THE Kaipara Advertiser AND WAITEMARA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4, 1912. AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 September 1912, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser AND WAITEMARA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4, 1912. AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.

We have great pleasvre in notifying our numerous subscrißersT and others, that on the publication of the next issue of the " Advertiser " (the 11th of this month), a new departure will take place, inasmuch, that the popular weekly supplement which, hitherto, has contained two pages of most interesting reading matter, will be increased to four bumper pages stock full of good things. No doubt this enterprising move will meet not only with the general approval of the residents of Helens ville and district, but be acclaimed as a decided step in the right direction. Further, we desire to point out that despite the extra expense to be incurred, the subscription prices will be the same as iormerly, 6/6 per annum in advance, posted and delivered, although single copies will .be 2d each. We shall always endeavour to make the " Advertiser " as attractive as possible, and with the prosperous growth of this town have felt it imperative to recognise the natural demands of an ever-expectant public. The Press, as a direct power for good, is, or should be, a glorious institution, and its great traditions should be preserved. It is a medium for the educating of the masses, the strengthening of practical ideals, the acme of liberty, and the promoting of material objects. While in relation to politics, and so forth, we have, editorially, assumed the neutral vein of contention, this does not prevent us, when the occasion presents itself' from ventilating straight-out opinions for the welfare of the people. In other words, we contrive to court no man's favour, and fear no man's frown, and the motto to which we strictly adhere is the

proverbial " Pro Bono Publico ! " In conclusion, we have thoroughly appreciated the widespread support and encouragementwhich in the past, have been extended to us by our many subscribers and advertisers, and in tendering thanks for their great assistance, would assure them that as this beautiful town of Helensville and the district, increase in size and importance, so may it be likewise in the case of the "Advertiser."

A FLUCTUATING POLITICIAN,

The recent iefusal of Sir Joseph Waid to accept the position as Leader of the Opposition may, to those who are not conversant with the inner circles of politics, possibly have come as a surprice. But, it should be remembered, when several months ago the irrepressible Baronet resigned the Premiership he stated that it was his intention to take a rest from his previous arduous labour. Hence, his apparent disinclination to meet the request of the Liberal Party to take up the cudgels as their commander -in-chief, is after all a very natural sequence of events. There is, of course, another phrase of the argument. Ever since Sir Joseph Ward retired at the physchological moment of a pending crisis, he has revealed himself in a new guise. Hitherto, and whenever the opportunity presented itself, he seemed to possess a peculiar partiality for appearing in the lime-light of public life; moreover, his mania for enlisting personal aggrandisement was altogether too palpable to defeat open criticism. This is now a matter of past history, and to-day it is evident that he is determined to piay a fresh role—the somewhat insignificant part in the caste of a modern comedy in which he is con* tent to come before the parliamentary curtain as the '* Juvenile. Lead" eating the outside crust of humble pie ! Nevertheless, for so brilliant a politician to pose as a martyr, is suggestive of an individual who, having won an hereditary title which will ensure his name being handed down to posterity, prefers to bask in the sunshine of his fame. In short, of late, he has proved himself to be absolutely noncommittal, but wo do not accept this attitude as final. This would-be sense of new-born modesty is, doubtless, merely the foreign substance of a purely external idiosyncrasy having no internal dopth of characteristic purport. To associate tho " Dreadnought" Bar* onet with a degree of anything approaching the submissive order of things, would be manifestly absurd. It is more than probable that ho is suffering from an overdose of chagrin, and like tho typical schoolboy will not look at bread and jam while cake is on the table. Pro tern, the choice slices of the latter dainty are in the hands of the Kef ormers, while Sir Joseph (of many colours), and the Liberals have to be satisfied with the frag-, ments that remain. It is, therefore, obvious that he does nut adhere to the old adage of half-a-loaf being better than none. In this connection we may remark that, so far, the debates od the floor of the House have been exceedingly tame, and the vituperation criticism against the Massey Government, which all concerned were led to expect would emanate from the wide awake members of the Opposition, has been held in abeyance. Such a supercilious indifference and. lack of interest in a Budget, or otherwise, smacks of a seething contempt that reveals a sense of proportionate disregard for the Party in power. It is freely admitted that the Liberals have become a scattered community, and this is most regrettable, because the stronger the opposing force in the political arena, the more advantageous to the welfare of this Dominion as a whole. Consequently, it is to be hoped that before long a change in the desired direction will eventuate. It may sound very generous for the Liberals to assert that they are " holding back " as they wish to give the Prime Minister and "tEe~new Government a chance, but so puerile and tame a declaration in defence of their weekness is nothing less than the under-current of intolerant wire pulling. Thus it would seem as if Sir Joseph Ward were not the only fluctuating politician.

The Commission has reported and the public is not very much enlightened. That is, not by the report Cost or which is in places crude, LiviiYG contradictory, inconclusive, evasive. Value of ihat re port however consists in the information collected, principally : and to a certain degree in the recommendations made, which without covering the whole position practically suggest a great deal of further study, on' iudicated lines. The single tax doctrinaires who ate, also fanatical freetrade will be disappointed, because thengreat principle is relegated to a simple proportionate position with all the expedients which they have always denounced as palliatives in some respects mischievous. One clement of tiiis value consists in this very reference to the bo called palliatives because it established the good practical character of so many of the reforms •f the past three decades we go back with our eyes open to a decade beyond the start of the Liberal regime. Another is the reduction to true proportions of the importance of the argument of the unearned increment, another is the suggestion that the method of valuing improvements is unfair to the men who make improvements who ought to be encouraged, not dis^ couraged, still less penalised. A good recommendation, so that for the appointment of an authority to admits ister the Aofc passed for the controlling check of monpohes which are proved undoubtedly to be exis'.ingrestraint of trade. On the Avhole, the public will be relieved by the fact

made evident that the cost oi living has not been increased as much in this Dominion as it has elsewhere, and that the increased standard earnings of the people. Theproducerswill.be specially re-assured by the emphatic testimony to the primary importance of their industry, and the demostration that the high level of their prices is the cause of the prosperity of the Dominion and nut a hardship to any class in it.