there would be a fairly satisfactory and substantial surplus to announce when the public accounts were completed. Tt had In be remembered (hat at one time we bor-

rowed only for roads, railways, etc., but ] now loan money was wanted for these purposes ;uul for loans to local bodies, ' purchase of lands for settlement, advances to settlers and to workers, for •State coal mines, and many other purposes. So that every year we had to go to the London money market for a very considerable sum. In a year like j the past one, when there had not been i enough money to go round, they had [ had to apportion the money as fairly as possible to the different purposes. They had not dared to cut down expenditure in road-making, and when the public accounts came out it would be seen that more had been spent 011 roads than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The Prime Minister said he had begun to see that the requirements of Taranaki were many, but if the Government could not borrow tliey could not lend. The Hon. Mr. Allen had been very successful in raising the recent loan, and he hoped that when next New Zealand .wanted money the terms obtained would be equally good. A very serious difficulty had arisen in that the Government had to re-pay £10,000,000 of shortdated debentures. That system of raising money was most wasteful, extravagant and unbusinesslike, and was not the fault of the present Government. He ( warned his hearers tli.it the Government, the local bodies and private individuals would have to go very cautiously for the next year or two in the «matter of expenditure . Tn the next few months £100,000,000 had to be raised in London by various borrowers, and money was bound \o get higher in price. The Government would endeavor to see that the taxpayer got full value for every shilling spent. A POLICY.

Ilis policy would be to increase the exports. To do this they must increase the number of producers, increase the number of people on the land, and must encourage subdivision. In promoting land settlement they must luive money for roads and railways for the settlers. The Government would pursue a policy of active opening up of Crown lands for Settlement.

"We look on the land question as the most important question before Parliament," he said, and proceeded to say that in but a few montlis this Government had changed the policy of the country I from leasehold to freehold. In that they had done a good thing. They were going to help the people on the land, i and in doing that they would help the people in the towns, for every family that took up land in the_ backblocks provided for another family in the town. 'There was too great proportion of our population in the towns—a very dangerous state of things in the event of a slump in the primary products. He claimed that the present Government had improved the valuation system so that the hard-working and industrious settler was not penalised for his work by increased valuations.

THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS,

I The Hon. W. Fraser, who followed, I traced his public and political career, showing that he had the training necessary to the full understanding of the duties of Minister of l'ublie Works. He had graduated from local government, the finest nursery for men entering Parliamentary life. As Minister of Public Works he had to find as much money as possible to meet the requirements of the country; whilst, as acting-Minister of Finance," in the absence of the Hon. James Allen, he had had to restrain that expenditure. Touching on the financial situation, he said that we had nothing to fear in Xew Zealand in regard to internal affairs, for the revenue was buoyant, and the surplus at the end of the year was better than the Hon. Mr. Allen had hoped for. But the position in regard to borrowed money was less satisfactory. In a young country like this, where the surplus revenue was insufficient for the development of the country, we must borrow. Had they only to borrow for public works and for the State lending departments they would be able to raise the requisite loans without difficulty. But, unfortunately, they had to borrow now to pay off past loan's, which had all been spent. There ought to be at least a million and a half raised next year for public works, but they had to raise four and a half millions for repayments. Until they coitM get people to lend money on long-dated debentures they would have difficulty in obtaining sufficient money for requirements. Hence the Colonial Treasurer's visit to London. At present New Zealand's debentures were redeemed by borrowing from A to pay off B. No country could keep 011 doing that. Anv private individual adopting such methods would soon be bankrupt, and the countrv which adopted them must have its credit detrimentally affected. Tt was all very well to say, "You must get money, at any price." But whilst that might avail for one year, it was a suicidal policy, to which he would not be a party. There was no necessity for it. Better to wait a little while. The reason why local bodies had not been able to secure all the advances asked for was that the previous Government had been able to borrow from the Post Office Savings Bank. Last year the Governments then in power borrowed £2,000,000 of this cheap money, of wnich £.">00,000 was oit Treasury hills, and repaid. The remainder bad been available lor lending. Now, however, this Government had only been able to get a million less from April last to February. The people were just as thrifty, and saved as well, but they had drawn the money out in order to secure the higher rates of interest outside. The Minister said that he had been reported recently in Auckland to 'have said that whereas, when the Government came in, there were grants to local bodies of £fi7<">.ooo, and only £17,000 to pay with. What he had said was that £073.000 had been granted as I loans to local bodies, and there was only ' £17,000 to pay those loans with. The Advances Board could not make further advances until that amount was wiped off. "There's nothing of the pessimist about me," continued the Minister. "I am rather inclined to he an optimist, but not a foolish optimist. There is 110 doubt in my mind as to being able to furnish what is necessary for requirements next year. The credit of Xew Zealand stands high in London. Let us keep it' in that state. I firmly believe that when we put before ihem the true state of affairs we will get what money we want, more especially if Mr. Allen has arranged that as the short-deben-

lures fall due tlicy will be taken up \ and put out of our way." J

He considered roads and bridges more ' important railways, for what was the good of a railway without roads to food it? During the past ten or twelve* months there had been expended on roads and bridges £22,000 more than in the corresponding period of the previous year. Yet they had been accused of not spending the votes, and starving the-country. The expenditure in regard to railways had not been so great, but they had expended up to promises made. If he had three millions at his disposal he would "make things hum a bit." New Zealand was an extremely difficult and expensive country to road. His sympathy went out to the. back-bloekers, and he would always be prepared to find money for them in preference to people in more favored places. Replying to Mr. Hathaway's query as to the possibility of obtaining stono from Mount Egmont. he said it was his intention to come here again as soon as possible, to go. more intimately through the country, to see the Whangamomonna district, and do his work as thoroughly as he was able. On the day when he found he could not carry out that work as it should be done he would ask his chief to appoint another in bis .stead. "The Press." proposed bv Mr. It. Masters; "The Chairman.'' proposed bv the Prime Minister; and "Auld Lang Syne," concluded a very successful gathering.

During the evening a programme of songs, recitations, impersonations and instrumental music was presented. DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS. MODEL DAIRY FARM. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE SCHEME.

A deputation representing the Stratford A. and P. Association and the dairy factory companies of Northern and Central Taranaki waited on the Premier as Minister of Agriculture, and asked that the Government should acquire a farm in the Stratford district for a model dairv farm.

Mr. Ilealy, President of the A. and P. Association, said district farmers who visited Moumahaki State Farm were of opinion that the farm was not of the greatest value to dairymen here, for various reasons. The dairy factories of Central and North Taranaki had combined with the Stratford A. and P. Association, hence the request now that the State should acquire land to be used as a model dairy farm in Central Taranaki.

Mr. J. R. Rowlands, representing the Mangorei Dairy Company, said that it was apparent that dairy production was falling off, and there was no better means of improving matters than by giving farmers an opportunity to see how farming should be carried on. He believed that such a farm, if established, 1 should be not farther south than Stratford, so that farmers from North and Central Taranaki could visit the farm and return home in the one day. Such a farm, if properly worked, should be self-supporting. Mr. R. McK. Morison, Instructor In Agriculture under the Taranaki Education Board, said he had found the young people of Taranaki were much interested in agricultural development, but the Moumalmki State Farm was too far awav to be readily available for his pupils. He stressed the great value of cow-testing and soil experiments. Mr. J. Knowles, Chairman of the Tariki Dairy Company, suggested that the land recently acquired at Tariki would be eminently suitable. Mr. R. Dingle, Chairman of the Stratford Farmers' Co-operative Association, reckoned that if a farm of 10ft acres were purchased it could pay its own way and give five per cent, profit." He went into figures, shoeing that from a herd of 100 acres, with forty eows, pigs, etc., the revenue would be £66.), and working cost £550. There should be no "white-waistcoat.ed manager," but a man prepared to work.

1 The Premier replied sympathetically. Ho was trying to arrange for the Fields and Experimental Divisions of the Agricultural Department to be run more on commercial lines. He was trying to set up a Board of Agriculture, and he hoped to be able to do it when the Agricultural Societies met in Wellington this year. They wanted six practical, hardheaded men (like Mr. Dingle, for instance), whose advice to the officers of the. Department would he invaluable. With such a board of advice the Stale farms would have been more profitable. He believed that a model dairy farm would be a good* institution. When lie got the Board of Agriculture he would get «a report from them on this matter. As far as he was concerned he was favorable to the proposal. STRATFORD POST OFFICE.

The Mayor thea complained of the inadequate postal accommodation in Stratford, and said that there was no worse building in New Zealand handling so much business. They did not want an ornament to the town, but adequate post office accommodation. Thev would be verv glad to get rid of "Our Noah's Ark." Mr. N. J. King supported the Mayor's remarks, and emphasised the lack of accommodation. The Hon. Fraser said he would' visit the Post Office and let the Postmaster- , General know about its condition. COUNTY MATTERS. Mr. Hathaway. Stratford County Chairman, brought several matters under the Ministers' notice, thev included: Delay in supplying metal from the State quarries on Mount Egniont; hick of labor for road work; ami the need for. immigration of this class of people; a tax on motor-cars; revision to the previous system of representation on local bodies, on the ground that at present the Hospital Board< were really irresponsible bodies, empowered to spend, but not concerned in finding moneys; the need •for compensation of the local Hospital Board by the Government for the had dibis left by workers on the cooperative railway works; need for more stringent noxious weeds inspection, and the appointment of inspectors by local bodies; a protect a«ainst high railway freight charges on Australian hardwood for use by local authorities; the failure of the Government to keep open drains made when the east railway was constructed. and consequent damage to farm property; the haidsljip in expecting the County Council to keep open a new road (slipping badly), which was constructed by the Council out of a Government grant, but from which no revenue was received. Crs. Wallers, Smith and Christofi'el supported the clniirmnn. The Hon. W. Fraser said that local government reform was at present occupying (lie attention of Cabinet. Possibly in I lie new legislation assured linance for local bodies won'd he achieved. He considered money could be put to no better use than in' being lent to local bodies for opening roads.

The Prime Minister. referring to ill. l hick of labor, said this was caused by tile fact that every year industrious and thrifty men were sli'ikinj out for themselves, on Hie land or otherwise. Immigration was necessary' to lill the -japs tlins caused, and the Clovemnient would encourage the immigration of farm hborers. Regarding noxious weeds, the growth of blackberry had been cheeked in some places, but drastic measures would have to be taken with regard to Oalifoniian thistle. The freight on hardwood would be left to the new j»eneral manager of railways to deal with. The Cioverument had a splendid man for the position. Whilst motor-cars were 110

longer luxuries, 1„, believed there should Ik> a syst.m of taxing tln-m, for thi'T were harder on tin.! roads than ordinary (heavy traffic.

WJIANC.UiOMOX.V

The Whanganiovnoiia Count-,• Council asked compensation from the Publitt Works Department for ruining several miles of lirs. class metalled road when forming the railway line. Tltey asked for immediate assistance in opening uj> the Okara Road. "J he land had been felled for six years. The selectors car- ■ ' ! ried in the grass seed on their track*. There was no road access, stock couhl not be got on to the land, and ft had gone back into worse than its bush state,, . ;! Other matters were mentioned, and the Minister promised enquiry. He also promised to enquire into the 1 complaint of the Whangam'omona people that the Public Works Department lnd ] utterly ruined the rond through tli« j township, which, up till the time of the 'j arrival of the railway construction v! parties, had lit en a beautiful roiid of ! imrnt pa;,.!. It was quite evident that '\j the Minister failed to grasp the position, ■« even of the Whangnmomona township gj itself, lint he said that whenever the S Public Works Department broke up M road the Department must reinstate it. He advised further Whungamomoiia '•? deputation to again apply for ir loan for .3 water and drainage and fire prevention -J I purposes in the village. "J OTHER DEFUYATTOJiS. ( 1

Mr. J. B. Richards mentioned the ae-' rJ cessity for opening up without delay the *; land out in the Omona district'from '* which the timber reservation I«4 is-, • cently been lifted. The settlers adjoin* *,j ing were anxious that the surveyor* p should fix ridge boundaries instead of M sticking to rectangular blocks. He alia <■' brought forward *lie request of tte, Stratford A. and F. Association for % part of this land to be set aside a« mi '» endowment for the Association* and atfc < out what this young association hie done for itself in the acquisition and , ?• provement of grounds, etc. Swcfr cq» •' ' dowment, if made, would assist the 4* -A sociation and be of direct benefit to ttfe, j farming industry. On behalf of the Kor ■ ." tare Settlers' Association, he asked road access from Kotare to the Etft ' ] Road be provided. This \voirld brin(f the place witliiu nine miles of the Strat- ' ford-Te Koura railway route, wherea* their present outlet was over Mount < Messenger to Waitara, forty miles, Mr. „ Richards also preferred the request tint the timber reservation be lifted front • reserve of 3000 or 4800) acres netrr Ke» 'A tare, as this was a splendid piece of "1 country for settlement. . Mr. W. 11. H. Young backed up tb& M previous speaker. An endowment of,,'f 1000 acres for the A. and P. Association M would enable the Association to improf*' : *| its show without continually appealing 'i to the local people for fiintfe, and would make it of greater value to> the farm- B era. :J

The Prime Minister, replying, said t&rt the Omona block referred to was now' being surveyed, and would be opened for' settlement prior to .Tune 30tft next. Tto surveys were completed now of 51)08#, acres of land which' would' be ready Sm > a few days for advertising for selection. In addition, 27,500 acres would be ope*; ed before June 30tH. All tikis was fir tfia Taranaki land district, and there wt», another big area just over the Border fi* the Wellington district. He would, IT not too late, lmve ridge boundaries madia as requested. He would be glad to gfv»' ; the A. and P. endowment, but it wou&f lead to too many similar applications,, which tfould not be acceded' to. He had noticed that tlie local' Association ws* going along at a great rate, and' lie hoped it would continue to do so. With: regard to the Kotaro roadi'ng request, tfti» should Tie brought before tlte Minister of Public Works next session before the Estimates were preparad. Probably something could be done. A 8 for tUft timber reserve there, the Forestry Cbmmission was considering such matter*.. and wouTd report to- Him' as Minister' or , Lands. If they thought it should Be set- " tied he would open 1 it.. Mr. J. H. Robson, a sawmiller, said this was one of the finest timber reserves he had seen in Taranaki, and" ft would be a shame to open it for settlement. VISIT TO ngaire: On Thursday morning the Mi'nistei* were motored to Ngaire, along the Fin- .i nerty Road to Lowgartlv (practically along the Stratford-Kaponga railway route), thence to Mangatoki and Kaponga, and back to Eltham, whence they started on a tour of South Taranaki. TO-DAY'S DOINGS. They will arrive in New Flrmoutli this afternoon from OpunaTce. Deputations will be received, and the party will be banqu«tted' to-night.