Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, NOV. 31, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL MOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9007, 21 November 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, NOV. 31, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL MOTES

THE three-party system iu Queensland lias produced a situation which can hardly be ]iarallelcd outside comic opera. Last May, as the result of the elections, there were three parties iu the House, that led by Mr Kidstou, the Labour Party, and that led by Mr Phiip, of the well known shipping Arm of Burns, Phiip aiid Co. The last named party was the most numerous, but a combination between Mr Kidstou and the Labour Party kept Mr Phiip out of office, and Mr Kidstou formed a Government which, however. has proved unequal to the task of pleasing its allies iu the Labour Party. The result was that recently Mr Kidstou placed his resignation in the hands of the Governor, most probably with the idea of having a dissolution. The Governor, however, sent for Mr Phiip, who formed a Ministry, which, on Tuesday, celebrated its birthday by jibemg’Jdefoated iu the House by 37 to 38. What will be the next act in the comedy it is difficult to predict. Mr Phiip obviously cannot struggle loug against the combination which appears quite willing to act together against him, although it cannot bo combined under Mr Kidstou. A dissolution seems the only reasonable course, and it is to be hoped that as the result of'a new election Mr Kidstou and the Labour Party will be defeated, and thus taught a lesson as to the iuadvisableness of considering party interests as of more importance than the welfare of the country.

YESTERDAY the enterprising firm of Dalgety and 00. added yet another link to the chain of the business which they are extending all over New Zealand, as well as throughout the Commonwealth, by the inauguration of business in Wanganui with a most succesful stock sale. The progress of this firm, and the high position it has attained tin the estimation of the public,” afford striking testimony to the advantage given by a plontitude of capital under the control of capable business men. It is evident from the rapid expansion of business that is taking place that this firm have no reason to bo dissatisfied with the volume of it obtained on this coast. Its record has been one of continuous advance, and almost every mouth a new branch has been added. Hnutervillo will shortly see another, and further up the coast there will also soon he new developments "which should tend to the profit of the firm and the benefit of the farmers. The success attained certainly gives strong proof that the business is conducted on popular liues, that the firm commands confidence, and that its methods arc appreciated by the public.

A CASE of interest to shareholders in dairy companies has just been heard in the District , Court, Hawera. Plaintiff, who was a shareholder in the Pihama Dairy Co., sued the company for £f>3 15s f)d, being %d per lb on butter fat supplied by him, and losses thereby incurred. The company had deducted per lb from shareholders who refused to sign a bond for £4OOO, necessary for the finances of the company. In giving judgment Judge Haselden said : —‘ ‘ The plaintiff knew when he supplied the milk that the company would only give him .71*1, and ho accepted payment and signed a receipt in full payment of the account made out for the milk supplied. The plaintiff refused to supply any more milk at the price, and practically claimed damages because he had to take his milk to a more distant factroy, where, however, he obtained S)d per lb, but without participation in the profits. On no part of his case ha= the plaintiff in my opinion made out any claim, and judgment must therefore bo for the defendant company, with costs according to scale.”£Plaintiff’s counsel intimated that he would probably appeal.

ONE of our contemporaries complains that so little information is given in the cable intelligence as to the doings of the Now Zealand professional footballers, while considerable space is occupied by the speeches of Mr Balfour and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. The complaint shows a groat lack of tho sense' of tho relative importance of football and of Imperial politics. Tho success or failure of the Now Zealand football team has nothing more than a passing interest, while tiie intelligence that Mr Balfour has become a convert to protection may bo fraught with tho most far-reaching consequences, not only to tho politics of tho United Kingdom, but also to tho trade relations of the

whole Empire, including New Zealand. , Football as a means of recreation has its place, but to elevate it, as many people do, to a position'of greater importance than the serious work and interests of life is an absolutely fatal error.