King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 1913 FINANCE IN POLITICS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 537, 29 January 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 1913 FINANCE IN POLITICS.

♦ It is gratifying to obßerve that Sir Joseph Ward in London has been responsible for reassuring statements consceming the stability of the finances of the Dominion and has cited New Zealand as an excellent field for investment. The expression of such opinions by the ex - PrkM" Minister should leave a clear field ftfP the activities of the Hon. J. Allen, the new Minister for Finance on his arrival at the centre of the money world. Ic has to be remembered that for many years past Sir Joseph Ward has conducted the financial arrangements of the Dominion, and his intimate knowledge of the great financial market Bhuuld be valuable. Any other statement that that which is credifcfeflrto Sir Joseph Ward would of course/be a reflection on his own policy and statemanship, still there can be little \ doubt that anything which tends to strengthen colonial credit in London at the present time is badly needed, and the word in season may readily be accepted in the Bpirit in which it was doubtless intended. Apart altogether from the turmoil and prejudices of, party strife we cannot but realise that the success of our financial arrangements means much to the Dominion. Whatever shade of politics the party in power may represent by far the most important task which confronts the Government is the judicious ad' Ministrations of the country'sinances. Opinions of all shades may ie held concerning the trend of social ind domestic legislation, but overihadowing, modifying, if not absolutey controlling that phrase of politics)

stand the stern necessity of providing for the progress and development of the country on sound and reasonable lines. In order to accomplish this it is a matter of keen business calculation to access the limit of the country's borrowing policy. In order to continue the development of the country it is obvious that a borrowing policy of some dimension muat be pursued. Public works and land settlement mußt be continued, for as long as waste areas of unroaded and unrated country exist so long will the productive portion of the Dominion be bearing a burden which should be dis--t tributed over the whole. The public debt is large but any debt only becomes an incubus when reasonable and proper provision for repayment is not made. In referring to the Dominion's resposibilitließ Sir Joseph Ward very properly pointed out that the bulk of the money for which the country was liable was invested in works. Moreover the development of the country is in ""' such a state that every £ judiciously expended increases the public asset to a far greater amount. It is to be sincerely hoped that Mr Allen will return successful from his mission, and that the present stringency "which is being felt by all branches of Industry will evaporate. Last week Mr J. W. Ellis' motor car travelled from Te Kuiti to Mangaroa in six hours—actual running time. It is beileved that this is the first motor that has journeyed to Mangaroa. The weight of the sheep for the weight guessing competition at the earnival last week was 52.2. Dr Zobel, 501bs, was the nearest to the weight, and won the prize. On Saturday. Ist inst., Mr Graham sells at his mart, Taupiri street, draught and light harness horses, backs, fruit, secondhand saddles, a spring dray and many lines of good furniture. A fine opportunity of buying really superior furniture will be afforded by the auction sale of Miss Day's household furniture and effects. Full particulars appear in our advertising columns. Mr Graham's instructions are to clear every line.

Mr Irwin Crookes, electrical engineer has been asked by the Oamar'u City Council to report upon an electric lighting and power scheme for that town. Free railway fare* to the Feilding Show and John Cobbe's Summer Sale, ia the lateat announcement from the Mail Order House at Feilding, and in a replace advertisement appearing in our advertising columns today -the following extract from the sale catalogue is quoted: Country cußtotners from North of Marton and South of Palmerston North personally vißiting the Summer Sale, and purchasing upwards of £5 worth of goods will receive on production of their railway ticket a refund equal to the amount of a second class return railway fare, or a single first-class fare. The Feilding ' Show will be held on the 4tb and sth February, and in addition to being able to witness a very fine show, John Cobbe's customers will have the pleasure of having their fare paid, and save a good deal of money on the parcel of drapery purchased. The Ven. Archdeacon Uthwatt, who is preaching next Sunday inJSt. Luke's Church, is Archdeacon of Northern Melanesia and has his headquarters in the Solomon Islands. Theße Islands were at one time the homes of some of the fiercest and most savage tribes in the Pacific and their head hunting - and canibal tribes were at constant war. Two of the most northerly are under German rale, five large and rnany.'umall under British government. Few realise the size of these the largest is 140 miles long by 35 broad, and British trade reached over £BO,OOO a year nearly ten years ago and has vastly increased since then. For many years the Melanesian Mission has steadily gained ground in this group of islands, and now as Archdeacon of these islands, Archdeacon Uthwatt has a very large staff of workers under him and visits his stations not only in canoes or whale boats as formerly, but in his schooner or one of his motor launches. And ocsasionally in the Mission steamer or the trading steamers if calling where he wishes to go.