Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9024, 11 December 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES.

IF we arc to boliovo the statements of labour loaders thero is no room in Kew /.oaland for immigrants, yet the (iOO who arrived here by the lonic Inst week practically all obtained work. Only ;i comparatively small numb:.')' :• noised to tlio Labour iV.rnvi.i;:-;!'.. ;:.ir.i with a few cxccp- ':•;,•,?■■■. ■■,-.■■•;) ;dJ placed. As it ;.. ~:-.- .he loss pushing and ener-

! '•,■:.•'.• v:!'.o would trouble the Bepai'!,- ! moat, this information is most satis- ' factor v. The present Government is ! so afraid of tho Labour party that it cm do little to encourage imimgraI t'oa as - it should. Up till three 1 years ago the expenditure on as- [ sistcd immigration was practically nil, but since 100-1 an average ot ! £lO 000 of borrowed money lias been used for this purpose. Tho £-100 per 1 annum in interest on this f-nm is ! probably the most profitable invest- ! incut that could bo made. when iwe consider that tho average taxai tion pes head is Si 14s 7d it is clear i that 100 assisted immigrants will ; V ( -iv the, interest on tho money bor- ! rowed, besides adding to tho wealth of the eouutrv by tlrok- labour. n.r. ' tho present moment immigration vo ' the "United States has received a temporary check, and it, would be wise for our Ministry to throw hesitation to tho winds and plunge into a reallv serious attempt to atl tract the flow of immigrants to our ! shores. It is men, not walls, that make a city, said an old Greek, _ and tho Dominion needs population if it I is to take its proper place in the [ world.

THE appeal of the directors of Lithgov.' works to the Government was a lost resource, aud thy bank has now taken possession, and the works have closed, Mr Sand ford, the managing director, apologises for the ! ''.nation by saying that the comj pany undertook to supply rails.to tho "Government for a term of years at- an unprofitabliv'priee. If this bo I the case" it shews a surprising lack i of business capacity, as most firms i rc"?.'d Governniont contracts as an opportunity of making profits far J above the." usual rates. Tho popula- * 4-icu of Australia is at present hardly ' l-,vrr C enough to sureiort successful ' iron works, even with, the aid of a ( high proven-five tariff, and fbo t'ntnro : dor-s not look bright for the Lirhgow i works. 'Hew Zealand investors will, I if thov are wise, learn a lesson and j ;u)-i".i"u from subscribing to similar ! enterprises in this country. Iron i works will only pay when conducted I on the larg.-cp scale, and iiie popniai ;-ie-:i of the .Dominion docs not iie-:-:'i I the product of even one blast fvir-

nacc." It is unwise to-wish to run before we can walk, and the desire uudulv to hasten the time when we can manufacture everything for ourselves can onlv lend to foolish and m-uroiitabio adventures.

i THIS Government is to be eongniiu I latcd on having taken definite steps | to acquire tho Manawatu Railway, and the public may feel assured that the decision to submit to arbitration I tho question of the compensation j payable will ensure that the eom- | paliy receives fair treatment aud ! that the State does not pay u-n ex- ; orbUnni- twice. Some people seem to i consider that the shareholders m tho | eomi.unv, like largo landholders, j should 'be treated as enemies of the I conn try, and if possible deprived of ! their property at h-ss than its mfir- : ket value. Arbitration is ccush.'eroa ! ;.-.o favourable an expedient to the | when land is to be puri chased, but fortunately the Premier j -ias -k-eideu that tiie end of the cciu- ! lraiiv is nor lo be accompanied, by

;;nv" suspicion of injustice. We cannot but rearet- that one of the !'.■•,,• saccessfiii orivate tiudortakuigs on a. la rue seals'will shortly be taken r.ior by Government, but in this ea ■•'■■ oven, the most convinced iudivmnalist must admit tha,t it would bo unbusinesslike to leave a comparatively small portion of tho main liue in the hands of a private company.