Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9464, 5 June 1909, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY, JUNE 5,1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE waterside workers at Wellington are complaining that the per? manent hands are employed to do work that would give employment to casuals. Apparently the belief is held that the casual labourer should be employed whether he is wanted or not, and while he is working the permanent hands should remain idle on full pay. On this theory a man should buy from tradesmen whether he wants their goods or not. It may he desirable to point out that the shortage of work at Wellington wharves is one [of the consequences of our fiscal policy. A larger volume of imports would mean more work to do, but our insane policy is to shut out imports as much as possible. The abolition of restrictive duties would also mean that when the worker did earn money he could buy more with it. Under present conditions be has no woik, and he has to pay more for everything he requires, solely for the benefit of a few who are employed in the factories, or rather for the benefit of the owners of the factories.

RETURNING to the topic of defence, Colonel Gorton, in a contemporary, urges the immediate establishment of militia districts, compelling every male of the age of 18 to 40, married and single, to enrol their names. He says companies and battalions [should be formed, and officers at once appointed temporarily until qualified. Single men shonld be called out at once for three months’ training, drilling twice per week, and if finances permitted, married men also. If not, married men to be called out for three weeks’ training, which would mean six drills. Each drill must be for at least two hours, and as long as required when out for ball-practice at rifle ranges. This training to be annually done. He urges training in marksmanship, that at the age of fourteen, cadets shonld be allowed ball ammunition for practice at the rifle range, to be carried out under strict supervision, and at least 200 rounds each per year should be issued to cadets free for that purpose. All militia and volunteer corps to be alowed 200 rounds of ammunition each, free, to be need only at the rifle ranges under strict supervision. Rifle Clubs to be [suppied with 100 rounds free, and Government to offer prizes for the best shooting. He would also encourage artillery corps by similar methods, and would have ten men in each militia district picked ont and mounted for the special duty of scouting. He advocates the feeding troops at encampments by contract at per ration, which system he saved fourpeuoe per man per day during the Maori war. He considers that With such organisation and training New Zealand need never fear invasion.

THOSE who are urging that the Maori lands shall be brought into profitable nse at once, and that a Maori landed aristocracy shall not be created, would no doubt be interested in the cable item published yesterday regarding the fate of the Herreros in German East Africa. The two years record there comprised the death of 120,000 of the native population, by war, pestilence, and famine. The chronicler sarcastically remarked that “the remembrance is likely to restrain the present generation from renewing hostilities with the pioteoting power. ” “ Protecting power” is distinctly good. Contrast this treatment with that given to the Maoris by Britain, and by our Dominion to-day. German methods appear to ha too severe drastic, and curs too sentimental. The Maoris themselves would be better off if their lands were disposed of to Europeans, ann they were provided for by means of interesthearing State debentures given in exchange for their land which is now useless to them.