Page 1 Advertisements Column 1

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2344, 10 November 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

Vote for CLAYTON, Who is not afraid to criticise This interests YOU: A SAMPLE OF THE FITNESS OF MINISTERS to deal with Questions arising out of the Occupation of Land, and to Estimate the Importance of the Pro* ducts of the Soil in relation to the rest of the Community. non. G. EOWLDS, Minister for Education. “Hansard,” No. 5, page 416. It is true that some of the prices of our leading products have been less last year than they were previously: but you have to bear in mind that in one particular item —wool —the fall in price does not so readily reflect itself on the condition of the people as do some other items of our products flax, for instance. The largest proportion of the wool revenue goes into the pockets of those who have been spoken of as the Wool Kings wealthy people who, even in a bad year, have more money than they can spend in the ordinary couise of business. A drop in the price of wool simply means that they have so much less money for investment. : 1907-8 1906-7 1905-6 £ £ £ Money returns for WOOL 5,649,666 7,415,486 6,605,790 ” SHEEPSKINS ... 598,246 763,664 640,573 ” ” _ ” FLAX ... 539,713 899,111 721,457 And “It is admitted that the valuations put upon wool at the time of shipment are much in excess of true values according to present quotations.” Total falling off in wool (including sheepskins) is £1,931,268; Flax, £359,399. “It is considered, however, that the actual returns for wool will fall short even of the reduced \alue shown in the table by fully another million sterling.’ • New Zealand Trade Review and Prices Cunent. August 27, 1908. _ ... . Mr. Fowld’s before his elevation to the Ministry, was only known for his views upon the taxation of land, and his persistent claim to he regarded as the last authority upon all questions arising out of the occupation of land. Yet his views upon the fall in wool, amounting as above to some £3,000,000 in a single year, have been quoted, and speak for themselves as to his knowledge of the subject. The number of persons owning sheep in flocks which do not constitute them anything resembling W 7 ool Kings” are as follows (IT. 23 B.„ 1907): 1 Sheep, to 200 200 to 500 500 to 1000 1000 to 2500 2500 to 5000 Owners. 7025 4989 3661 2733 81.1 19,219 out of a total of 19,997. These people are all directly affected by the drop of three millions, and behind them stand, it i safe to say, the rest of the population, not even excluding Mr. Fowlds himself, though he is blissfully unconscious of it. Farmers, however, do not live in any such Tools Paradise. To this we may add Mr. Millar’s Statement (‘' Hansard, Yol. 134, page 441:) — “The country would not have a single shilling if it were not for the cities.” Comment upon this surely 7 would be superfluous. It is only fair to Mr. Millar to add that no nas been consistent throughout his Ministerial career in framing legislation expressive of Ins belief, thus plainly stated, that the towns are carrying the country on their back. Vote for CLAYTON and REFORM. Gisborne Times l’rint. SSS