Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1922, Page 2

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Federation constituted ait Wellington, and now extending its branches throughout Die Dominion, promises to be a very live and useful organisation. It is proposed that the Federation shall be as far n s possible representative of all taxpayer interests throughout New Zealand. The Federation has taken up the expenditure side of GovernI ment finance and is doing very practical work in summarising departmental outgoings and by comparative state ments disclosing the remarkable growth which has added so tremendously to the country’s burden. One set of figures shows that the staffs have increased by over twenty six per cent since pre war days, and the departmental increase in expenditure has been over 131 per cent. As to income and expenditure, the revenue for 1914-15 was over thirteen millions while for 1919-20 it exceeded fortyone and a quarter millions. On the expenditure side the 1914-15 figures were over twelve and a quarter millions, and in 1919-20 had increased to beyond twenty three and three quarter millions. By bringing homo the facts in regard to outgoings the Federation is doing a good work. It will focus public attention and thought to the subject which hitherto in the days of plenty was regarded all too lightly Indeed Hie public indifference to the rate of increase in the expenditure till shortage of funds called imperative attention to the subject was some excuse for the Government, which like the people lived with the times, not mindful of what was to come after. Tlie Federation figures bring all this home and should stimulate thought in regard to what is really a very pressing question for the country at large It is not good for the Dominion to see so much money year after year required to carry on the public administration. Enterprise / is stinted and progress stiffed with the >

result that the. tagnant conditions react adverely and cause the bad times complained of on all sides

The recurring growl about the neglect of Westland by the Tourist-De-partment cropped up at the Ohamb ei of Commerce meeting this week. Cases were quoted of intending visitors to the Coast from the North Island and Sydney who repaired to the nearest Tourist, offices to enquire as to cost and method of transport to the Waiho Gorge, to find in one instance that the information supplied was all astray—pure guess work—while in the other case the official was more frank and admitted lie did not know where the Waiho was! If the Tourist bureaux system is to be success, the offices should be staffed with competent persons. There should be plenty of matter at headquarters now to compile a tourist map of New Zealand denoting the situation of all resorts and particulars given of routes for travel, duration of time and cost. The Tourist Department has been long enough in existence to have this matter at hand and ready in pamphlet form to hand to ally enquirer. That the particulars ar e not readily available, and worse still, the officers are without personal knowledge of tho physical geography of the Dominion is a reflection on the administration of the Department, and one wonders what it is in existence for. The Tourist Department carries a staff of 172, and the salaries total £37,591. When such facts come to the Isunface as those related of tlie ignorance of the officials regarding Westland, it is not an v wonder that the public do not re- , gard the administration of the DC- ; ] artmont with any special esteeiib

The Committee of the Westland Racing Club meets to-night at 8.30 o'clock at the Club rooms.

The .Municipal Band will play on Oss Square on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. weather permitting. Du your winter buying now at Lloyd’s. We are offering a discount of Is 6d in the £ for cash, and Is in the £ tor monthly accounts.

The Public Trustee inserts a notice in this issue in the estate of the late George Lyes, farmer, formerly of Kokatahi.

Messrs M. Houston and Co. will sell by public auction on Wednesday afternoon next 011 the premises, corner of Stafford and Bealey Streets, the whole of the furniture and effects of Mr H Thomas. Full particulars appear in this issue.

The sale of ri .hts in connection with the Hokitika Easter races takes place at the Supreme Hall to-morrow afternoon at 3 o’clock. There is the promise of a very successful gathering, n.n unusually large string of horses coining to the (east, while a convenient train service will he arranged in connection with the meeting for the convenience of visitors. .Cntrie.s for all events at the autumn meeting of the Westland Racing Club close with the Secretary to-night at 9 o’clock. A synopsis of the programme, which' includes two trotting rtioes, appeal’s in this issue. Tho meeting promises to be patronised by a number of visiting owners, the indications being that there will be a large general entry. ..

At Reefton on Wednesday the death occurred suddenly of a well-known miner of Inangahua district, Mr E. O’Loughlin. Mr O’l.ouglilin was about 56 years of age, and he arrived in New Zealand from Ireland about 39 years ago, and worked on tlie Runanga railway. Since that time be lias been engaged in mining, and was in the Big River district for some years, and contracted miners’ phthises. Deceased was staying at the Gladstone Hotel and that morning about 10.39 he went out to the back of the hotel, and collapsed. expirin’ almost immediately. Tlie deceased was unmarried, but has relatives in various parts of the Dominion.

At Addington stock sales on Wednesday a big entry of fat pigs met with a good demand. Baeoners improved in price but porkers were about the same as last week. Values were—Choppers £3 to £5 10s; light baeoners £3 10s to £4 ss; heavy b»couers £4 10s to £5 ss; average price 6RI to 7d; light porkers 55s to 60s; average price per lb, Bd, to Bsd. A good yarding of average qualify, in* eluding some good sorts of weaners. A fair sale eventuated—Medium stores 30s to 38s; small stores 15s to 255; good weaners 7s 6d to 10s; small wearier 4s to 7s.

Recent shooting matches for cadets in the Groy-Hokitika district resulted:

200 yards H. Williams 17, Pvt. Clietwynd 16, Lance-Corporal Winchester 1(5, H. Spoor 16. 200 yards snapshooting: T. Lucy 15, Cbetwynd 12, Tillyshort 12, Winchester 12. 200 rapid :H. Spoor 18, IT. Williams 16, Winchester 15. Aggregate and rapid: Winchester 43, H. Williams 42, Cbetwynd 41. The following matches for cadets under 16 were fired: 25 yards—H. L. Coum.hu 27, L. Smith 27, V. Baird 26, E. McNab 25, V. Negri 25. Snapshooting—Gardyne 15, -M. Houston 15, L. Hutchison 15, E. McNab 15, V. Negri 15, L. Smith 15, and H. Cournbe 15. No. 6 matchLucy 25, R. Lithgow 25, Gardvne 24, Grant 24, H. Cournbe 24. Aggregate (under 11), H. Cournbe 66, L. Smith 65, E. McNab 63, V. Negri 62, Lithgow 60.

Smart autumn novelties just arrived at McGruer’s. The new season’s frocks, costumes, coats and jumpers feature the finest fabrics and most handsome designs. Model millinery, smart and becoming, ready to wear velours and straws, cosy and attractive furs. You will have something exclusive and out of the ordinary if you purchase your garments from McGruer’s, Hokitika and Greymouth.—Advt. Schroder and Co., are again to the fore with high grade millinery, ,fur» sports coats, frocks and hosiery. Also Liskurl mats and rugs. Linoleum. Carpet squares and Hearth rugs, all at favourable prices. Inspection invited.—Adrt.

Storekeepers will oblige by forwarding their orders early for “NO-RUBBING” Laundry Help, “Golden Rule” Soap. “Golden Rule” Candles, and “Keep Smiling” Pumice Soap, to facilitate prompt delivery, Wm, Perry and Co,, Ltd,, Wholesale Distributors.

Nominations for all events . at the Reef ton Jockey Club’s autumn meeting close on Saturday next at 9 jr.m. Notice of a lost policy of the Government Life Insurance Department appears in this issue. j A general meeting of footballers j will be held in Tofeer’s Hall, Arahura. , on Monday, April 10th at 8 p.m. AH members and/intending members are requested to attend. Business important. ft. J. Muir, Secretary.— Advt. S

Gentlemen, your requirements can be ptifehased at- Mr W. Stopforth’s dothiii’g and mercery depot, opening on Saturday. All goods are of the highest equality. Address, opposite W. E. Williams, chemist, Revell street, Hokitikrt.-—Advt.

The State Mines have only worked one day this week. Shortage of orders is the reported cause of the slackness. If the miners take a day off, tlie Arbitration Court says its a breach of agreement, but the Mine Manager nifty knock off the men when, and as often as lie pleases without being asked to explain why.—“ Argus.”

Cure for a cough. —Immediately your throat becomes sore or husky just take die dose of “Kofgo,” and the cold will be nipped in tlie bitd. “Kofgo,” the great cough cure, slioui 1 he kept in every borne this winter. It is a valuable cure for the coughs of man, woman and child. Only 2s 6d a bottle from any chemist or grocer.

During the week there has been considerable activity on the rad' va y s ; a number of specials being utilised for the carriage of timber from Ruatapu and Hokitika to Greymotith. From Monday to to-day (Friday) 176 trucks

carried 935,700 feet of timber; The larger portion of it white pine.

Writing from Gallipoli under date January 20th last, Lieut. A. W. Mildenhall, N.Z. Forces, who is attached to the Imperial Graves Commission, (gives Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., some particulars of interest to many in the Dominion. Shrapnel Valley cemetery’ is now under construction for the per-

manent cemetery, and when completed will be a creditable work. The weather conditions on Gallipoli had been very trying, and damage had

been done in the smaller cemeteries

On Anzac Day this year, it is anticipated. a memorial service will be held on Anzae Cove beach, and many visitors are expected from Constantinople. Tic only visitor to Gallipoli since Mr Jennings whs tiiere was a Mr M’Leod from New Soiitii Wales.

At tlie quarterly meeting of tho Canterbury’ Progress League the Chairman in tlie course of his report stated in connection with the Otira tunnel that partly as the result of the work the league had done the work at the tunnel had proceeded rapidly and satisfactorily. The president stated that he had been in conversation with a representative of the electrical firms concerned in Wellington, tho other day and he thought that. the work had been going ahead at a rapid pace. They ha<l it from the organiser, Mr P. R. Cliinie, that work on the power house and that of clearing up the tunnel was going 011 well. There was no reason at present to suppose that the anticipation was too optimistic that the trains would be running through by the end of the year. In that connection he would like to see the league take a prominent part in the formal opening of the tunnel when that event happened. The League had two little schemes in contemplation at the present. One was a wintei school at Hokitika in the month of May. The idea was to help along the cause of rural education chiefly in the West Coast and give some of the people this side of the range the op portunity of rubbing shoulders with th e West Coast people. They had to do this sort of thing because in the near future they would have the tunnel finished and, he hoped, trains running to the Coast daily.