The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1913. PEPYS'S DIARY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 March 1913, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1913. PEPYS'S DIARY.

Ln these days, when capital city newspapers instruct tlioir readers in such .subjects as what to cook for tomorrow's dinner, and how to make a snuffle out of « vanilla pod. it is interesting to note that although the tendency to write regarding culinary feats "in posse" is inodern. there we examples of the ''in esse" dating from before Lucullus and long after. Lately we have heeii dipping into IVpys's wordy, discursive, interesting, quaint old diary: and from it we note that on the 20th January. lOfiO. Pepys's wife "had got ready a very'iine dinner—viz., a dish of marrow hones: a leg of mutton : a loin of veal; a dish of fowl, llin-e pullets: and a dozen of larks ail in a dish : :i great tart, a neat's tongue. and a dish of anchovies: a di.sli o! prawns and elieCM , .' , From various lights thrown upon Mr JVpys'.s characteristics in hits own most veracious chronicle it becomes certain that he enjoyed the dishes better, probably, than he would have done had he been abTe to read of his approaching feast in the London Journal of a previous day. as in these hitter days so many "Wollingtonkins- -city find provincial—are almost forced to doTHE .SECOND BALLOT. l> the second ballot is doomed it will meet its desserts. Evidently it- "is ,- to go. and the question arises "What will replace it?" To go back to the old system of "a straight-out single ballot will not suit the temper of the present limes, though the day assuredly will come whereon the old .system of first-aiid-tinal single 'ballot will he reverted to. ( Ere then, however, there will be one or two political craft launched, sailed and wrecked from the legislative shipyards on the sea ef expediency an;! the rocks of practical proof. In th" meantime it, is of interest to note a veiled prophecy by .Mr Norworthy. M.P.. of Ashburton. Speaking at a social gathering last week, lie remarked that at present Canterbury had very fow Government members uiniongst her Parliamentary representatives, but "under improved conditions." the province would return .six or more Reform members. Tt has been suggested that Mr Nosworthy lot slip a Cabinet secret, forecasting electoral reform in the next session. Whether it will he merely the reiH'al of the Second Ballot Act. proportional representation, or preferential voting, and not hintr-1 ?',. by the member. MOISTURE IN BUTTER. "Do not grasp at too much, or yon may lose all" was the advice given to the boy who grabbed greedily at the nuts in the jar and was unable to withdraw his hand. An up-to-date version of the story is related by the Manawatu Daily Times, which records on reliable authority that a farmers' co-operative dairy company o|)erating on this coast lost four shillings per cwt. on a consignment of butter sent Home this season through excessive moisture. HIUTTFARiMTCRS; AND FACTORY FACILITIES. Thk Massey Government is showing its friendly disposition towards the man on the fruit farm in a practical way; id est, by introducing to Parliament n bill that is designed specially for his benefit. This information was given by Mr Massey during his recent tour in the North Canterbury districts. The Government, he said, was doing its level best to provide land for those who required it. Just prior to leaving Wellington he had instructed the law draughtsman to have n Hill ready for him which would allow the Crown

to advance money to associations of fruit growers, for the purpose of cold storage ami canning factories. This had never been done before in this country, and he mentioned it as s\n earnest of the Government's intention to encourage people to go on the Land. THK MONKY .MARKET. In the latest issue of the Trade Review there appears an especially interesting note on the money market. Incidentally it touches upon the aspect raised by the President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce when addressing the Kmpire Trade. Commission--in dee]) water and with both his legs afloat. The article runs: —''The supply of money i.s still far from plentiful, and ihere is not much indication of easier times coming for the present. The volume of our exports is keeping up well, and prices are satisfactory yoners'.lly. but our imports show little .sign of any reduction. We are getting near the end of the quarter, and the returns will be looked I'or with interest for a definite showing as to the position. The remarks of the President of the Wellington Chamber of Commence on the balance of trade have .aroused con.sid.'rahle air.-ouut of discussion on this subject i-'iviitly. We will not enter on any criticism here, as we understand that gentleman's statements wen , not reported quite correctly, but there are one or two laets we would emphasise that must, lie taken into consideiatioii when dealing with the subject. Firstly, it must be romenibeiod that our expurls and imports aie not merely :iur inoiiK , and oNper.dhur. , . ;'s our loans come in the form of goods, and are capital expenditure required for opening up i'n sli country which will ultimately increase our exports. As h> what our actual outside obligat:ons are if is very hard to gauge tlie.M'. The interest on our national 'li'bt. .and :;n loans io lo:-al bodies ■imoniits in nearly l - 'i!)00.(l(!0. but ■■iver '2\ millions of these loans were r ai'sed in (he Dominion, so that the interest under these (wo headings which has io he sent out of the conntry, would not aiiDiinl to ii>-t ; > tl-.-'i CinoO.OOO. Outside i-.-ipitjil invested in various enterprises here is ; ui unceriain qiuuifity. and is estimated by some authorities ins reaping ne:ir'y a million in interest or dividends, so that our total oiitsii'e interest obligations are probably from .'U to -I millions. I"nless our export, provide enough to meet this interesi as well as paying for our imports, the effect will he fell in a lightening of the local money markei. hut it dees not affeei our National -lability. Prior to 18S-") practically every year showed an excess of imuorts. but since then tin , re ba.s onlv been an excess of imports on one or two occasions, and the average excess of exports for Ihe past 2fi vears has been numbly 'J.J millions per annum. While ii is desirable that, our exports should pay for our imports and interest obligations, thai, is not absolutely noees-nry in :i voiins <"iuntry like ibis that requires capital In open up the land. However, we still consider (here i< room for s'ime restriction of our imports, especially as regards luxuries, and every effort should be put forth to increase our exports,