Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8739, 13 February 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Tiin Wellington papers have eagerly seized on the opinions expressed at meeting of E ketahuna Farmers’ Union as the theme for a renewed attack on that body. The articlo in the New

Zealand Times is a long and dull production evidently written to order by a party hack who has no enthusiasm on cither side. The leading 1 article in the Evening Post is, however, of a different calibre, and is the wmk of a convinced leaseholder of no little journalist skill who is quite capable of seeing the w 7 eak points in his opponents’ line of attack and concentrating his forces where they will

be most effective in -defence. Mr Cooper pointed out at Eketahuna that tho tendency under short leases was for the tenant to take all he could out of the land leaving it at the end of his term much depreciated in value. The editor of the Post triumphantly rejoins that the Land Bill has a counteracting provision to the effect that when a transfer takes place the outgoing tenant will have to pay for any depreciation that! s occurred during his tenancy. He sums up the position by saying “ the Farmers’ Union is exceedingly hard to please. It objects to the renewable leasehold because it will tend to the exhaustion of the soil, and it equally objects to other provisions which will effectually check that tendency.” This is a neat point for the advocate of leasehold, but it successfully avoids the main issue of the discussion. No one would deny that tho Land Bill makes every provision to protect what its supporters consider to be the interests of the State. The State, indeed, cannot lose any more than if it made to the farmer the classic offer of “heads I win and tails you lose.” If the land increases in value tho State will absorb the increase, if on the other hand it falls in value this fall can always be recouped by undervaluation of improvements, and by the claim for depreciation. To those who argue that the valuer will be an honest man and that undervaluation wall not be practised, we need only point out that valuers are hut human and will be likely to consider the interests of their employer rather than of the tenant. The real question at issue is whether in endeavouring to drive the hardest possible bargain with tho holders of land the Ministry is really studying the best interests of the country. The rising generation already prefers to live in the towns, and unless every inducement is given to men to go on the land and stay there we shall find that this tendency will become more accentuated. The one solid tie which will keep people on tho land is that of ownership, Tho ownership of land as of everything else includes tho right to sell, and if landowners alone

are to bo deprived of the hope to make more than a minimum profit it is hardly likely that enterprising men will undertake the business of farming. How many of our Taranaki friends would have prospected for petroleum if they had known that tho State would lake possession of any profits over 5 per cent. Even tho knowledge that the confiscated gains would bo used for education, hospitals and old ago pensions would hardly have induced them to sink their money in holes in the ground. Even in less speculative undertakings than boring for oil, it is the hope of securing more than the current rate of interest for safe investment?, that loads men to build fine shops and to establish mills or factories. Why should tho farmer alone bo deprived of all hope of unusual rewards on tho ground that tho result of his labour belongs to tho public ?

A Government parade ot Royal Rifles will be held to-morrow evening.

At Hastings land ballot last week two men and their wives drew four sections, but, owing to the residential conditions were compelled to forego their rights in two cases. - A motion has been passed by the Napier Education Board that all Native'schools should bo placed under the control of education boards. During the discussion it was shown that on an average attendance £0 5s Cd was last year spent on each Native scholar as against £3 2s 4d on each European. The Minister for Public Health is telegraphing to all local bodies, harbour boards, and chamber of commerce in the urging .that. .special precautions should be taken in view of the outbreak of plague in Sydney. A house-to-house inspection of all boroughs is suggested, as well as an effort to destroy rats and other vermin,

There is, says the Standard, little likelihood of the employers in tho flaxmill dispute accepting the award of the Conciliation Board, and the matter will probably be taken to the Arbitration Court. The Flasmillers’ Association will hold a meeting shortly to decide on a course of action.

According to the results of the gunlayers' tests in the British navy for the year 1000, the Australian squadron has little to be projjd of in the matter of shooting, being second last m the order of merit amongst the various squadrons scattered round the globe.

Tho Ngauruhoe volcano, Taupo, which has been showing signs of increased activity during last week, gave a fine display on Thursday and Friday. Huge volumes of ash and steam were pouring out of the two craters of the summit, rising to a height of about 400 ft. above tho cone, and forming a beautiful sight. The eastern side ot the crater has been blown away, and this has altered tho shape of the summit.

Ono of the alterations suggested in tho boundaries of the Rangitikei electorate was the inclusion of M'oavrhaugo. The Commission decided that this would be an improvement for both the Rangitikei and Hawke’s Bay electorates, and agreed to it. Another proposal was that the balance of the Hautapn Riding should be included in Orona, but it was found that this could not be done, as the population of Orona was already too close to the limit allowed. A Victorian farmer who found it difficult to get clover to grow when sown on ids land, has adopted tho plan of sprinkling a handful of mixed clover seed (White Dutch, Cow Grass and Alsyko) amongst the chaff he foods to his milking cows. Ho does not harrow the droppings about in tho paddock, but hist lots them lie. Tho result is that he has a fine growth of, clover all over his paddocks whore none grew before, and whore be lias oven tried to get it to start by bandsowing but failed. Tho deadly pea-rifle is again in evidence despite the new statutory restrictions. The daughter of Air M. McMahon, an hotelkeeper at Tararu, Thames, had a narrow escape from being killed on Wednesday last. She was struck on the forehead by a bullet from a pea rifle, the bone being splintered. A private boardinghouse will be opened in Marton on Saturday and will bo managed by a well-known resident, Airs D. 0. Bott, who has been to considerable expense in additions and improvements. Tho house is conveniently situated and well fitted up with every modern convenience, and should provide high-class accommodation.

As an example of the rapid iucrease of rabbits under favorable conditions it is stated that when Dr. Dansyz’s party took possession nine months ago of the island on which he is conducting his experiments, some 500 or COO rabbits wove liberated. To-day their number is estimated to be 10,000. On every foot of ground are to be found their cracks and burrows. They play unconscious of their doom.

In order to prevent the misuse of passes at Masterton Show it is proposed to put a brand on the hand of each visitor instead of giving a pass. The Carterton paper produces the far-fetched objection to the scheme that branding on the hand recalls too vividly the bad old days when thieves were so marked, and says it is very unlikely that any such system will find favor among visitors to New Zealand pastoral shows. The Department of Agriculture for Ireland holds what are known as “ surprise” butter competitions. These competitions have been held during tho past three years, The method adopted is to send a telegram for exhibits, which must be forwarded on the Cay upon which the telegram is received. The competitors may receive a telegram on any clay during the season, and must, therefore, give constant attention to the product, in order to keep it up to the mark. Tho butter judged is ordinary commercial butter, not what is so often called show butter ” —a specially prepared product, from selected milk or cream ripened and churned under exceptional conditions.

In to-day’s issue wc publish the programme of Utiku sports, which will be held on Easter Monday. Tho meeting should draw together a large number of competitors ou account of the variety of events ; £9O iu cash will be given away in prize money, £24 of which is allotted to the Utiku Handicap, indepehdent of trophies and points prizes. The wood-chopping will no doubt draw- a very large nomination, a number of bushmen in that locality being expert axemen. The Club lias the advantage of having a large and energetic committee, and who have been most successful in previous years, so that we can safely say that all proper arrangements for the convenience of competitors, and tho welfare of the visiting public is assured. Arrangements are being made for a special train to mn from Marton on the day of th -Torts. Before the in.. • ncement of MrMcßeth’s sale yesterday, jit H. Booth said it was felt by many of Mr Mcßeth’s friends that it would be appropriate to say a few words to him now by way of good-bye, as they might not meet him again. Ho had known Mr Molioth ever since he took up the property he was now leaving, and he considered him one of the finest men in the district, lie had brought purebred stock into the district at a high cost, more, in tact, than lie had made out of them. Mr L. E, Jackson said he would say a few words as representative of the Fcilding A. and P. Association, as representing the Hon. John • Bryce, whose land adjoined that of Mr McBeth’s, and also as a personal friend. He had been acquainted with Mr Mcßeth tho last ten years and always found him a good neighbour. If they looked around they would bo able to see what work Mr Mcßeth bad done to bring a piece of bush into the highly improved farm such as they now saw. Mr -Jackson referred to the early settlement of the Kiwitoa Block, stating that the Hon. John Bryco was tho first. He concluded by saying that if the gentleman who was taking the farm proved to be half as good a neighbour as Mr Mcßeth everyone would be satisfied, At Mr Jackson’s request three hearty cheers each were given for Mr and Mrs Mcßeth.