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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9033, 26 February 1908, Page 4

That a small country like New Zealand should possess 15,000 cadets is something Cor the inhabitants to be proud of. There is no jingoism about our cadet movement. It is carried on quietiy and unostentatiously, and there is nothing about it to inspire a bellicose spirit in the youth. They know they are being trained for, the defence of their country should their country ever unhappily need their aid, and that training will be invaluable to them through life, even though they should never have occasion to handle a weapon after the close of their school-days. It is interesting to note that Lord Roberts has "taken the cadet system of the dominion, and has sent his congratulations to the authorities. The fostering of the great movement, he says, will be valuable "both for the individual and the nation. V

It has been publicly stated that some of the members of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association favour the change of the Show site to Sol way "because the Masterton Borough Council has been too exacting in its dealings with it in the past." Enquiry shows that the Association has no grievance against the Borough Council. The only matter out of which a grievancs with the' Municipal authorities could be conceived as possible would be that relating to rating, but the rating has never been objected to, and no complaint, we are assured, has been made respecting it. The statement may have had its origin in the fact that upon one occasion representatives of various associations urged the Government to exempt the Showgrounds which were freehold from the land tax. The exemption has not been made, nor does it appear that it is likely to be.

The Government is losing no time putting into effect its offer to supply burnt-out settlers with grass seed. The Under-Secretary of Lands states that instructions have been given by

the Department to the various Crown Lands Commissioners that when application is . made for seed by burnt-out settlers, and an estimate of the loss is given, the rangers are to proceed at once to verify the estimate. If surveyors are nearer at hand they will perform that duty so that no time may be lost. Each Commissioner has received authority to give the necessary order for seed immediately he is satisfied as to the amouat of loss suffered. The UnderSecretary is under the impression that the losses have been exaggerated. Probably that is so; but that they are very severe in many instances there can be no doubt.