The Levin Chronicle. THUHSDAY, JULY 4, 1918

Levin Daily Chronicle, 4 July 1918, Page 2

The Levin Chronicle. THUHSDAY, JULY 4, 1918

By accepting the Imperial authorities wool purchase offer this weelc, the National Government has taken a step that will have an important bearing on the material prosperity of the Dominion for the next two or three years. The Government has practically contracted for the purchase of the New Zealand wool clip at present prices for at least on© year after the war ends and probably for two years - for two wool clips after the close of the war at any rate. • Only in one quarter has there been any inclination to cavil af this decision and the one discordant note has been promptly drowned in a chorus of approval of the Government's action by wool growers in all parts of the Dominion. The importance of the transaction lies in the fact that it fixes the value of our chief product for at least two years ahead at the highest figure ever known in this country's history. And the fixing of the wool clip at so high a level automatically ensures a high price for mutton and lamb carcases. Further prices for butter and most other food stuffs will be affected by the prices for meat. These things will stabilise land values, and should give confidence to those who contemplate the purchase of land and, embarkation on agricultural pursuits. . The risks of heavy and numerous -capital losses immediately after the war are also lessen-

Ed by the certainty that the Dominion's products will remain at a high market value in the postwar period. An Australian financial authority points out that after previous wars one thing has been noted: the rapidity with, which agricultural countries have recovered. This time it will probably be noted that they suffer least from reaction. It will be the manufacturing countries which will be thrown into greatest confusion through the sudden~~diversion of the world's plants to peaceful production and the stoppage of munition-maiiufacttu'e at almost any price that those interested chose to ask. The market values of a thousand things will fall rapidly; and in that fall there is the genesis of serious financial trouble. Wc sliiall not escape some of that. It is the easiest thing in the world to sell at a profit on a rising _ market; it is not so easy to avoid losses on _ a falling market. But the stability given to the values of our staple products by the latest Imperial requisition will minimise the Dominion's prospects of a big after-war slump that some dolei ful propllets delight to threaten us I with.

A long discussion took place at. the Horowlienua County Patriotic Association meeting yesterday on the recommendation of a subcommittee of Otaki and Te Horo delegates to grant a returned soldier a loan of £150 to assist him in starting farming operations. Tt appeared that he had a lease of a Government farm of 30 acres, hut until lie paid his first half-year's rental (about £Go)_ he could not take advantage of the Government's loan proposals, which allowed him up to £760. lie desired the loan to pay his rent and purchase 1 fai J m implements. The meeting was faced with a complicated problem.; It was argued' that having served his country he had a right to expect help," but the security of a second mortgage on a _ 30-scre leasehold would be practically valueless after the Government was secured for its £760. One group or delegates argued that the meeting should make the loan without security, being'satisfied only with the payment of interest. A second group demanded security but the abandonment of the olai'm Tor interest, provided the loan were being repaid by easy instalments. Still a. third group * argued that the County Fund would be insufficient to provide for the wan i >• .of incapacitated men and there;-'! it could not afford to assist a

bodied men such as tlie applicant After a long debate the mee"'.i: decided to grant the applicant a loan of £00, provided he secured, a backer, tlie amount to bo repaid in monthly instalments of £l after the first year, interest at 44 per cent to be remitted if instalments are paid.

Abraham and Williams, Ltd., announce the cancelling of thfi sale to have' been lieTd on AL onday on of Mr Duncan at Iliakara.

The Iliakara Patriotic Society acknoweldges receipt of a donation of £5 10s from Messrs Grace Bros., Wirokino, being the proceeds of five sheep sold through Messrs Abraham and . Williams, Ltd. / A reminder is given of the social and dance to be given in tl c King's Theatre to-niglit to farewell several local boysi who are going to camp * All arrangements have been made for a pleasant evening.

The Kuku Cheese Factory was very successful at tlio Dominion Winter Show at. Hawera, i!>is week, securing a first in the class for three coloured cheeses and seconds in the. classes for best single cheese (coloured, or* white) and for three coloured or? white cheeses (open to first assistants only). The Defence Department has agreed to allow returned soldiers £n 5s for the purchase of civilian clothing on their discharge. Tlie allowance hitherto has been only 30s. The concession will date from June 1 and will not be retrospective. The local Registrar (Mr C. C. Cork) informs us that the vital statistics for the district for the quarter just ended are as follow: Births, 29 (males 19, females 10); deaths, 4; marriages, 9. For the corresponding quarter in 1917, the figures were: Births, 19 (males 8, females 11); deaths 4; marriages, 3.

The Levin Dairy Factory continues to sweep thfo board at the Dairy Shows. .At Hawera this week Mr Smellie secured the following awai'ds: Best box factory butter, open to all factories in New Zealand: Levin, 95 points, 1; Masterton, 94i points, 2. Best box export butter, open to members of tlie New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers' Association: Levin, 95 points, 1; Masterton, 94i points, 2. Gold medal presented to the maker fro'm the North Island, outside Taranaki, scoring the most points in the open classes: Levin. Gold watch presented by the Dominion Dairy Show to the maker scoring the most points in the open classes: Levin.

It was still raining in Christcliurch yesterday (said the latest telegram received to-day from the South). Reports from North Canterbury state that there is an improvement in the conditions. The 'railway! ine is blocked in places with snow drifts, some four feet, deep. The line is iilso blocked by a slip near Domett. The .'city is still isolated from the principal supply of electric current.' The Engineers of the Electrical Department had not yet got" into communication with Lake Coleridge and there was no more hope of success than on the previous day. The weather showed only a slight improvement in the afternoon and the position in regard to the telegraph lines was unchanged.

At yesterday's meeting of ilie Horowhenu'a County Patriotic Association the sum of £13 was received fram Ohau, the splendid result of the social and dance held there last month, for patriotic purposes. The announcement of the contribution was received with hearty applause, the Chairman (Mr U. Blenkhorn) paying a warm tribute to the enthusiasm of the residents of Ohau in patriotic matters. The committee, of which Mr A. McLeavey is chairman and Mr L. Arcus secretary, certainly deserve to be congratulated on the splendid result achieved.

A London cable states that the influenza is spreading in Britain. The stall's of many shops, offices and factories are much depleted, and many schools are closed, 4000. children being affected at Dudley. There are some deaths.

A meeting of the committee of the Levin Eire Brigade was held last evening at which all tli© members were present, and. a general discussion took place ,on matters affecting the future of the Brigade. It was found tliat the Committee could not proceed with its business in any important direction until a definite decision one way or the was come to concerning the establishment of a Fire Board in Levin, and it was decided to hold a conference next week with, the representatives of the Borough Council and go into the matter thoroughly. * '

Mr C. I. Harkness, chairman of the Oliau School 'Committee, ami secretary of the Kuku Olieese - Factory, who is one of the candidates nominated for the vacant, seat on the Wellington Education Board, is a son of Mr J. G. "Rarkness, the able of .. Xational Dairy Association, ■and before taking up farming at ()h au the candidate was an ofecer of the Bank of New South Wales for ten years. He 18 an enthusiast in the cause of education and, in the course of a it circular to members of school, committees, he states that his policy, if elected, will be to urge as strongly a? possible the provision of competent and certificated teachers for the country schools, to stc that, school buildings shall be adequate in size and therefore healthy, with open air rooms where' suitable and motor eeri?vii (-. for conveying country cliil- ; rdren to school; also sufficient* ! c;v;!s;is to cdmmittees, more facilIV; if- for secondary education in Use H'utt-Horowhenua Ward with technical classes in the several centres, the "rural course" to be optional. Mr Harkness is also an advocate of a Government book store for the provision of _uni-. foviu school books at cost price.

(')n Tuesday evening about 20 business men assembled in the Century nail to hear Mr W. Hudson, of the Sheldon School of Business Science, deliver a lecture on "The Science of Bnsmess Building and the Philosophy of Profit-making," the object being to form a business science circle i Levin for the study of the course laid down by the famous School. Mr Hudson gave* a very interesting address, telling incidentally of the birth of tlie Slieldon movement iu America and :■ r'.ipid growth into a world-wide organisation. He pointed out jliat already there were. 450 business men in the Dominion linked uy and some of the_ leading, mercantile houses had circles of their own in which the employ-; oes went through the course of' (study laid down. Efficiency was the keynote of the address, and the- lecturer explained tlie underlying laws of the business of gelling. The four-square business man .stood for reliability, ability, - net-ion'.- and" endurance, and how 1 uese. qualities were to lie cultivated was demonstrated with the aid of. a blackboard. The science aimed at assisting a man to combat tlie weaker sides of his character ■anil ho assist him in becoming efficient. Mr Hudson is at present, in endeavouring to -organise- a business science circle.

Crop less but top-dress more— encourage the grass yield for bigger cheques. Rend about "Tui" Phosphates for top-dressingpage 4, Hodder and Tolley's advt.