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Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 920, 19 June 1903, Page 4

Discussing the .Servian massacre the Napier Telegraph stales: “A man may he a hero in his night shirt, and men in uniform may he cowardly killers of women. The men in uniform may have had right on their side, so far as the political aspect is concerned ; the man assassinated witile trying to protect, his wife may have been a fool ; that wife may have been as the .Servian Radicals claim, “ of evil repute " : she may have been a dangerous schemer. Grant all this, and then from any but a pig -stye philosophy point of view the honors of the closing scene are with the man and woman who fell shot and stabbed to death.”

Has not the country had a surfeit of “ State-controlled exhibitions ?” (writes a correspondent to the New Zealand Herald). Many years ago we bred a Carbine, now the Government are importing horses to 11 improve our breed.” Several years ago a few enterprising men made dairying a sueeess. Now the Government have a number of large-salaried gentlemen to show us “ how to make butter.” Many elderly colonials have invested their savings in fire insurance companies, in order to obtain a competency for their declining years. Now the Government are proposing to start business in opposition. A few years ago the Government started several State farms. So far the settlers have never been privileged to see a balancesheet to enable them to judge of the re suits. For many years, through freezing there has been a profitable outlet for our surplus stock. Now the Government are proposing to open retail shops in the Old Country for the sale and advertisement of our meat. Is there to be no limit to State control and patronage'? If it continues much further, there will hardly be a business man who will risk his capital in private enterprise within the colony.