Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8964, 5 November 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

A CANADIAN. writer in the National Review endeavours to explain why Englishmen are disliked in Canada, a feeling which apparently does not extend to the Scotch and Dish immigrants. Various reasons are put forward. That Englishmen are not as adaptable as men with Celtic blood ; that Englishmen hare mistaken ideas about the Dominion; that they expect to find the same conditions existing as at Home, whereas Canada is really a distinct nation just as much as the United States. There is no doubt something in these explanations, but no ouo who has lived all his life in the colonies realises how hard it is for any one In England to learn anything about the colonies, or indeed about any foreign land without actual experience of the country. Even New Zealand illustrated newspapers, excellent as they are, convey a totally incorrect opinion of the Dominion to the outsider. Half the pictures in an ordinary Christmas number are of Maoris and the other half of "iaciors and mountain scenery. The now arrival in the country finds to liia surprise that Maoris, except; m 1 certain districts, are quite a .rarity, 1 and, to his disgust, that they are ! often less beautiful than he was led to expect. As .to glaciers and nie scenery, many people live all their livcs'ln New Zealand without seeing Mount Cook or any of the most celebrated beauty spots of the islands. New Zealand visitors to England

also in their enueuvuuis teresting, dwell far more ou the oxtraordiuary incidents of life io “ 1G Dominion than ou common c-vory day affairs. These facts go far «o explain the ignorance prevailing in England as to the conditions of life in tho colonies, and to some extent exonerate the English immigrant who goes to Canada, the article, however, ia r ..V pathetic in his request I *' ' men who go to Canada sh6? ia uo wear knickerbockers or leather leggings. A soft felt hat will turn

away wrath* and if trousers are added quite a reasonably civil welcome may be expected. Apparently if the Canadian does not know that he is talking to a new chum ho will be natural and pleasant, otherwise ho shares tho feeling of tho London rough who, according to Punch, exclaimed, “ ’Ere’s a stranger, Bill, let’s ’eavo a brick at ’im.” It is a well-known fact that the British workman does not habitually wear leather leggings or knickerbockers, and that these may usually bo considered as tho mark of a certain social position in the Old Country. The Canadian, who knows he is as good as anyone, if not better, naturally feels a little irritated at the appearance of one who seems to claim some superiority, and when, i as is often ttie case, the Englishman is lacking in tact and sympathy, the result is unsatisfactory. Eortunrftely, in this country a- hotter feeling prevails, and we can assert with the confidence gained by personal experience that Englishmen receive the heartiest welcome, and that everyone is anxious to go .out of his way to smooth the path of tho immigrant who is willing to adapt himself to his new conditions.

THE Bill introduced to regulate the price of wheat, flour and potatoes, is not likely to prove very welcome to farmers or millers and will introduce. another element of uncertainty into the business of agriculture. The duty on flour is to bo removed if the Arbitration Court finds on inquiry, that the price in Now Zealand is, ’relatively to the price of wheat in New Zealand, higher than the average price of flour in Australia relatively to the average price of ,'wheat in Australia, unless in the opinion of the Court of Arbitration the additional price in New Zealand is justified by additional cost of production, The duty on wheat is similarly to be removed should the Court decide that the price of wheat is higher than it would bo under unrestricted competition, while if potatoes exceed £7 a ton the duty will be taken off. With regard to flour the Court will practically determine the price of converting wheat into flour and decide y/hcu this is too groat. The matter is not a simple one as the expenses of manufacturing flour vary in every mill according to the efiiciouey of the machinery and the amount l of output. Some mills could bo run at a profit with a certain cost of production while others would lose heavily at this rato. The Arbitration Court will, therefore, cither have to allow for the cost [in the worst equipped and smallest mills or else set a standard which will close them up. In the case of wheat the problem is equally complex as it is impossible to determine what the selling price of wheat would be wore competition unrestricted. Are farmers not to ho permitted to hold wheat if they think it is likely to rise? Vet this common practice undoubtedly restricts competition. The Government proposal will be absolutely ineffective or outrageously unjust, |as it is obviously unfair to penalise farmers and millers while every other business is left free to fix prices in accordance with the demand.