The Taikape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th, 1916. CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 5 September 1916, Page 4

The Taikape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER sth, 1916. CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

(With which is incorporated The Tai bape Post and Waimarino News.)

The Californian Thistle question is again receiving special consideration from the Agricultural Department officers. It is dawning upon men who sit a good deal at their homes that the subject of their enquiries and deliberations is not something that an Act of Parliament or any regulation thereunder can suppress and exterminate just as readily as it can make or create “Jimmy Woodsers,” say, for instance. The Californian Thistle in the very roughest country is a plant of some value, as stock in such localities eat it greedily; it is eaten by sheep in most of the highlands hereabout when other feed is scarce. There are admittedly spots here and there where it thrives wonderfully well, but those are the places where there is no trouble about upploughing it and rooting it out. Farmers who allow it to take possesion of such land deserve prosecuting, but to talk even of prosecuting men for having the indifferent patchy bits of languishing thistle that, we have seen men prosecuted foils unquestionably nothing lw.it. sheer persecution. There is at present a thoroughly practical Minister of Agriculture, and it will be matter for surprise if he does not insist on this Californian thistle question being dealt with in a practical and!common sense way. The removal of it to the third

\ schedule of the Act would meet the 1 case, as, if in the opinion of the local authority the weed was becoming a danger and a menace to anyone’s interests,its extermination or suppression could be ordered, and men owning land on which the thistle is a blessing rather than otherwise, Avould have the sword of Damocles, in the shape of au officious inspector, removed from over his head. It is to be hoped in the best interests of everybody that the vexed question will now be settled permanently and satisfactorily. , " GREECE. I A retrospect of the ancient and class ical history of Greece conjures up a - people of stamina possessing ideals very much at variance with what obtains in that old historic land to-day. The name of Constantine considered

as a brave with those sons of the gods who made it possible for Greece to be the world’s centre of learning and culture sinks into contemptuous depths. Although it may be urged that such personages as Ajax, Ulysses, Achilles and others that do not just come to mind,, were mythical, they undoubtedly came into existence on the bravery and patriotism of some truly great men, and one reflects with regret and sorrow upon the present attitude of Greeks as compared with those away back in a history so old that it merges into the mythical, into the very dim past when the gods associated with man. Yet Constantine claims to be a soldier. A craven who fears his own ri[ght to live, sells himself and his country with all its marvellous, its wonderful traditions, to the boasted modern reincarnation of the brutal Attila. He allows the sacred soil of Greece to be de’filed by Turks, Bulgars and Huns, and does not exhibit any semblance of the old Greek spirit. Is it to be marvelled at that the people revolt against such a king. It would indeed be amazing if they did not. They see their country, with its ancient ideals and traditions, all its oldtime glorious history dragged in the mire at the tail of Turk and Hun, and the ancient spirit that has been bequeathed them from time incalculable asserts itself, and they turn against such a king and such degradation, indignity and insult as he is heaping upon them and their land. From the Odyssey of Homer to quite recent times the history of Greece has been something on which its people could pride themselves. It is well punctuated with evidence that Greece ever stood for learning, justice and morality. To-day its king is a contemptible dissembler, cultured in duplicity, cunning, cruelty and treachery. What ( punishment his misdeeds are going to bring upon him is not yet apparent, but it seems that the spark of revolution has burst into a flame that is rapidly spreading over Macedonia, the New Greece, and is also burning its way into Old Greece, into Thessaly down to Piraeus, and even into Athens itself. A committee of National Defence was first formed, which has now been proclaimed the Government of Macedonia. Matters are moving quickly, and from indications it is reasonable to assume that this Government has now quite a large array ready to contest the right to their land with the invading Huns, Turks and Bui gars. The name of Venezelos will go down' into future history and be spoken lin the same breath with those with which Greek classical history abounds. Venezelos is a Greek of Greeks, not because he is friendly to Britain, for Britain would have little consideration from such a mind were it unfavourable to the best traditions and ideals of his country, but because he possesses ihe old Greek spirit that stands for its coun try and people, even to opposing the ruling monarch. Under the influence of the Hun Attila, Constantine is a power to be considered, and it must be patent to all that the quality of the bravery and patriotism of Venezelos in opposing such a king, is quite in the same category as that of the Greek patriots of ancient history. To-day, Venezelos is overshadowed, but in ihe future of Greece he will stand out 1 most prominently, head and shoulders above all the crawling cravelings that would see their country overrun and become a vassalage to a Hun negemony. Constantine has forfeited his right to kingship to the Kaiser, if ’tie latter cannot hold it by force of armn then the Greeks must look around for a leader with a spirit more in accordance with their traditions. Who, although not of royal blood so far as wo know, would make a more kingly King and uphold the honour and glory or Greece than Venezelos? He, by virtue of intelligence and fortitude, is the I most admired man of the people; he is already looked upon as a deliveier, and it is almost certain that he is lestined to yet play a leading pari, in shaping the future history of his country and people.

Board and lodging is wanted for a lad that is attending the Taihape School.

A cable this morning states that Burradoon has been scratched for the Melbourne Cup.

It is estimated that Italy holds 1380 square miles of Austrian territory in the Isonzo region

A proclamation is gazetted changing the name of the borough of Campbelltown (Invercargill) to Bluff.

It is notified that the annual meeting of St. Margaret’s Ladies ’ Gcild will be held in the Parish Hall on Wednesday (to-morrow), at 3 p.m.

Our Te Kapua correspondent states that a Taihape stock buyer has bought lambs for forward delivery, at fourteen and fifteen per head, to the number of 20,000, in January next.

In regard to au enquiry by Mr R. W. Smith, M.P., about a reduction in the capital value of the Kaitieke holdings, the Prime Minister states that no application for revaluation has been received by the Lands Department from the Kaitieke settlers.

It is notified that the annual meeting of the Otaihape Manners ’ Meat and Produce Company, Limited, will be held in the Taihape Town Hall on Wednesday, 13th September next, at 11 a.m. As the business is of vital importance* no doubt every shareholder will be present.

1 ‘ If you will arrange to allow the newspapers to put up the dividends as well as the winners of horse races on your Avindows, you will not require to look for the men you want,” said Mr Cooper (Karori Borough Council) at the recruiting meeting of the City Council Chamber the other afternoon.

The executive of the South Canterbury Farmers’ Union passed a resolution protesting against the anomalies in connection with the frozen lamb trade under Government control, since the English consumer pays 14d to 15d per lb, while the farmer gets only about sd. The resolution demands an alteration for the coming season.

The ladies of the Red Cross Society Shop remind the generously inclined people of Taihape and district that they will be glad to have donations of cakes produce, or any other article that can be sold, in aid of the Red Cross Work. Donor s are reminded that the shop is open to receive and to sell every Wednesday and Saturday.

The chairman of the executive of the South Canterbury Farmers’ Union, Mr John Talbot, speaking at a meeting on Friday, said less winter wheat than usual had been put in, and the weather had keen against spring sowing. Ho advised that as much as possible be put in. The Board of Trade could bo trusted to act fairly by growers, as far as 'Australian imports were concerned.

The ,settlers pf Kaitiekp,* -through Mr Alex. MeColl, some time ago sent a pressing invitation to the Prime Minister to visit their district. Mr Massey has now replied, regretting it will not be possible for him to accede to the request of the settlers during the present year, owing to his visit to the Old Country. He states that if there should be an opportunity later on of going to Kaitieke he will only be too glad to boar the invitation in mind.

“ Mercantile circles (writes our Dunedin correspondent) are amused over the- visit of the Board of Trade to investigate the cost of living and the question of exploitation in Dunedin. It is stated that, curiously enough, while the Board had at last come to inquire as to the cost of foodstuffs, prices in the retail grocery trade were jijevjer lower.. Tp use a colloquialism, the' retailers fire ■ ‘cutting each other's throats.’ As a result of a competitive war, numerous orocer-y lines are being sold in Dunedin at prices actually below imported cost.” Loss of self-respect, loss of the good opinion of a community, loss, of employment, loss of liberty, may be punishment of a man who does not comply w r ith the provisions of the Military Service Act. The law r stipulates that men who are not registered under the National Registration Act of last year must enrol by 16th September, and that men who are already registered must inform the Government statistician if they have changed their abode since registration. Neglect to report such a change may make the Reservist liable to a charge of desertion. The authorities are giving Reservists all possible encouragement and facilities at any and every post-office to do their duty voluntarily; but it is important for men to remember that the Act provides heavy penalties to a breach. In every ease under the Act onus of proof is on the defendant. A piea of ignorance will sot bo acceptable as an excuse, because elaborate precautions are being taken by posters, placards, and lantern slides, advertisements and other statements in the Press to explain the position thoroughly. Prompt action is the way to avoid trouble.

The Taihape Dairy Company, Ltd, has contributed £l5O to Patriotic Funds, £SO to Red Cross, £SO to Soldiers’ Fund, and £SO to, general patriotic funds.

Abraham Levy, of Wellington, was convicted of a wilful breach of a military contract, and was fined £SO. Crown counsel stated that it was intended to proceed with other cases, which were adjourned for a week. Notice of appeal was '.given.

The outlook for cheese is regarded as very good this season, and like other companies making cheese, Kai Iwi has received excellent offers for the purchase of this product. The directors did not care to accept full responsibility without referring the matter to the shareholders. After due consideration the latter decided to sell to Wright Stephenson and Co., at a price a little over' 9d per lb. This will ensure payment to suppliers of about Is 9d per lb for butterfat, and we think it will be readily admitted Kai Iwi dairymen are on an exceedingly good wicket.

Complaint was received by the Chamber of Commerce last night from a Taihape firm in regard to great delay in the despatch 'of goods for inland places, after arrival by boat at Wanganui. The letter said the trouble at Wanganui Tiad got so bad that the firm had been compelled to order goods from Wellington, or from the south via Wellington. The communication added that shipments of goods for the "firm arrived in Wanganui by the Breeze and the Arapawa on August 20th, and although a week had elapsed they were still waiting for them. The letter in conclusion pointed out that the matter was one affecting Wanganui as a port. As several Taihape business men are well aware, this complaint is particularly well founded.