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Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1921, Page 2

Thk public accounts for the financial year ended March 31, were published in the Gazette issued last week. The totals of receipts and expenditure of the Consolidated Fund exceed all previous figures. Total Revenue 34,192.980 Total Expenditure 28,008.728 Excess of Revenue ... 0,124.258 From the details supplied it is shown that both Customs and income tax on the revenue side showed receipts of over eight millions each. This was an increase of over three and a half mil-

lions on the prevous year for Customs, and upwards of two millions for income tax. The net increase on revenue over the previous year was £8,117,020. On the expenditure side the net increase in volume is £4,287,205. Hie departmental expenditure increasing alone by £3,300,000. Interest charges increased hv £582,000, and the pensions’ increases were not over-substantial, all things considered. The Public Works Fund discloses a balance at the end of the financial year of £489.183. as against a balance of £219,501 at the end of March, 1920. The total expenditure from this fund under the heading of annual appropriations was £3,140,578, as compared with £2,020,713 for the previous twelve months. Tlic central fact of the foregoing is the huge surplus of revenue, which exceeds even the five millions tin Premier hinted at Mr Massey was therefore quite correct in saying a few weeks ago that the surplus was larger than had been ever imagined. What the public will now find hard to understand, is the “poor month” that the Acting Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works have been pulling since the departure of their chief. If, as seems to be dear, there was a balance of some six millions in the Treasury at the end of March, whatever could Sir Francis Bell have meant the other day when lie told a deputation that the Treasury was empty? In the light of the lugubrious statements of these two Ministers during the last few weeks it is almost Impossible to (Ted it the figures before us. But there they are.

Regardixg the annual balance sheet just referred to. the “Lyttelton Times" which comments .caustically on the financial position of the country, as ievealed bv tho latest set of figures, says the average person will not he slow in realising that the fact of a surplus equal to about 50 per cent of a full year’s revenue in pre-war days is clear proof that the people are shockingi.v overtaxed, hut if Sir Francis Bell and Mr Coates regard the position as an impecunious one they will not agree with this view. We sav that the Government has made a bad mess of .Te finances of the country, and we roga>"l this surplus as indubitable proof of he fact. The paper then proceeds to chide the Government for the faulty estimates put before the country when "lie last Budget was delivered, and charges the compilers of the parliamentary estimates with “reckless carelessness.” the paper takes some comfort out of the position, however, l>v hoping that so

large a surplus should enable Hie Government to employ all the labour that is available on necessary public works for the time being, while they warrant the House during the next s .hr ion insisting tuion a large reduction of taxation. But these hopes are doomed to disappointment for we are told that nlreadv the surplus has disappear.-* I. and with falling Customs an 1 Income Tax next year there is not ’"inch ho"c for a reduction in the incidence <f taxation. There should he insistence from Auckland to the Bluff, howevc*. on reduction in departmental expenditure. In this connection we are reminded that departmental expenditure has increased hv over 199 per cent during the last five years. This is colossal—in keeping with Mr Massey s definition of the taxation-, and its reduction Is the readies! mentis at hand to reduce the taxation. Otherwise rs

things ate going, the Reform Government, which was returned to office eighteen months ago pledged to "give ti e country “sound find economical adminiWould very soon have the Dominioh insolvent. The main features of the balance-sheet are the enoimo’.s collections of tax-revenue and the evidence that the Departments have dis sipated as much of it as they were able to in the time available. A meeting of trustees, of Hokitika Savings Bank will be held on Friday at 3 p.m. The monthly' meeting of the Hokitika Beautifying Society takes place at- the | Town Hall at 7 o’clock to-night. > A Jumble Sale. will be held in Longford Hall, Lower Kokatahi, on Wednesday, 29th. Juno, with a ball to follow. The Pacific table Board notifies as follows The Pacific cable has now been restored. Diverting traffic is now

to he ceased

I To-day being Empire Day flags were Hying on the principal buildings. The Government offices observe the holiday on June 3rd in connection with the ( commemoration of ih 0 King’s birthday.

The First Aid Class will lie held at the Hospital Board room on Wednesday night next. 'There is still room for additional students.—Advt.

The annual meeting ot the Westland County Council takes place at noon tomorrow when the Chairman will lie elected for the next twelve months. Subsequently the Council will deliberate on its action regarding the levy for hospitals and charitable aid, and also decide on a course of action in regard to the visit of the Minister of Mines.

The State -Miners Union’s ballot for the election of officers of the N.Z. Miners Federation resulted as follows: — President: P. O’Rourke, 10(5; B. Davidson. 77. Secretary and Treasurer: J. Arbuekle, 127; AY. Balderstone, 115. Vice-President: E. Dye, 43; V. Curran, 17; J. Mcßride, 148. Executive Member Grey District: T. G. Daly, 42; AY. Wild, 00; R. Al('Taggart, 133.

Considerable interest attaches to the reopening of the wool sales of the Dominion, beginning at AA’ellington on Thursday next. From 19,009 to 12,000 hales will be" offered in AVellington, with 3000 (tales to be offered at Napier the following stile. Sales will he held subsequently at AYanganui, Auckland, and South Island centres, terminating with Invercargill. The AVellington sales should fully test the market at the moment.

There is only one way in which to win permanent success in business. After offering good value and good service make sure that till customers are ho pleased with their purchases that they will come Imck again and again. People will always shop with a square deal firm that offers values like Lows’ Limited, the Mail Order Merchants of Christchurch. A single article at whole sale prices is what they offer through the mail, and absolute satisfaction is guaranteed or money refunded in full. AA’rite for catalogue. Lows’ Limited, 48-50 Manchester Street, Christchurch.

In our advertising columns will he found Messrs Harley and Co. Ltd. replace advertisement. It has fan’ll the aim of the firm to manufacture furniture that will always commend itself to the Public, by its beauty of design, excellence of upholstery and workmanship. Their customers often unconsciously testify to its success by their expressions of delight at the splendid collection of beautiful articles in the firm’s showrooms. If you want home value, honest workmanship, and good furniture you should visit or write Harley’s, Greymouth. The firm pack ..all orders free and consign to Hokitika railway station.

In the Greymouth Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday, the ease of Public Trustee iMr J. AAE Hannan) v. the Grov River Argus Company, Ltd. (Mr AV. J. Joyce) was heard. This was a claim for £IOB in respect of a promissory note payable on demand given to Florence McCarthy, late editor of the “Argus,” for the sum of £IOO and interest at (U?;,. The promissory note was given in respect of a loan of £IOO made by the late Mr McCarthy to the Argus Company in 1910, and the Public Trustee sued as administrator of the estate. The defence was that the loan was not properly authorised by the directors of the company, and that the claim was barred by the Statute of Limitations. The plaintiff claimed that the defence did not apply, as an acknowledgment in writing had been made which prevented the Statute of Limitations applying. Yesterday -Air Bundle S.M. gave his reserved judgment, in the course of which after reviewing the evidence, lie said he wished ty> point out to Counsel for plaintiff that, in the event of appeal from the decision of this Court in favour of the plaintiff, it may he held that on the present proceedings it was necessary to put the Memo of Association of the defendant company in evidence to prove that power to borrow money existed and that defendant was entitled to a nonsuit. As the period of limitation, will expire on July 30 next, it is quite possible that in the event of such a devision to appeal plaintiff might la? unable to institute fresh proceedings. therefore think 1 should give the plaintiff if he so desires the election of n nonsuit. The difficulty did not press me. till after I had considered the effect of judgment 1 proposed giving. Plaintiff did not elect nonsuit, and judgment j was given for plaintiff for £IOO, with interest from Auguist 20, 1910. at six 1 and a half per cent to date of judg- , ment, £OB 5s less the sum of £5 paid on ■ account. Total £1(51 5s and costs. ;

For Bronchial Coughs, take AVoods’ Great Peppermint Cure

The welcome slump in price has come at last. So while it lasts you will always find our price the lowest. Thou sands of pounds worth are being sacrificed by us, to make room for thousands more bargains already secured from the worlds markets. Visit Schroder and Co. Tt will pay yon.— Advt.

The far larger air space provided in Clincher Cycle Tyres lengthens the life of the tyre, reduces road shocks, lessens the puncture risk, adds to your comfort. All cycle dealers. Inhaled or taken on sugar, “NA : ZOL” give? wonderful relief front coughs, colds; or sore thrqqtr,. j

At Rim a to-morrow at 2 p.m; Messrs M. Houston and CO; will sell by auction on account of Mr D. Spence, residence. area with large dwelling and the whole .of tile furniture and effects.

A lengthy business sheet is set down for hearing at the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning, including charges of assault following the footbaJl match at Rimu on Saturday week. Tiie business promises to extend throughout the day.

Tor-night! To-night! At the Suj reme Hall, the Empire Night 1); nro : s being held by the Kiwi Football Club. Kick off ..t 8.1-1 p.m. sharp. Don t forget the music is by Mr Dawn. Efficient Referee. Supper provided. Admission—Gents 2/6; Ladies 1/6.—Ad-t.

Special music will be supplied by McLean’s orchestra to-night for “Humoresque” the special great attraction that has drawn crowded and enthusiastic audiences throughout th e country wherever shown. Miss V. Hannan of Greymouth, will also play a violin solo of the title name.

Word was received in Murchison that cn Sunday a man named Roy Irvine, living at Glonhope, bad cut his throat. i) r War nef of cl, accompanied by Constable Robertson, immediately left, per car. to see what could lie done tor the unfortunate, matt. No details are as yet to band, beyond the fact that toe man is still alive.

The Kdendale correspondent of t-sc “Wvmlhnm Farmer” reports that Mr Wiliiam McDonald, Ota Creek, completed the threshing of a 20-acre field of wheat' last Saturday. The grain, which was a good sample of Solid Straw Tuscan, averaged 81 bushels to the acre. The crop followed a field of mpe, and was sown in the first of September last.

On one of the chief British railways nearly all the locomotives are fitted with an automatic device to warn the driver when the “home” or “distant” signals are against him. A crank is placed between the two sets of rails, and when the signals are not .down it comes into contact with a lever on the engine, sounding the whistle and opening a brake. This mechanism is: expected to raise still higher the standard of snfetv achieved in British railway operation. There is a common saying that “the safest place m the world is inside a British express passenger train.’ 1

Messrs JI. Houston and Co Held a successful sale of horses yesterday at Cameron’s stables on behalf of Messrs Nolan Brothers, of Okuru, South Westland. Fifteen animals were offered, and all but four were sold, prices ranging from *37 10s to £ll. The four horses passed in were light animals. Following are the detailsl black mare LA3 10s; 1 hay gelding £37 10s; 1 bay cr C ld 661 10s; 1 hay geld £3O; 1 hay geld £32 10s; 1 black geld .618; 1 back mare £8 os; 1 hay mare £27 10s; 1 eh mare £l4 os; 1 hack £ll 10s; 1 grey geld £32 10s.

A recent incident at Auckland affords a somewhat sad illustration of how the fruit regulation operates. Accord 1 ng to the regulation, no citrus fruit is allowed to lie landed in New Zealand unless accompanied by a certificate stating that there is no fruit fly within a radius of one mile of where the fiuit was grown. As a consequence, shipments of fit! :s fruits have been condemned on arrival - ere owing to show ing slight signs of the pest, although it is contended by many authorities that the fly, being the product of a tropical clime, cannot exist in New Zealand. A week or two ago a valuable consignment of mandarins, valued at about £BOO, arrived here from I‘iji, hut •* account of this drastic regulation, the w hole consignment had to lie taken out to sea and dumped overboard. This course was insisted upon by the Department in spite of the fact that the fruit was all of first-class quality, while the market at the time was absolutely bare of mandarins.

Just landed 200 cases (each 401b5.) choice apples consisting of Adams, Pearmains, Stunners, Rifimers, Jonathans, Washingtons etc., from 7/6 to 9/6. According to varieties.—Paterson Michel and Co., Ltd., Phone No 2.—Advt.

Sure and certain, WADE’S WORM FIGS. Children like them.

We want everybody happy, everybody glad, hence our enthusiasm tor “NO RUBBING” Laundry Help.—Wm Perry and Co., agents for “NO RUBBING.”

After theatre, dance or party take “NAZOL.” Prevents chill from changing atmospheres. Convenient for pocket oAiag. Is 6d for 60 doses. For Children’s Hacking Cough, Wood * Great Peppermint Cure.