The Wanganui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY,' AUGUST 10, 1892.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11608, 10 August 1892, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY,' AUGUST 10, 1892.

Foa a religious organ, the Catholic Times devotes a great deal of attention to politics. Published in Wellington, the seat and centre of political strife it is perhaps not to be wondered at that the editorial mind should be more concerned about the professions and practice" of politicians .than if the journal in question were issued from some remoter part of the colony. Placed where he is, the editor has made a study of politics and politicians, and the result in his mind . is not particularly favourable to orther. After close observation, he has little to say in praise of even the best of the politicians of the present time — but he is perfectly clear and outspoken on one point, and that is, that in his opinion the House is led by the biggest humbugs of the lot. What he thinks he takes care to say in the plainest English. There is no beating about the bush with him. He does not flatter in ono breath in order to revile in. the next. In his denunciation of the members of the presentlGovernment, and- more especially of the Premier, he is consistent and persistent. In the last issue of his journal the editor of the Catholic Times replies to two or three -correspondents who, he' says, do not understand why a Liberal paper does not support a "Liberal" Goveinment! The following extract from the editor's answer will give a taste of his quality : -" From the first, even before the last General Election, we had cause to view the professions of those who are now Ministers with the gravest suspicion, because it was even then evident that they desired to embitter class against class. Experience and history have- shown that no real reform was ever carried by such methods. When the Ministry was formed, with Mr Ballance at its head, we were compelled in justice to examine his previous political record and his. -previous efforts in the cause of land settlement. Mr Ballance must stand or fall by his Village Homestead Settlement Scheme, inaugurated by him during the StoutYogel combination. The idea of that scheme was," yter sc, excellent. It was carried out by Mr Ballance as a purely political job. That is to say, the scheme was administered with. the. sole view of buying, at the public expense, political ■upport for Mr Ballance. The secret history of the scheme has never been written, or at least published. • For some, reason or another the latt Government concluded not to make the revelations which they could, and most certainly ought to have made. But what we know was hushed up was of itself enough to make us view any scheme of land settlement put forward by a Government of which Mr Ballance is the head, and Sir Robert Stout in the mentor, with the gravest possible suspicion. Oursubpicions as to the purity or want of purity, of the present administration have been only too'completely verified. A certain amount of land settlement has no doubt taken place. ' It would have taken place no matter what Ministry might have been in power. But what has happened is this : Settlement has been made easy to those believed -to be favourable to the continuance in effice of the present Ministry, and difficult, if not impossible, to any one else. In short, we have an administration which practically declares that a man is unfit to clear bu«h, to sow, lo reap, unless he be a blind believer in Messrs Ballance, Beeves, and McKenzie. And because a few of the blind believers in these persons have been permitted to take up land on favourable terms to themselves, ne are asked to hail Ministers, bidding for the support which will enable them to continue to draw Ministerial salaries, as men actuated by an honest desire to promote hona fide land settlement ! We can and will . do no such - thing," ' . ,

For the last two or three years the dairy experts appointed by the authorities have been very ugent as to the necessity for the compulsory grading of dairy produce for export. The matter was pressed upon the notice of the late Government and Mr <J. F. Richardson, the Minister by " whom the question was taken up, promised to introduce a Bill dealing with it, 6u£ the retirement- of the Government of which he was n. member necessarily postponed the intended legislation. Now, MrMcKen/.iej Mr Richardson's successor, has taken the matter iv hand, and a Bill has been. drafted, but Jlr McKenzio does ' riot think it will satisfy the Dairy Association throughout the colony. He has received a great many suggestions as to what should be included in such an Act, these are very contradictory, and after reading them the Minister has to come to the conclusion that each Dairy Association would like a special Act for itself. The Bill, copies of which have been circulated, renders it compulsory for the owner of every dairy, creamery, or factory at which cliesseor butter is manufactured for-ex-port to have a trade mark, pith which the produco for, export shall be branded, at the risk of a penalty not 'exceeding £5 in every case. Any dairy at; which not less than 15001 b of milk per day is manu--1 factured into' butter or cheese may be " factory "or " creamery." All cheese or butter for export shall be brandad with the trade mark of the manufacturer and the words "N.Z. dairy," or "N.Z. factory," or " N.Z. creamery," as the case may be, and the true and exact nature and description of the cheeso or. batter. The penalty for a breech of this regulation shall not exceed £100, and' "shall not be less than £5. If milk has beon skimmed or diluted with water, notice must be given of that fact baforo it is supplied to a dairy, factory, or creameiy. In the supplying of milk to thoseestaWishments, that portion known as " strippings " must not be kept back. No tainted, sour or deceased milk shall be supplied, and , the Inspectors who will be appointed, if the Bill is passed, may require the owners of cows to have tested or analysed. The Inspectors shall have authority to open i any keg, box or package which contains . butter or cheese, and way visit all buildings used in the dairy industry.

Mr Laird, of Wanganui, has very kindly given, to Father Patterson, of Palmerston North, 150 trees to bo planted ■ on Arbor Day by the Convent School children. Mr Uutler, gardener, will superintend the planting of the troos. — Catholic Times.