The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 September 1912, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY

LEVIN. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,1912 MILK TESTING IN LEVIN. The milk testing competition originated by Mr J. G. Wilson, President of the Now Zealand Farmers' Union, is finding support and approval in this district. Mr Wilson oft'ois his prizes for comjH'tition amongst the young people of the county, but hehind his scheme is a desire and a hope, that the benefits of proper testing (and the direct monetary gains) will appeal so clearly to dairy farmers that on every farm the system will be ladopted and rigorously carried out. The method consists of very simple tests, both in Unpractical and clerical divisions. On the practical method there is no need for us to dilate: and as for the secretarial 1 part, all that is needed is that the weights of milk from each cow should bo entered daily on a ruled and printed pad (in the proper (y>l iiinns marked), and at the. end of the month, the docketed daily r turns he entered on a Herd Return Sheet, one of which suflices for the whole year. Any dairyfarmer desirous of beginning forthwith may purchase the printed book and sheet from Mr H. J. TUiehards, lion, secretary to the Levin Hriuich 'if the Fanners' Union. Mr Richards is superintending the Young People's Competition also, and already ho has a fair number of entries. The list finally closes en Monday next. 30th September. The prizes offered are m - 011 worth the winning, and apart from their intrinsic value there will be tho indirect but material gain to the farmers through the practice of methodical ways in regard to dairy horde. TAXATION. Some plain talk on the subject of taxation was uttered by the Premier at Wellington on Tuosdinv. Tn effect ho told n- deputation that when it came to ask for increased votos (even for an object so commendable as the. British Navy) it .should count the cost. Thp deputation laid bofore the Hon. Mr •Massey the resolutions passed by tho Navy League Conference in Wellington concerning defence matters, and in reply the Premier said that "the most important proposal was with regard to increasing contributions to tho Imperial Navy. Up fill 1903 Now Zealand's annual contribution was £20,000. Tn that year the Prime Minister asked Parliament to double the contribution, and it was increased tn- £-10.000. This contribution was paid till 1906 or 1907.' "when it was increased to filOfi.ooo. The presentation of the Dreadnought had increased the 'annual sum to £200,000. Tn addition, the system of land defence had hfou successfully and satisfactorily initiated nt a cost which ciuld not be put down at less than £<">OO.OOO por annum, so that the defence of Now Zealand was costing approximately £750,000 a year at least. The increase was not yet finished bv a long way. When the Government made up its niiiid where its duty lay reeardintr local and Tninorial defence it would do its duty. A certain section of tlie Hou.se was anxious that taxation should be reduced and had brought pressure on the Government. The proposals of thp deputation went in the opposite direction.- He would submit them to Cabinet, probably before the end of the session, go that they would be able to make a statement as to what the Govern ment intended to do. Tt would hardly be fair for him to express hie own opinion hefore ■consulting Id's colleagues."

•For fJhildrfn's'tTsj^i- , ' if C-re,; , ;:-.' ' U -ißdvlr W . Uf*

AN ESCAPED PRISONER.

That the escape of' Pawelka was made easy for him is inferentially shown in the annual report of the gaoler at Wellington Terrace Prison. 11l is report came to hand .yesterday in tho annual report of the Prisons Division of the Department of Justice. ■Amongst other statistics regarding prisoners it states that in 1911 " one male prisoner escaped and lias not been recaptured .... The services of two temporary officers were dispensed with for negligence- in connection with the escape from orison of a prisoner serving a long sentence." Which is fair enough as far as it goes, but it does go far enough. The facts established in connection with Pa.welka's. escrpe'were of a nature that established criminal negligence on tho part •of one or more persons, and in duty v l;p the, .law-abiding public of the 'dominion the chief-offending.officials ji should hftVo been charsred criminally £ fe'th the offence of aiding or abet- | ®|ng the escape of a prisoner. Do- 1 "riri ration of temporary office is an insufficient punishment for .such a misdemeanour. j