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Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1929, Page 4

The question of Britain’s financial obligations, remarks the Auckland “Star,” lias been brought into rather painful prominence of late by Mr Snowden’s vehement attack ir.<yn the vinerican debt settlement and Briain’.s concessions to her European lobtors. Now criticism of quite a lifferent kind is offered by Lord Bradbury, who combines his disapproval of the Amercan sett hr. .tent with strongly expressed hostility to the restoration of the gold standard. However, in reply to this last onslaught, Mr Baldwin has been able zo make out a strong case for his Government, on the ground that both the funding of the debt and the return to gold were inevitable, and it was simply a question of judgment at what precise time these operations should he completed. But further signs of the doubt and dissatisfaction which exists in certain quarters in regard to France’s financial relations with Bri,ai were evidenced in the questions mt to the Chancellor of the Exchequer last Monday. Mjt; Chin-hill was ihlc to assure the House that, failing ho ratifi'"'tion of the reduced terms, France sli 1 owes Britain about £721,01:0,000 Meantime all that Germany lias paid the Allies by way of reparation comes to about £182,000,000. But in any case Britain need not expect much relief from any future improvement in the financial position of Germany or her other Continental debtors. For she is hound by the terms of the Balfour Note not to take from her debtors more than she needs to settle the American claims upon her. The relation between the American debt and Germany’s reparation payments still seems to need a little elucidation, and not long since Mr J. M. Keynes attempted this thankless task. He has shown that the Allies are paying about £83,1)00,000 a year to America, while Germany, under the Dawes '’bill, has been paving on tbo average El 17,000,(100 a year to tlic Allies. But America also lias a share in German reparations, and will receive directly and indirectly about £78,000,000 a year out 01 the £117,0'0,000 taken by the Allies annually from Germany. Now if the annuities payable by Germanv are—as seems probable—reduced in future by one-third, the Americans will get practically the whole of Germany’s reparation payment, and nobody else will get anything. It seems a curious outcome of the war that the United States should he “the sole beneficiary.” But it helps us to understand and appreciate the magnitude and the generosity of the concessions Hint Britain lias made in adjusting her financial relations with other Powers.

The Hokitika Free Library Committee meets to-night at 7 o’clock.

Air" F. Bade, mercer and furnisher, draws attention to an interesting price list of some of the special articles on sale for this week.

Members of the two Masonic Lodges and visiting brethren have been invited to attend a special service at All Saints Church 011 Sunday evening next.

The usual fortnightly meeting cf the Druids Lodge will be held to-morrow (Wednesday) evening at 7.30 o’clock instead of Thursday.—Advt.

The Direct Supply Milking Machine Coy. Ltd., of Christchurch, in this issue makes a special announcement of a free gift of £95, for which particulars can be obtained on application.

On account of the Boxing Tounameiit on Thursday next it lias been decided to p.stp.ne the Swimming Chili’s Juvenile Bail until tbo following Thursday, May 16th.

It is notified in this issue that the election of the District Advisory Committees to the Westland County Council for the Okuru district takes place next Saturday afternoon, and for the Bruce Bay district the following Saturday evening. Enrolled County elec ors of the respective districts are cligih.e to vote.

The draw for the Boxing Competitions in the Princess Theatre on Thursday night appear in this issue. The programme is an attractive one and should provde a.very interesting night. There will he 16 boys bouts and two special bouts, so that patrons will have afu I evening. The first bout is set down for 7.30 p.m.

• “1 first slept in the district in 1908, and J have .been sleeping in it ever since,” said a candidate for the One Tree Hill Hoad Board, when apparently wishing to impress the ratepayers with his knowledge of the district (states the “New Zealand Her■>!fl”). “it is time yon wake up,” came a voice from the back, amid roars of laughter.

Messrs W. Weddel and Co. Ltd. advise dated London the 3rd instant as follows: —Danish butter, 164 s to lG6s 1 in.sc week ilLs to 1645); New Zealand unsalted, 160 s to 168 s (166 s to 168 s); New Zealand salted, 164 s to 166 s (162 s to 1645); market firm. New Zealand cheese, white 87s to 88s (87s to 88s); New Zealand cheese, coloured 89s to 90s (89s to 90s); market slow. Canadian cheese, white 106 s to 112 s (106 s to 112 s); Canadian cheese, coloured 106 s to 110 s (106 s to 108 s).

With reference to my candidature for the County Council I think that it will be acknowledged that my efforts in local matters have not been without energy and success, and the ratepayers can rely upon it that if 7 am elected, I would serve them in County riiatters with similar energy.— Tlios P. O’Neil.—Advt. The County elections take place tomorrow throughout the Dominion. In the three Ridings of Westland Count” there will he polls. The booths in the several centres will l>e open from 9 a.m. to G p.m. At the County Chambers, Hokitika, those qualified may vote in the, their Hidings. Results to-morrow night will come to hand after 7 o’clock, and the finals should lie available between 8 and 9 o’clock. A fair amount of interest is being manifested in the polling, all the candidates being active in urging their friends and electors generally to roll up and vote. The quantity of saw'll timber exported from the West Coast for the year ended March 31, 1929, was 70,b10,000 super feet, being an increase of 13,000,000 over the previous year’s total. The total quantity shipped for the year to Australia was 21.718,000 feet, being an increase of 5,873,900 feet over last year’s total. In addition 2,481,800 feo-t were shipped, ; via Grey mouth, to tHo Nelson district, and 32,092,800 feet were railed through the Otira tunnel to the East Coast, against 29,033,100 feet for the year ended March 31, 1928, an increase of 3,059,700 feet. At a mooting of the Reefton Jocko" Club on Friday, a letter was received from J. Jarden asking the Club to review the punishment of six months’ disqualification, meted out to him over the running of the Progress Trot at the Club’s recent meeting. It- was resolved to inform Jarden that the matter was now out of the Club’s h antis, and that the papers in connexion with it -had gone forward to the New Zealand Trotting Association, and also to suggest that he write direct to the Association on the matter. At the Magistrate’s Court at Reefton, the hearing of a claim made by the Conservator of State Forests against J. W. C. Ward, in connection with the removal of timber without permission, was concluded. • Hard slated that he wrote to the Forestry Department in March last. He purchased the property from Jackson Bros, and the understanding was that a further area, of 320 acres was available as be required it. He asked a ofiieer to come and appraise the timber moved, but nothing was .nally decided. The quantity of timber taken off the Government area to bis own Imowedgo was 23,003 feet. Ho was astonished at the quantity claimed by the Department, which ho regarded as excessive. Mr W. Meldrnm. X.. M.. said that defendant was liable to a fine of £IOO. Defendant would be convicted and lined £2O, with costs £9 13s, and he was ordered to pay . £l5O, the cost of the timber.