Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, JUNE 4. 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9162, 4 June 1908, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, JUNE 4. 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE unfortunate Arbitration Act appears at the present time to have no friends. Employers have nothing good to say for it as the variety u and frequent changes in the awards require them to be constantly] on the alert to avoid of provisions which often require interpretation by experts. There appears no doubt that the restrictions imposed by the Act have checked the industrial development of the country though opinions may differ as to whether the advantages gained by the workers do, or do £uot, counterbalance the effects of the arrested growth of wealth. It might have been expected that if the employers disapprove of the Act the men at least would he enthusiatsio in its favour. This, however, is far from being the case, and in a recent address on the Arbitration Act in Wellington Mr W. T. Young, secretary of the Seamen’s and Tramway Unions, condemned the Act, root and branch. He said that the workers were coming to the conclusion that arbitration in New Zealand had exhausted its uses, and if the workers were to improve their position they must grasp some better medium than the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The amendments I to the Act in 1900, he considered, commenced a long chain of links tantamount to binding the Unions down to a - system of slavery. He complained that a Union conlcl not free itself from an award which could now remain in operation until it was superseded by another award or the Union’s registration was cancelled, A further indictment of the Act was tiiat it was a sheer impossibility at the present day for any representative of the Union to get a fair and courteous hearing at the hands of the Court. The solution of the whole difficulty according to Mr Young, was that workers should send their own representatives to Parliament with the implied suggestion that he would not be unwilling to become a member of the House. Under these circumstances of discontent on all sides Mr Millar has a fair field for new legislation, though it is doubtful whether he has the qualities essential for success in such a difficult task.

THE fact that the Arbitration Act does provide for the punishment of offences by employees in the only manner likely to be effective or deterrent has proved embarrassing to Ministers, who have shirked the enforcement of the law lest’the support of Unionists should thereby be alienated. The Labour defied the law, knowing that Ministers would fear to enforce it, and the administration has proved as weak as they.expected. So in order to avoid the awkwardness of the position so far as Ministers are concerned, the Minister of Labour proposes to get out of the difficulty, by the simple process of abolishing the provisions which permit of imprisonment in the event of failure to pay fines inflicted, thus currying favour with Unionists, [making the law a farce, and enabling employees to do just as they please, without any danger being incurred. Thus we shall have a law on the Statute Book which is absolutely ineffective so far as compelling employees is concerned, but which will remain effective against employers, because if they do not pay fines their properties may be distrained on. In order to still further please the Labour Unions Mr Miliar proposes to legislate to bring farm labourers under the provisions of the Act. This will not only enable the socialistic element to attack those who are using the land, but will pave the way for the operations of the labour unionists and make it possible to paralyse all the industries including the primary producing, if there is a strike by the Washerladies’ Union or any other guild. The fact' that if the cost of production is artificially increased, and the plough is idle, the hammer and the saw, and all the tools of manufacturing industry will also have to be laid down does not trouble Ministers so much as »the desire to keep their seats by the votes of the Socialists. The latest the Minister of Labour should convince all farmers of the necessity of uniting in defence of

common interests, and preventing any country seat from being held or captured by the Ministry.

There was'a successful practice at Martnn on Tuesday for the forthcoming performance of the Pirates, and-a further.practice will be held to-night. The death is reported from Dunedin, of Lady McKenzie, wioow of Sir John McKenzie. The Leader’of the Opposition has been assigned the room in Government House which was formerly used as a nursery. At a meeting of the Auckland Temperance League, a resolution was carried that the Mayor be requested to use his influence to have all hotel bars closed during the visit of the American fleet to Auckland.

The Canterbury correspondent of the Farmers’ Union Advocate, writing in the last issue of that journal, says:—“What this country wants more than anything else now is an influx of about 10,000 good farm workers. 1 ’ ■

Originality in scholars is encouraged at Great Harwood. A teach or inscribed on the blackboard :— 1 ‘ The love of is the root of ,’’ and invited the class to supply the missing words. One bright boy gave this answer in his writing-book :—“The love of couples is the root of weddings. ”

The position relative to the Conciliation Board and the farm labourers’ dispute is becoming somewhat complicated. There is reason to believe that no extension of time to prepare the recommendations will be asked for, and it is likely that the Board will simply hand on the evidence to the Arbitration Court without making any or recommendation. The section of. the Main Trunk railway from Mataroa to Waiouru, 18 miles in length, will he transferred next week from the control of the Public Works Department to that of the Railway Department. The change will not affect travellers. who have been using the line on this section for some months past. It will, however, confer some benefit to consignors of goods, as “through’’ rates of freight, will then apply instead of the short distance rates charged by the Public Works Department. Several local batchers are regretting the inaction of their fraternity in the question of a cash system, says the Southland News. The prophecy of a financial depression of course weighs heavily , with them, and the difficulty of obtaining payment can only be accentuated. Some of them anticipated that when prohibition was carried they would simply have to send out accounts to get them settled, hut, they aver, such has not been the case by any means. Perhaps if the inactive ones could, only realise how they are standing in their own light, so to speak, they would mend their ways. The Feilding Chamber of Commerce is making an effort to have the factory half-holiday on the same day as the shop assistants half-holiday. At the meeting on Tuesday night Mr A. H. Atkinson was appointed the delegate of the chamber in the matter of the proposed Harbour Board for Foxton. It was decided again to call the attention of the Minister of Justice to the need j|of a new Courthouse and the ’desirability of appointing a Coroner for Feildiug and district. Mr Cohen, the representative of the district on the Wellington Harbour Board is to he .communicated with in reference to the recent increase in the harbour dues from 3s to 2s 6d per ton. Mr A. Barron, chairman, and Mr A. Reese, of the Laud Purchase Board, do not appear to he at all sanguine that any important results will follow their recent inspection of properties in the Wairarapa. The lea estate of 18,000 acres, could not, they report, reasonably be divided into more than a dozen homesteads. With the exception of the Whareama River flats comprising between 2000 and 3000 acres, the land is very rough and mostly sheep country, of variable quality. The family of the late owner propose to divide it among themselves, and the cost of road lug the property, which would ho very considerable, would bring the total up 'ito over £IOO,OOO. This would mean the imposition of a rent that would heavily tax the tenants of the Crown. Charles Landseer, brother of the artist, was’for years the victim of an extraordinary persecution : “An eccentric woman fell desperately in love with him, and used to pester him, first with the most extravagant love-letters, and then by lying in wait for him whenever he left the house. Finally she issued invitations to the wedding, prepared a breakfast and an enormous cake, and called for poor Mr Landseer in a carriage and pair—the horses decked out with white satin streamers, and she herself most gorgeously as a bride. But that, was the end of the persecution. Her friends took her away, and Mr Landseer, relieved from her attentions, breathed freely, and remained a bachelor to the day of his death.’’

Wellington Licensing Committee on Thursday were discussing the necessity for hot-water connections in the bars of a certain hotel. Mr J. J. M’Grath, solicitor, in urging that this expense;Tbe not insisted on at present, said the licensee intended shortly rebuilding a part of the hotel. “There is a well-known place, the road to which is paved with good intentions,” said Dr. M’Arthur. “No,” he added in reply to a query from Mr M’Grath, “I have not been there.” “Well, I have,” was Mr M’Grafeh’s reply, amidst laughter, the cause of which the solicitor did not comprehend, “and I speak from personal observation. The water in the kettles is always warm there. ” Dr. M’Arthur (at cress purposes): “Didn’t know they had any water.” Mr M’Grath: “Yes, your Worship, it is always warm and clean.” Dr, M’Arthur: “Such as they have !” (Laughter.)

For rheumatism, hackaehe, faceache, earache, neuralgia, and other muscular pains nothing can equal WITCH’S OIL (registered). Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure for Coughs and Colds never fails. Is 6d and 3s 6d. The owner scratched the favourite horse. The punter scratched his head, $ And gazed distracted co the course Then to his friends.he said : “This punting may allure, but not As other things allure, And I would sooner put ray lot On Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.”

It is stated by the North Otago Times that the leases of over one million acres of pastoral and grazing runs will rail m in Otago during 19i0, amongst' thvm being Morven 'Hills mu.

'"'••e tablet system oT train working on ■ the .Uwiij i runs i -tji,va v will cuaio into operation tais week between Marton Junction and Waiouru, replacing the old staff and ticket method, which is not suitable for a line where the traffic is growing to such large proportions . G. Snow & Co,, land, estate and finance agents, ;Rangitikei street, Palmerston North, report having effected the following sales for the month of May;—B2l acres, Otaki, at £3O per acre; 837 acres, Urenui, at £ll 10a per acre; three first-class household properties at the lower Hutt for the sum of £4150. They also report the sale of 40 head of three-quarter bred Jersey cows at £6 per head and 28 head of Shorth oru dairy cows at £3 per head. Major Long, who recently visited Australia andpfew Zealand specially to inquire into the methods of packing tinned meats and the system of supervision, has reported to General Clayton, the officer-iu-charge of War Office contracts, that the Australian methods and system of inspection met with his entire approval. General Clayton has notified the Victorian Agent-General to this effect, .expressed a"hope that Victorian - packers will submit •tenders.

At Marton Court to-day, before Mr Stanford, S.M., Thomas Spalding was charged with disorderly conduct in a railway carriage at Marton Junction Station. His Worship said accused had rendered himself liable to a heavy fine. As he had no previous convictions he would inflict a fine of £1 with costs 9s. Judgment for plaintiff by default went in the cases of R. K. Nicol v. F. Kreigher, claim £1 Os 9d, costs 11s; R. S. Nicol v. W. H. Oppatt, “claim £6 7s lOd, costs £1 7s.

Replying to an Auckland deputation which asked for compulsory temperance education in schools,Mr Fowlds said that the Board had most of the control There was great objection to continual alteration of the syllabus, and he was of opinion that the present one should be allowed undisturbed trial. The matter of temperance education would receive due and full consideration at the next " Inspectors’ Conference. He pointed oat that temperance and hygiene were dealt with in the school journal.

Messrs Glover & wrights, Rongotea, have once more made an advanced step in the equipment of their factory by the installation of a newly-invented spring cushion machine' which is not only a labour saver, but enables the workman to make a cushion with a nicer finish, including greater uniformity. Another very important point in the construction of cushioiis turned out by these machines is that the tucks stand well above the rivet heads with the result that water runs off at once and the cushion will not get wet no matter how long it is out in the rain. Messrs Glover have the monopoly of this machine in their district, nevertheless customers will receive the benefit iu-superior workmanship and cheapness. This firm can turn out vehicles of any description at prices which will compare favourably with those charged in any part of the North Island.

The political activity of the Farmers’ Union is, . says |Ohristchurch Truth, the healthiest and most refreshing thing in Dominion politics at the present time. There is only one chance of stemming the movement towards Socialism, and that is by the isolation of the Socialists as a political party. In the past the farmers have been far too ready to leave everything to the politicians elected to represent their interests, without seeing that they did their duty. The result was that when the Government brought down its Land Bill many of these country members made the feeblest of protests and ended by acquiescing in whatever the Government liked te put forward. The farmers have now discovered that unless they are to be handed over, bound hand and foot, to the Socialists they must strike a blow in their own defence.

THE “HARTNETT” MILKER. Mr A. France, Taikorea, says : After using the “Hartnett Milking Machines eleven months under very close observation and testing, I have not been able to traceany ill effects upon the cows, their teats and udders being in a perfect condition. The cows have milked quite as well as to quantity, and continued in milk 3ust as long as when milked by hand, with marked improvement in test. Two hands milked the herd of 68 cows in two hours with the four machines, etc. O. Dahl & Go., Ltd., Palmerston North. . Never neglect a bad cold or cough ; there is no knowing what it may de velop into. Take TUSSICURA (Wild Cherry Balm).