Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, FEB. 21, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8746, 21 February 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, FEB. 21, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Labour Party in England seems determined to press the demand for old age pensions. Mr Keir Hardie indeed stated in his speech at Cambridge that though the members of tbe Labour Party were Freetraders to a man, he did not believe all their influence could prevent large sections of iuc workers from being lured over to the Unionist side at the next election by the promise of pensions as an outcome of a system of preferential tariffs. There is probably no member of the British House of Commons who would oppose a scheme for old age pensions if it were not for the enormous cost that would be entailed. Mr Austen Chamberlain, who has been Chancellor of the Exchequer and therefore should be able to speak with authority was reported last week to have put the annual cost at 28 millions. Even the most reakless reformer would hesitate before he imposed such a burden on an already overtaxed people. The theory that a preferential tariff or even a system of protection could produce the revenue required is hardly tenable. It is admitted by all that raw materials could not be taxed so it is only on articles of food and manufactured goods that duties could be imposed. The taxation of food is obviously very undesirable and though Mr Chamberlain proposed a small tax on foreign corn and meat he intended that the reductions in the duties on tea and sugar should counteract the probable rise in the cost of living. We may therefore dismiss food from our list as it would be of little advantage to provide old age pensions at the expense of an increase in the cost of living which would tend to reduce the number of persons who reached the pension age. There remain as possible sources of revenue those articles which are described as wholly or mainly manufactured. The value of the imports from foreign countries under this head in 1905 was 126 J millions. To provide a revenue of 28 millions it would be necessary to have a protective tariff of about 22J per cent on this class of goods assuming the amount imported remained undiminished which of course it would not. It would not be feasible to further increase the duties as that would produce a further contraction of imports and tho Chancellor of the Exchequer might easily find that he had to provide five or six millions to subsidise the revenue earmarked for pensions. We are, therefore, of opinion that though both parties will talk of old age pensions with the warmest approval neither will dare to take the risk of a universal scheme such as we have entered upon so lightly in this country.

General Botha’s message to the British people is an interesting study in diplomacy, “ British supremacy,” he declares, is safer in the hands of the Boers than in the hands of cosmopolitan capitalists. After the Vereeniging treaty of peace, King Edward was the Boer’s King, and the British flag was the Boers’ flag.” We should like to believe that these assurances are founded on fact, but it has to be remembered that the General is a past master in-the art of bluff and that just at present ho is out after votes. We note that the Evening Post considers that if “ the Boers were really seething with a disloyalty which aspires to absolute independence, such language would surely not be publicly used by one o their trusted leaders who is seeking t( rouse them to do their duty at fch< ballot-box. His professed willingnesi to accept English as the compulsor] language would be a still greater ab surdity under such conditions.” W( should readily accept the accuracy o! ' this view were the worthy General o: British blood, but unfortunately truthfulness, as we understand tin term, is a word that does not occur ir the Hoar vocabulary. The message appears to be manufactured not foi home consumption but for exporl only, and as an artistic production i( seems rather crude. We can imagine that the General drafted the document with much the same pleasure as he prepared ambushes for the reckless British soldier. We do not think that the manifesto will really deceive any but those who desire to obtain evidence in favour of beliefs they already hold. The Boers are anxious to secure as many British votes as possible, p.nd are looking to the so called moderate English party to help them to form a Government. The message may convince some hesitating voters, it will create a good impression abroad, and certainly will lose no Boers votes but will simply be regarded by Botha’s countrymen as another proof of his unequalled “ slimness.” -

Mr F. W. Bills, an old resident of Otaki, died on Tuesday morning, aged 53 A Paris cable reports the wreck o£ the French cruiser Jeon Barton a reef on the Barbary coast. . The lonio leaves Hobart for W ollington at 5 this morning with 186 passengers. At Invercargill yesterday, Patrick Finn was committed for trial on a charge of assaulting and robbing John Devannoy of £2O. The New Zealand campaign of Messrs Devlin and Donovan yielded over J 25000, and when expenses have been deducted the fund for Horn Kule will benefit by about .£4700. At a meeting of tbe Executive of North Canterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, a committee was appointed to arrange for a Land campaign through Canterbury in support of the freehold. The well-known horseman, C. Jenkins, received word, on the Woodville Eacecourse, yesterday, just prior to his going out on Assayer for the Woodville Cufi, that his mother had died suddenly, at Otaki. The deceased lady had attained a good age. A decree nisi, to be absolute in threa months, was granted by Justice Chapman at Christchurch in the divorce case Jarvis v. Jarvis, at the petition of the wife, who pleads cruelty, desertion and adultery. A decree nisi was also granted in the case Margaret Anne Barker v. Robert Barker. A woman named Beatrice McFord pleaded guilty at the Lyttelton Court yesterday to a charge of having made a false declaration ir respect of the birth of an illegitimate child, and she was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. At the Kech.abites’ Conference at New Plymouth yesterday, it was resolved to hold the next at Masterton in 1909. The officers elected were : District Chief Euler, Bro. Calder, Nelson; Deputy Euler, Bro. Wesney, Invercargill; Secretary, Bro Fraser, Wellington; Treasurer, Bro. Leslie; Superintendent of Juvenile Branches, Bro. Fathers, Wellington; Auditor, Bro. Nieholls, Wellington. Tho League of Wheelmen at Christchurch last night resolved to disqualify for 18 months' all the riders in the Enfield Cup race, in addition to fines already imposed. H. E. Eussell. an official at the meeting, was also disqualified for 12 months for failing to attend the enquiry. At tho Eechabito conference at Now Plymouth last night a resolution was unanimously carried that this council regrets that in the reappointment of Legislative Councillors friendly societies’ interests have been overlooked, and strongly urges tbe reappointment of the Hon. J. H. Fraser, whose acquaintance with friendly society matters is of great value to the colony. Bro. Stallworthy, M.H.E., was appointed parliamentary agent. As the outcome of the verdict at the inquest touching the death of an infant, Douglas Allan Campbell, adopted by her, a woman named Eliza Davis has been arrested at Auckland on a charge of manslaughter. The verdict was to tho effect that death was due to want of nourishment, and was caused by Davis failing to supply the child with the necessaries of life and medical attention.

The Pohangina branch of the Farmers Union will hold their annual picnic at the Pohangana Forest Eeserve, near Mr Toxward’s property, Awahou, on Saturday next. Invitations have been extended-to Feilding and Palmerston branches. Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, M.H.E., and other prominent members of the Union, will be present.

At the Trades Council Conference at Easter, Dunedin Council will move : “That the Government be urged to issue legal tender State notes, for the purpose of completing the unfinished Main Trunk and other important railways now in course of construction, and for permanent and reproductive works, with a view to provide a permanent currency as a medium of exchange for the internal trade of the colony.” Doing business on 1.0.U.’s is truly a great scheme. At the inquest on the body of a man found in Eakaia saleyards plantation, held at Eakaia yesterday, the medical evidence was to the effect that tho man had been dead from ten to fourteen days. A rifle bullet was found in the skull, and a rifle found alongside the man contained an empty cartridge. In tho man’s pocket there was an account addressed to Peter Anderson, of Kinlock, from L. J. Lynch, storekeeper, Qneenstown. The body was too decomposed to give any clue to identification. The verdict was that deceased met his death either by suicide or accident, and the evidence was not sufficiently clear to show which.

Christchurch Meat Co. has just added to Smithfield freezing works a useful clement of the by-products department in a new oleo factory. “ Oleo ” is the finest quality of- rauttou fat, which it would be incorrect to call tallow. It is made only from the caul and other intestinal fat, which has the property of granulating, if suitably treated, instead of becoming solid like common tallow. Most of the oleo sent home from New Zealand’s freezing works, it is stated, finds its way to Holland, to be converted into margarine, that may be sold as butter ; and it is more wholesome and palatable than inferior butter. Oleo is said to bo excellent for pastry making, and clean cream-colored oleo looks good enough to eat.

As showing the lack of knowledge of Australian affairs the correspondent of an Australian paper writes : —Tho welknown firm of Raphael Tuck & Co. decided to bring out a series of Australian postcards, and the first one was a picture by a well-known artist. Raphael Tuck evidently thought the Agent-Geneial would be glad to see the cards, and sent the first of the scries to Mr Coghlan. Mr Coghlan opened tho envelope, expecting to see a picture of beauty such as he delights to clothe Australia in, but, alas ! the card was a picture of a band of convicts drawn up on the sloping shore* of Sydney Cove, and being addressed by an official regarding their future career. Mr Coghlan made some strong representations respecting tbe matter, and I understand the series has been withdrawn.”

Mr Harry Glubb arrived by the first train from AVanganui this morning, accompanied by a staff of mechanics, to instal the scenery in the local Opera House for the production of “ The Tickct-of-Lcr.vo Man,” which is to bo produced there t.i.s evening. After a visit to the theatre this afternoon our reporter endorses the eulogiums that have already been passed upon tho staging of this melodrama by tho clever company of amateurs who are to appear this evening. This piece abounds with most realistic situations, of which this company takes tlie fullest advantage. The scene in tho first act representing “The Belle Yue Gardens ” and tho realistic “ Grave Yard ” scene of the fourth act are, in the hands of these capable performers, very fine specimens of stage craft. Tho caste in this particular performance is spoken of by the critics and press of Wanganui as most happily selected. The orchestration is again in the hands of the Marton Orchestral Socieiy, which is sufficient guarantee that the inchlental music will bo all that can bo desired. In fact, tho staging, mounting, and dressing of the piece is most satisfactory, and reflects the greatest credit on the organisers and all those taking part. Seeing that though no expense has been spared, tho prices are still reasonalbe, wo feel sure that these enterprising artists will be greeted with a full house on the rise of the curtain this evening.

Mr Fulton, the flax expert stated .to a Times reporter that a considerable number of milliers were now in favour of cutting only the more matured leaves—those on the outside of the fan, leaving the younger leaves to mature, thus aiming at providing an annual cutting, or a cutting every second year. Of course, this meant that the work of cutting would take twice as . long, or even longer, than with the usual method of cutting everything. Harvesting only one quality presented another great advantage—it meant that there would be much greater uniformity in the quality of the milled fibre. One or two millers had actually adopted this principle. The system of cutting they had decided on was to take the outside leaves on either sida of the fan with a downward stroke. It was contended by these' millers that even if the more careful cutting did take longer the extra cost was more than compensated for by the stronger and better growth and by the probability of an annual crop being ensured. The system had not been sufficiently long enough in vogue, however, to enable the exact saving effected by this better method of cutting to be arrived at. His'Expekxbncb. Mr A. T. Beale, of Beale Bros., Oakoy (Q.), says: “ I can recommend Chamberlain’s Colie, Cholera, and Diarrhoea Remedy to all troubled with diafrhsea op bowel complaints, for I have used it for these complaints and was cured. Have persuaded- my friends to give it a trial, and in every instance a cure was effected. For sale by Messrs T, H. Bredin, Marten ; Ellisdlros., Jlunterville; and IV. B. Clark, Bulls, . . ’

Eimbolton swimming sports will he held on February 27th under the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association Rules. Tho full programme will appear to-morrow. A Masterton orohardist states that blackbirds, which last year equalled tlmiriies in number in that district, have, for some unexplained reason, fallen away to tho proportion of about one blackbird to five thrushes.

During the past year only nine out of the 47 free scholars at the Masterton Technical School failed through nonattendance to earn the capitation granted by Government, and in these cases nearly all had left the district. Good prices have been secured for the peaches sent away from Roxburgh (Otago) recently, one grower getting 9d per lb on his account sales, and several others receiving 5d and 6d per lb for choice lots.

At a labour demonstration in Sydney a competitor in" one of the flat events was leading so easily that ho got in first and jumped over the judges’ tape instead of breasting it in accordance with custom. This little bit of facetiousness, however, cost him the prize. An opponent protested that his opponent had, by jumping over the tape, not completed the race and the protest was upheld. The point was regarded as a novel one.

Arrangements have now been made for the school excursion to Castleoliff on Wednesday, February 27. A special train will leave Pukopapa at 8,30 a.m and the return train will reach Pukepapa about 7.30 p.m. The Government carriages will be run right through to Gastlecliff so ns to avoid changing at Wanganui. Return fares are: Children, under 15 years, Is 4d, senior scholars and teachers 2s Id, adults 2s Bd. Tickets will be obtainable from Mr Mossman in a few days.

Government has presented a shield for competition among the various engineering corps of tho colony, on the same lines as those annually competed for fay the artillery and naval companies. The merit of the different corps of engineers is judged on their work while in camp by Captain Robinson, R.E., who is present at all camps. The result of the first competition should be known next month. Stop lx! A neglected cough or cold may lead to serious bronchial or lung troubles. Don’t take chances, for Dr. Sheldon’s Now Discovery for Coughs, Colds, and Consumption affords perfect security from serious effects of a cold. Small dose. Pleasant to take. Every bottle guaranteed. For sale by Turner and Turner’s Tip Top Tea Shop and T. H. Bredin, Marton; Ellis Bros., Hunterville, and Campion and King, Bulls. Imagine someone ripping your back open with a red hot pitchfork—that’s lumbago. No reason to endure the agony Just try Eheumo. Has cured thousands —will you.