Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8847, 25 June 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

THE position of the New Zealauc Government at present is somewhat similar to that of a business mar who is ausions to extend his business without adequate capital to do so. The enterprising man may see really good opportunities for investment, bat has.-to let them pass because he is unable to supply or borrow the capital which is requred. No particular evil results from this s,t»te of affairs in the case of a private

person* because there, are plenty of Other capitalists anxious to put their mousy into any enterprise that seems likely to yield a profit. In the ease of the New Zealand Governmeat, however, the position ,is different, as where Ministers are unable or unwilling to provide capital the country has to wait patiently for absolutely necessary works, to be carried ont. Quite recently wo have seen the proposed tramway from .TJtikn to Lower Moawhango indefinitely postponed because Ministers,,could not provide the capital required, although, according to the -calculations of their own officers, the money could have been repaid in a few years from timber royalties. The desire of the Waihi Company to utilise the energy provided by the Hnka Falls has similarly been frustrated because Government has not the capital to carry out the scheme, and refuses to allow anyone else to do so. The other day a paragraph appeared in the press to the effect that the drainage of the Piako Swamp was to be put in band, and it was reported that a portion of the reclaimed Land would be cut up for farms, and a portion used for flax growing. Unfortunately, the Minister only proposes to place £6OOO on the Estimates for the work, which, it is expected, will cost at least half a million, and it will, at this rate, be half a century before the drainage scheme is accomplished. No reasonable person can doubt that it would be far more to the advantage of the country if the. work were handed over to a syndicate, supposing one were to be - found, which should either buy the swamp outright and guarantee to complete the work within five years, or receive a portion of the laud as payment for the work, leaving the rest in the hands of the Government. Little attention has hitherto been given to the dog-in-the-manger policy which Ministers have adopted of late, but we consider that it is one of the most serious hindrances to the progess of the country. Instead of encouraging private enterprise Government checks it, and desires to keep everything in its own hands. We cannot borrow enough money to push on all the work which is required, and even if we could it is much .preferable to let private persons take the risks of undertakings which are of a somewhat speculative character.

THE Friendly 'Societies in England have taken up the problem offered by the prevalence of consumption and are dealing with it in a businesslike manner. After careful investigation of the best methods of coping with the disease the societies proposed to erect a sanatorium, but it was found that the law did not permit of their funds being used for the erection of a building for this purpose, though it allowed them to support beds in institutions already in existence. An appeal was therefore made to the public for funds for the initial expense of a building, and met with a ready response, and the societies have undertaken the expense of upkeep. Sufferers are now able to go to the sanatorium at the cost of the society to which they belong, and their sick pay is handed over to their families. In this way the great difficulty which prevents many patients obtaining the benefits 'of sanatorium ment —the question of support for their families in their absence—has been overcome. The theory carried out in the sanatorium has been described as “double rations of food and rest and half rations of work.” A very excellent addition to the scheme Is a farm on which convalescent patients work, so that when they leave the sanatorium fiually they are ready once more to take their places in the workshop or office. We are not aware whether the Friendly Societies in this country have taken any steps to obtain control of beds in the Cambridge Sanatorium or in, the hospital annexes which have been established for consumptives, but they might well follow the example of their English brethren and provide a much valued benefit f&r their members. At the present time many persons who might be cured of consumption do not avail themselves of the opportunities offered, as they cannot afford to pay for them and do not care to claim free treatment on the ground of poverty.