Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9424, 21 April 1909, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE sooner the present system of valuing land for taxation or rating purposes is abolished the better will it be for the interests of the people. It is conducted with the sole object of bringing owners ultimately into the net of the tax-gatherers. Its meshes are not decreased in size, but the values are increased till at last they cannot escape the tax. In the meantime every increase means that the properties must contribute more to the funds of the local bodies. There is no real additional value given to the properties by this process; on the contrary every additional burden thrown on them must lessen their value. Then again this process goes on whether prosperity or depression rules. The valuer takes no account of a drop In the values of produce, but makes an all round increase in the taxable value of land. It is, Indeed, nut uncommon to find newspapers gloating over the fact that the valuer has raised the taxable value of some district by a few hundred thousand pounds. It is pointed to as an evidence of progress. But the operations of the vainer do not in any way add to the productiveness of the land or to its value for leasing or renting purposes. We are glad to notice that the leading basi-

ness men of Feilding have entered an emphatic protest against this vicious system. Recently Invercargill and other localities made similar protest, and the belief is evidently becoming general that it is injurious to progress, and should be abolished. The Premier has recently proposed that the local bodies shall do their own valuations, and if this Is allowed there will certainly be a huga difference between theirs and those of the taxing department. But the latter should bo compelled to take the valuations fixed ,by the vainer for the local bodies, if, indeed the policy of

taxing the chief means of production is to be continued. The present system stands self-condemned when, as in the case of Eeilding, it increases valuations by 75 per cent, though neither agriculture, industry nor business is so prosperous as it was when the former valuations wore fixed.

THE subject is one that should receive the special attention of the Farmers’ Union, which should also agitate against a continuance of any tax on laud, except that required for local government purposes. There is no solid reason why the man who uses land and 'earns his living from It should pay a special tax as well a his share of the general taxation. With equal reason the miner might be charged a special tax for the right to use his pick, the carpenter, butcher, baker and all the others for the right to use the tools and implements required in their respective trades and occupations. The excuse of the Ministry that money is required by the Treasury would not he possible if effect was given to the demand of the Farmers’ Union, that Customs duties shall ha levied for revenue purposes only. If the restrictive policy was abolished the Treasury would not need to le\y a tax on land. Then ,the valuation system, with all its attendant evils and unnecessary cost, would disappear, and reaL prosperity wonld follow the change.

THE logic of protectionists passes all understanding. We find in one of our contemporaries a calculation that the increased price of flour consequent on the rise in wheat equals a tax of over seventeen millions a year on British consumers. This calculation may, or may not, be correct, besides which it implies a belief that the price of wheat will remain as high all through the year. But when the scribe begins to serve the argument that a tax on breadstuffs would be beneficial to Britain he seems to lose the power of reasoning. He goes on to say that while the increase represents seventeen millions .a year more a tax of two shillings per quarter on imported wheat, the fiscal reformers’ maximum would' be only two millions odd per year. The contrast is made, of course, to cause it to be inferred that if Britain paid two millions a year more for its imported breadstuffs it would save fifteen millions. The scribe evidently forgot that in such case the British consumers wonld have- to pay not only the seventeen millions extra caused by the higher price of wheat, hpt also the tax of two millions from which they are now free, and will remain free so long as protectionists can be kept out of office.

Dunedin Savings Bank Trustees donated £SOO to Art Gallery. A letter from Mr J. L. Zajonskowski on Marton water supply appears on page 2.

Napier Harbour Board has asked three engineers to report on a scheme for an inner harbour at Port Almriri.

We shall he glad if Secretaries of School Committees throughout the ditsriot will forward to us the result of the elections on Monday as early as possible. It is stated that the owners of the liner reoenty delayed in the Waitara roadstead reoeiv - £IOOO for demurage, res resenting, eays Ithe Wanganui B >rald, 10 days at £IOO aday. A Masterton paper says I The proposed visit of Madame Melba to Masterton has been abandoned. It is understood that suitable hotel accommodation was not available.

Anxiety is felt at Port Chalmers for the safety of two brothers, John and Richard Rarhy (fishermen), who left in a motor whaleboat at 8 a.iu. on Monday and have not yet returned.

Those willing to become members of a Defence Rifle Glob at Feilding are invited to attend a meeting tomorrow evening (Thursday) at the Library room at 7.80 o’clock. Owing to the break-down of the Mararoa the relatives of Miss Musoh, who died in Wanganni on Monday, were unable to reach there from the South to-day, and the funeral has been postponed till tomorrow. Mr A. Nathan has been elected unopposed for Taihape Mayoralty The following were nominated as councillors: —G. Bray, R. W. Smith, S. Be ban, A. Crawford, J. P. Aldridge, H. Hollow, R. Healy and F. S. Tarrant. An election will therefore follow.

At a meeting of the Taikorea School Committee, held on April 16th, it was proposed to appeal to the Education Board to remove the school from its present site to the corner of Cooper’s line, thereby lessening the distance for the majority of the children attending the school. A motion to this effect was carried unanimously. The Labour Journal publishes an interesting statement of comparative rent - values in the four centres. They refer to houses let to workmen within a two-mile radius of the post office Auckland—4 rooms, 10s to 12s 6d ; 5 rooms, 12s to 15a; 6 rooms, 15s to 17a 6d ; 7 rooms, 17s 6d to 22s 6d. Wellington—4 rooms, 12s 6d to 18a ; 5 rooms, 10s to 27s 6d ; 6 rooms, 18s to 82s 6d ; V rooms, 22s 6d to 355. Christchurch—4 Booms, 10s to ,15s; 5 rooms, 14s to' 16a; 6 rooms, 16s to 20a; 7 rooms, 20a and upwards. Dunedin—4 rooms, 9s to 15s; 5 rooms, 12s 6d to* 18a; 6 rooms, 16a Ito 255; 7 rooms, 16s 6d to 27s 63.

Anparontly retrenchment jn the Tourist Department has already set in. It is understood that 10 girls in the Wellington 'office have received notice or are about to receive notice of dismissal. '

“ The Auckland Railway League has decided to hold a Conference on May 26th, of the variona East Coast Railway Leagues and the Rotorua League to discuss the route of the East Coast railway. Mr J. Plerpoint Morgan gave all his employees 50 per cent, on their salary as a Christmas gift. The Central Trust did likewise, and some of the principal American banks raised the salaries of : their staff. So, at least, a Loudon paper asserts.

When Messrs Tuck and JBraithwaite bought the steamer Charles Edward and the scow Uruzoa respectively, some time ago, opinions varied as to whether either of these vessels would 'be salved. It seems, however, says the Chronicle, that both ventures have proved unsuccessful..

Eight or 10 of the Volunteers in the Mount Somers camp at ruaster suffered from ptomaine poisoning from {eating bad tinned meat, and four of them had to he carried to Hie train next day. It ,is said that die meat seemed all right when opened, and that it was a second meal from meat left in the tins that affected the men.

An Irish priest was asked by one of his flock to explain what a miracle was, “Go on in front, Pat, while I think a bit.” said the priest. Presently he went op quickly behind Pat and gave him a great kiok. ‘‘Did yon feel that, Pat?” asked the priest. ‘‘lndeed, I did, your riv’renoe.” “It would have been a miracle if you had not,” said the priest.

The judgment of the Full Court at Wellington yesterday on the point in the case Poingdestre v. Poingdestre, as to domicile as affecting service on the respondent husband, was that the suit could proceed, and it was not necessary to have personal service on respondent, who deserted his wife and went to Seattle, whence lie wrote to her for two years, and was then heard from no more.

Delegates from ’the Hawke’s Bay Fishermen’s Union met the employers last night to discuss the dispute in the trawling industry. Mr Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, was present. A basis of agreement was arrived at providing for the payment of wages and shares, Tlje proportions of wages and shares to be paid have not yet been decided. A point to be t settled is regarding masters and engineers’ wages. The dispute is expected to be settled to night.

At.' Waitara two wholesale licenses for Mokau and Awakino were granted by the Bench to-day. The applications were the result of a decision by the S.M. in the recent case brought by the police for selling liquor in a prohibited area. The case was dismissed, the Magistrate holding that Awakino was not in a proclaimed area. The Prohibition representative objected to the 'granting of the licenses, but the Magistrate said he had no loons standi.

At the meeting of the Opunako branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on Saturday, the following resolution was passed, and is to be forwarded to the .Provincial Conference: “That while there is so much waste land Ha New Zealand (both Crown and native) awaiting settlement, this branch considers it worse than folly continually borrowing in the foreign money market to purchase improved private estates for the purpose of leasing to settlers; the Government acting as agent for the money-lender by collecting the rents to pay interest on the borrowed money, thereby creating a gigantic system of absentee landlordism that must ultimately prove disastrous to the Dominion.”

A late discovery is meat-curing by electricity. The meat is placed in tanks containing brine, in the same solution which is used in curing establishments everywhere. Electric currents are sent through the tanks. They drive the salt in through the meat much more quickly, and distribute it much more thoroughly than it is possible noder the old method, in which the meat ,is merely allowed to soak in the brine. The originators of the process olaim for it that it is quicker,, more thorough, and more sanitary than the old method. Under the old method ham ; is onred in from 75 to 105 dajs. Electrically cured it need stay in the brine but from 25 to 85 days. Under the okl method bacon is cored in 23 days. Electrically cored it remains in the brine only four days. A school of smiles is the latest form of feminine oommerciad enterprise in Paris. The principal of the institntion is a pretty and intelligent yoang Parisian woman, who herself possesses a most charming method of smiling, which she declares she can impart to her pupils in a course of twenty lessons. Her prospectus sets forth that the art of smiling£is an invaluable commercial asset, and that it is equally essential to men who want to marry wealth. She recalls that a professional smile is utilised by every tradesman, from the butcher who supplies your meat to the druggist who provides you with medicine. To be successful in business, she says, it is necessary to know how to smile pleasantly even’in the fmost annoying circumstances, and this accomplishment she is prepared to teach on very moderate terms.

•■‘l disguised myself by colouring ;my face and hands every day with 1 Indian ink, burnt my European clothes, and hid my maps, which cover 1100 sheets, in bags of rice,” says Dr. Sven Hediu, in his lecture on his Tibet experiences. “I never experienced a day’s illness, and, with the exception of a little obampague which 1 drank at Shigatze, 1 never tasted alcohol and took no medicine. I smoked, however, when 1 bad the opportunity. I lost about 17 ponies and mules owing to the terrible cold. Possibly my worst experience was when travelling to the east of the Karakorum Pass. Here the roads were strewn with the carcases of ponies and sheep. Every day some animals died, and for six weeks I experienced continuous snow and wind, and my thermometer, registered 72deg. of frost (Fahrenheit).” In this region the explorer found bflles of silk and other articles lying abont that had been discarded by their owners. The cold wintry weather is now at hand, and ladies requiring coats and fnrs should repair to the Bon Marche where they will find a grand selection of direct imported goods and Kaiapoi and Petone coats. Messrs Spence & Spence have also secured a London manufacturer’s sample set of fur necklets and stoles which they are now selling 25 per ceot, under present day values.*

Nurse Godfrey, of DanneVirke, hag been appointed matron of Gia&orne Hospital. At Wellington Appeal Court on Monday, upon the application of MS' Skerrett, K. 0., leave was granted for the setting, down of the case of Hussey v. Miles—an appeal from a decision of Mr Justice Chapman. McLaughlin, who has been arrested at Brisbane on charges of murder in Johannesburg, was sentenced some ten Jyoars ago in New Zealand to four years’ imprisonment for having in his possession housebreaking implements. Thompson and party, who have been prospecting in the Manawatu Gorge, have discovered a lode of silver, which assays at £3 per ton. The party have pegged out 150 acres and are forming a company in Masterton.

Police-Inspector Cullen, of Auckland, received a telegram last night that a man darned George Colliuson, aged 67, had been found dead on the road near 2 Matapouri, an overturned dray and horse being discovered a short distance from the body.

James Taylor, a single man, aged 48 year, a labourer, residing in Wellington, while unloading telegraph poles from the Dnoo at Palliser Bay yesterday had his head fractured, it being crushed between one of the poles and the side of the steamer. He was at once taken to Wellington Hospital, where he now lies unconscious.

The speediest and simplest remedy for slackness of trade and stringency of the money market is to allow willing workers to increase the national income by taking wealth from now idling land. This remedy is not always available, bat whenever it is available—as is in Auckland province—it is unpardonable maladministration to refuse it,—New Zealand Herald.

It will be quite nine months before tha Manawatu line can be properly equipped to cope with the heavy traffic from the wairarapa line north of Masterton. The appliances, rolling stock, station organisation, and siding lines have to be thoroughly revised and very much extended. It is anticipated that everything will be ready before the summer trippiug season sets in.

The Timber'Oommission will come to Wellington from Grejmouth next week, but will not sit there then. It ,will proceed tofJTaihape nextJMonday to take evidence. It will also inspect the sawmills at Waimatino, going thence to Auckland to held a necessary meeting and to inspoet mills. The Commission will then go to Wellington to take evidence there, and the report will then ba prepared.

Winter is one of the severest tests of a new railway line. In reply to a question by a Dominion reporter as to whether the running time of the North Island Main Trunk trains was to be shortened, the General Manager of the New Zealand Railways said that nothing would be done in that direction until ihe new line had stood the test of winter. Slips and other adverse circumstances associated with the “settling down” of a new railway were anticipated. There is only one place on the surface of the earth where a total eclipse of the sun which is to occur in May, 1910, can be observed, and that is Tasmania, between Hobart and Port Davey. The Royal Astronomical Society of England has written to the Victorian Government asking it to mffke the necessary arrangements for recording the eclipse, and the Government astronomer (Mr Baracchi) is now visiting Tasmania, in-order to select a suitable spot for making the observations. The Dunedin Star says:—Though it would be very nnwise.and undesirable to orea*e an unnecessary scare, it is time that warning was given of the danger of a market corner which appears to threaten the best interests of the butter trade. The damage may not be very advanced yet, but that is only because such a scheme would take some time in perfecting. An organised attempt, it is asserted, is., in progress to manipulate the batter market, and in snob a way that the industry would become the preserve of a few speculators, to the disadvantage of the producers of New Zealand generally. The Grown Lands Department, having under its control the Forestry Department, intends giving substantial help to farmers who are interested in afforestation and willing to do their share in regaining for New Zealand some of its lost timber resources. It will provide a free lot of 350 young totara trees to every applicant who will undertake to plant them and pay ;th® Ruatangata nursery, near Kamo, where they have been raised. There are 710,000 trees ready for distribution.

The Methven correspondent of The Press writes that a great scarcity of labour exists in the Methven and surrounding districts. A wellknown threshing-machine proprietor pulled his machine into his yard a few weeks ago as the grain in stack then was not sufficiently matured, but owing to the demand for machines now this'owner came into Methven to get men to go out with his machine, but failed to get even one man. Neither could he procure anyy! in the district. Another machine owner, owing to two of his men becoming ill, wished to get others to take their places, but was unsuccessful.

Nganruhoe la stated to be in ! greater activity than ever. On Monday, in addition to the eruptions of Nganrnboe, the whole ot the Tongariro Plains were alive with thermal excitement, dense columns of steam rising from Te Mare and the Bed Grater, and also from Kitetahi Springs. Then, about 11 o'clock, the volcano poured a mighty volume of heavy smoke several thousand feet high, while dust was discharged in dense shower after shcwver over Tongariro and on the Waimarino side. For nearly an hour the mountain thus laboured and convulsed, roaring and rumbling within its depths, so that the. noise and 6 tremor of t,it were appreciable ten miles away. The previous night, it was stated by the groom at Manauui oha&ging r station, was marked by more disturbance and explosive, noises from the mountain than at any time, since the outbreak.

I want to sell you your winter undrewear beoanse my values are bedrock. My underwear for men is pure wool and unshrinkable, elastic and comfortable to the skin. Direct from the best British manufacturers. Medium and heavy weights in pure wool 4s Gd,'ss Gd, 5s lid, 6s lid. Lower lines in wool and cotton mixture 3a lid, 3s Gd, 3a lid and 4s Gd. Heal, Gath Clothier, Feilding.*

Tiie public of Mar ton are reminded, of the Band social and dance in the Drill Hall to-night. A strong ccramittee hav' been at work on the floor, and it is now in capita! order for dancing. The members have lelß iftjthicg undone to meet the requirements of dancers.

Late last night a haystack at Evansdale, a house >at Warrington, and the Presbyterian Church at Waitaki, all within a radius of four miles, were burned down. Il ls believed that the fires were caused either by a swagger or a lunatic who escaped from Seacllff Mental Hospital yesterday morning.

Miss Bita Babone has been awarded one of the three exhibit puns offered annually bv the Associt-ted Board of the R.A.M. and KO.I. of Loudon, to candidates at lII® Board’s examinations in Australasia, who show exceptional musical ability. Miss Babone was a pupil of St. Mary’s Oonveut, Wellington. She is entitled to a free course of tuition in singing at the Royal College of Music and leaves for London to-morrrow.

Comparison is really the test for value. Veitoh and Allan want everyone to test the values they (jfflfex. They are satisfied that they givafeh® very Lest value, and that tfc» quality of their goods, and the prices charged, are not to be equalled elsewhere. Veitoh and Allan carry large, up-to-date stocks, and in this issne are offering special value in bed coverings. An elderly man named Emanuel Uudetwood was called to account at the Auckland Police Court last week for discharging firearms near Pitt Street, a public place. Underwood explained that on the date in question, while on his own premises, and having nothing else to do. he had a little practice with his revolver, firing at a target in the kitchen chimney. He had not been very long indulging in this pastime when the police appeared upon the scene. He was not aware that by practising his skill he was committing an offence against the law. The bench fined accused 10s, and 23s costs. Notwithstanding this penalty Underwood was still not quite convinced. “Do I clearly understand that I cannot fire in my owD'house?” he asked. “Yes,” replied SubInspector Hendrey, “ unless you can get the City Connell to license your place as a shooting gallery.” The travelling evangelist who writes his messages on finger-posts has managed to make a strong impression on a Minister of the Crown. During his recent motor tour So Mount Cook the Hon. T. Mackenzie and his party lost their way in the wilds. It was piitch dark and, the only thing they were positive about was that there was a sheer drop of some HOOffc. in the vicinity. The Minister, seeing a finger-post looming on the roadside, got down and began to strike matches and peer for the Inscription The match flared, and threw a feeble glow on what looked like a gibbet. Then, in the midst of all that dark loneliness, with the precipice yawning somewhere near, hejjread, ““Heaven or h which is it to be?” Now that the attention of sightseers is being so directed to the mountain wonders of,Ngauruhco and Ruapehu, the need for increased shelter is being evidenced, says the New Zealand Herald. The present hut is capable of housing only soma seven people, and a few additional shelters would fill a want that is beginning to be felt. During th® roeent visit of an Auckland party, some 30 or 40 people'journeyed to tha foot of the mountains for the purpose cf making ascents of one ox the other, or both of them. Most of these visitors, but not all, wet© provided with tents,- but consideringlh* high altitude the more substantial forma of shelter are preferable, especially during the colder months of the year. In an appeal heard before the Raulway Appeal Board in which H. J. Seaton objected to his redaction from a grade 1 train examiner to grade 2, it was pointed out for appellant that it had never been Intended, by the Legislature that any increased efficiency should ba required to secure iwWßiaent. Thoqgh the department coofcl wtttld;chd»)Q£fccrement if a man’s conduct had go been satisfactory, it wasanov in reducing his status. It wise unfair to prejudice men by reducing their status. The -chairman remarked upon the evidence cf earelesa drafting of the Glassification Act of 1907. Instead of providing that the Act should be read with the previous Act, the whole thing should hav® been re enacted in a statute declaring that no man should be reduced from bis present rank or rate of pay. Decision was reserved. The Morgan Lodge (U.A.0.D.) held a big meeting at Marten last evening, there being a large attendance of members and visitors. Those representing outside Lodges wrera Bro. Roberta (Mackay Lodge, Taihape), D. P. Bro. A. A. Willis, P.D.P’s., Bros. Morgan, Smith and Seo. Martin, together with a number of members of the Bishop Lodge, Wanganui; Bro. Thompson (Aramoho Lodge) and P.D.P’s. Bios. Gronn and Stafford. P.A.D. Bro. Funston, one of the oldest members of the Order, was also present. During the evening Mr Edward Newman, M.P., was Initiated as a member. After an impressive ceremony conducted by the Wanganui officers, Bro. Newman save a short address, expressing his pleasure in bavins become a member of the Order, fully recognising the good work the Friendly Societies were doing. Me would endeavour to further the interests of the Morgan Lodge and fell that in becoming a member he would be of some practical use—not wishing to be a mere ornamental member. After > the ordinary business bad finished D.P. Bro. A. A. Wilila (Wanganui)- presented Bro. Lee, Mar ton, with a P. D.P. colar, and In doing so, referred in flattering terms to the good work done by the recipient during his term of office. In reply, Bro. Lee, of Marten, said lie appreciated the gift, and having been nominated in the first place by the Morgan Lodge it was fitting that the presentation should have taken place in the Marten Lodge room. His work bad been an education ta him and he felt gratified that members had appreciated his efforta. The visitoss were afterwards entertained in the new sapper rooms,-and a short toast list was honoured. A pleasant evening was brought to n close at 11 o’clock by the singing of. ‘ ‘ Auld Lang Syne. ’ ’ Warm Tweed Overcoats 23s 6d, 39a Gd, 32s Gd to 47s Gtl. Latest Style*. Reliable Oilooats riding cut H» M* 19s 6d, 25*s 6d. Warm Striped Rugs, largo size, 6s lid, Ts lid, Large Waterproof Trap Ruga Ue 6d, 13s 6d, 15s 6d t Neal, Cash Clothier* FeUding.* • '-V;. : i ,-I-,: ■.ri.'v’U k.*-*