THE Kaipara Advertiser. AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16, 1912.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 October 1912, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser. AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16, 1912.

VALUATION. It has been said that the Valuation Bill when passed will take all the sting out of the Graduated Land Tax and more. That may or may not be true. It would perhaps be truer to say that there will be a remission of taxation in the right direction. To that indeed, all must subscribe who have read the statement of the Valuer General, which is direct evidence to the fact that the improvements which are now supposed to be exempt from taxation are not always so exempt. Now the first duty of any government placed in this position must be to bring the improvement question into the right line, because if the improvements are ever taxed there is discouragement of agriculture instead of the benefit intended by the trainers of the law. The extent of the benefit of the new valuation is very wide : for example, the improvements effected above the £30,000 limit aggregate four millions sterling, whereas those below that figure come to twentyfour millions. The smaller men then will benefit in the proportion of six to one. Of what use is it to talk mouthingly about the favouring of the big purses ? The truth is that for some years past this question of improvements has been pressing itself to the front, for no other reason than that the Liberal Government of the first Valuation Act was extra jealous of any concession at all, and for, perhaps, good reasons. The original vice is to be seen so far back as the budget of John Balance, which began by declaring the desire to encourage people to make improvements and ended by taxing them even unto the utmost reach of graduation. The trail of that serpent has lain over the earth in some degree ever since. This Bill now goingthrough is the final ousting of the remnants of that bad thing.

OUR BOYS. IT is a curious commentary on our athletic system that it becomes always the measure of our proficiency in all things. The fact seems to have struck the late Cecil Rhodes, and hence the insistence on athletic excellence in his scholars by that prudent observer. The theory is all the more pleasing when it works out to our own advantage. For example, our boys going to Canada to see and be seen, to rival and be rivalled, have just carried off six of seven championships at the great athletic convincing meeting, besider other prizes of no mean order. At the same time it is clear that the cost of pre-eminence in play has not been loss of ground in work. On the contrary, the bearing and the training of the Dominion lads (NewZealanders) is reported to have been the admiration of all spectators and the envy of all competitors, That our boys should have scored like this in the world of defence is most patriotically, satisfactory. The most important department

of the future is the defence department charged with the training of the men who are to defend the hearths and the altars of this country from invasions numerous, disciplined and unscrupulously determined. From Canada the proof has come with the sound of the trumpets of truth that the department has proved by its very first fruits that it has begun right well : perhaps much better than the most sanguine could ever have expected.

THE great improvements made

in the Hot HELENSVILLE Springs grounds HOT during the last Springs 12 months goes

to show what future has .before it if sufficient money could be obtained to keep on with the work which, once started, makes apparent is absolutely necessary ,for the good of the masses, to be continued. It is not many years ago when there were only one or two baths, to-day there are 10 private baths and a large swimming bath, but visitors complain that this is not nearly sufficient, and that double the quantity of private baths and another large swimming bath for ladies is required. This has been admitted by the Domain Board who asked the Government to put £1000 aside for the purpose of doubling the accommodation, besides asking for £400 to complete improvements to grounds; but only the smaller sum has, we find, been put on the estimates. The Board, however, are anxious to make use of what is forthcoming, and Messrs McLeod, Wilson, and Hand, members, met at the Springs during the week end, and in company with Mr Jackson, Engineer, inspected the bowling green and tennis lawns, and arranged a site for the building of a suitable pavilion. It is intended to build the pavilion, which is to cost £200, with an entrance from the main road, after the style of the Helensville Public Library, with a shelter verandah round the three sides facing the lawns ; one end room is for ladies, the other for gentlemen, the centre being set apart for a refreshment room, etc. Mr Jackson, who has taken a keen interest in the laying out of the ground from the outset, has the drawing of the plans in hand. This still leaves £200 of the amount put on the estimates for the completion of the works in hand, and that will be used in getting the water laid on to the lawns, buying the necessary equipments, etc. The opening day has been fixed for November 7th, and at the Town Board meeting on Saturday it will be decided what steps should be taken to entertain the number of visitors that are expected to participate, and to make it a gala day for the district. Whatever is decided on we do not think the people of the whole district will be backward in assisting to their utmost, the efforts of the Domain Board and Bowling Club, in carrying it to a successful issue, which will be of great interest to the whole community. It is not yet known what Ministers of the Crown will be present, but we can safely rely on our member, Mr J. G. Coates, to do his best in getting a fair number, as well as members of House of Representatives to take part in an advancement of a gift beneficial to the Dominion.