The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, SEPT 27, 1917. Paying for the War.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 September 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, SEPT 27, 1917. Paying for the War.

In the course of a thoughtful address to the Palmerston Philosophical Society, Mr J. W. Poynton, the well-known Stipendiary Magistrate, touched upon some unconsidered aspects of the war. Dealing with the enormous cost of these world-wide hostilities, he pointed out that, in modern States, with prosperous industries and efficient taxation machinery, the possibilities of revenue production were also enormous. The national debt of Britain before the war was ■£750,000,000. and it was regarded as an appalling burden. Yet in three weeks of last month this small Dominion raised as much per head of its population as the debt was to the British people. Just as Germany has repudiated her other obligations she will fail to pay her debts if it suits her, and her people—the lenders being always in the minority—would thus have the advantage, in future commercial competition, of being relieved of their burden. If repudiation by other of the combatants takes place, it will be done in such a way as to bear as lightly as possible on the people. Annuities might be given to lenders of large sums instead of repayment. This, dreadful as it may appear, said Mr Poynton, would be better than defeat. It would be better to lose everything we have than to submit to defeat. We would lose it all then, anyhow, and never have another chance. If we are not beaten we can start again,, no matter to what financial straits we are reduced. Formerly, after long wars, countries were exhausted for a generation or two, but with modern machinery, transport, and credit, recovery will be rapid. The process of recuperation will re-act on industries everywhere, and the afterwar depression will therefore be transient.

011 page 1 and 4 of this issue our readers will find eeverail columns of intereting 'reading matter

Mr Herbert Grinstoad, pastor of the Church of Christ at Palmers ton, is a visitor to Levin to-day.

The Levin Terminating Bui ldrjig Society held a ballot for £300 last evening. The fortunate winner proved to be Mr 0. T. Davis, of Ivevin, who becomes entitled to an advanoe fire© oif interest.

The Horowhenua A. and P. Association has been promised a donation of £2 2a by Messrs Garrity and Co., bacon duirje'rs, of Palmers ton Nlorftlh. ■It will be awarded for the ibest bacon pig at the show.

The football match Barraud and Abraham v. the I>evelljopment iFaaim team, to have been played on Saturday, has been postponcti ,3 liability of the former to get a team. iLevin will play the flaxmillers as arranged on Saturday.

A concert and sale of (produce, sweets, cakes, etc., will be held at the Ohau ELall on October 24tli, by the Ohau Hed Cross Guild. The proceeds will gjo towards the ißed Cross funds. The guild would be grateful for any gifts and help.

Levin's football 'team 'to play against Pioroutawhao next Saturday will consist of—;Fulil back, J. iHurunui; three-quarters, Winiata, Wilson, MfcJPonajld,; Winiata, Heta; half, Lee; wing., A. Walker; forwards, Bignaill, Noary, ißangi, Boweini, Winiata, Ryder, Tuiohy.

Mr J. Smith, of Levin, has received a lettteir from his son, Sid, who went away as a miember of the 4th Nctv Zealand l Rdfle Brigade. [Rifleman Smith, who was granted Ifeavla after the last "big push," liad toured 'England and Scotland, and when the letter was written was back in the Stenches in, France. Private Smith has been at the front a long time inc/w and has only once been in hospital— when he was wounded at Armantieres.

At the secret sesstfoh of. Parliament on Tuesday night thie information was conveyed to memhers that there were difficulties and dangers in carrying out the scheme for granting furlough to Main Body men to enaiMe them to visit New Zealand, and the proposed jhas been cancelled. Members passed a resolution rfetgrot fully that, under existling circumsftanceg, ijfc was impossible for the heiroes cif Anzac to visit their native shores.

At a sitting of the Levin Police Court on Monday Duncan Ransfield was charged with the theft of threie glasses valued at 2s, the propery of Ml. J. Suhan., Aootised ptteadjjd (guilty and was fimesd 40s. Twto natives, Kaba Perawhiti and Paul Taimihiana,

were charged with committing a breach of the peace at Levin." on Saturday last. Perawhiti, who pleaded guilty waa fined 20a, whiJe the other accused who pleaded not guilty, wa9 discharged. Mr B. flßl. \Gardenfeir, J.P., occupied the Benclv.

A great variety of old iron, including a huge quantity of old horse-shoes, portions of a buoket dredge, flywheels, and in fact almost everything which is imade of iron, and which has 'become useless in the ordinary course of wear and tear, lias been gathered together in the vicinity of the entrance to the town wharf, and is awaiting shipment 10 the south for re-smelting, at one of the ironworks. The shortage of iron lias become a serious matter, and no old ironwork need be wasted. The pity is that the material cannot be dealt with locally.—iW'anganui Chronicle..

Owing to other attractions arranged far the night of the patriotic benefit at Everybody's, the management, with tli© approval of the Patriotic Association, have decided to postpone the patriotic benefit until; Friday, OMx*ber oth. Tickets that havie 'been sold will be good for that uight and the town and district are asked to keep the oth October well in snind,' and' thus further help along the cause of the boys at tee front. An alteration in our advertising columns aniaikes an announcement to this effect in today's issue. Tickets 'aire on sale at one shilling, land the performance j will commence' at eight.

A few days ago a popular boarder at the Hotel Arcadia, Mr : iWiarren Williams, was made the recipient of a 'presentation im the form of a handsome Morris.. chair from his fellow boaa*dens. The occasion was the approaching marriage of Mr Williams, wliich happy event took place to-day in Master ton. Mr Maurice Sieged in a neat speech referred to the many good qualities (which had earned, for Mir 1 Williams popularity and eteteem among his acquaintances, iand On behalf of the donors wished' him happiness and prosperity in his new life. A brief and, .appropriate response by the recipient was followed' by hearty iheers in has honour.

Referring to an incident .at the Palmersiton station on arrival of a trainload of wounded soldiers the Man. a,wtu Times says: One man who had unfortunately added alcohol to shellshook, dlecidied to msmain here, and reffused to go on. iHia was (calmly persistent in his claim, to be a free agent until a military poliaeman appeared oil the scene, when the Bed Oap acted like a spark to tinder. ".Don't poike your nose in whene it isn't wanted," was the oft-irepeated admonition of the soldier to the Bed Cap. Moral suasion had 110 effect and he was promptly lifted aboard and returned to his (relatives, where he protested strongly, and told the miii— j tary police things about themselves they, will soon believe; that is, if repetition mrries conviction.

A seven-,ro.mmed house and conveniences is for sale in .Levin; also two acres of land (optional). Advertiser's address is obtainable at The Chronicle Office. Details of the entries for next, Thursday's cattle fair at Levin aire ad. vertised to-day by Daigety and Co., Ltd., and the 'New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Company, 'Ltd., in conjunction. I

What ia the origin of the salute? It ia stated that a late colonol of the old days of New Zealand had on.ce explained that the salute originated in Bbmo. It was the custom to brand slaves on the hand. The free man held uip his hand when meeting a Hp>man to show he was not branded. It meant he was a free man. The seirgt. major said sometimes the. men did not like saluting their officers but it reafly meant they were free men.

The calling in of the moving picture "Stinga'ree" because it had pu;t ideas of crime into the heads of certain Auckland boys, recalls a story that is told of "ltobbery under Arms," the classic of this school of fiction. By on© of the ironies of life, "Rolf Bolrdo wood : ," the author of it, was a magistrate. One day a boy appeared before him who had been led astray by literature of romantic crime. Mr Browne, thait was his real name, gave him a little lecture on his folly, "And what have you been reading?" "Bobbery under Arms' was the reply. If this story isn't truo it ought to be.

The iNorman conquest was a tremendous ad van tag© to Britain, remarked Mr J. W. Poynton in ail address to the Paimeii'stoii Philosophical Society. Had it notf taken place centuries of in. ternecine warfare would liave weakened tine [British peoples. It strengthened the central government, and, by a reaction united all the rest of the people against it. Out of this ' all ouir liberties have arisen. A curious inesult of tjis strong Government is the predominance of British domestic animals. Cattle, horses, shoep (except merinos), pigs and dogs.from Britain are everywhere sought after. On : the Continent of Europe, where there was continual war and ravishment, jit would bia almost impossible to have a noted ■ breed of animals, as in Britain during the long immunity from invasion that followed the conquest. • Some marauding neighbour prince would have his cupidjityy esjeited by Ith'eir existence, they would soon be dispersed, as the splendid Belgian horse has been recently taken frotm Belgium by German robbers. The exception, the mett'ino, is from an isolated country Spain— almost an island.