The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1910. PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2747, 28 February 1910, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1910. PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

An aspect of the proposals .that .have been put forward in England oh be-, half of those favoring preferential trade is dealt with in the annual review of the frozen meat trade which has just been published by Messrs TV. W cddel and Co., of London. According to this authority -‘the proposals put forward, more or less tentatively, to the effect that an import duty of 5 per cent, be imposed on all meat from foreign countries, and a less duty, say 24 per cent., on colonial meats, has naturally caused some discussion amongst the men actively engaged in the trade. While some few of these hope that, in some way, these duties may be laid on the shoulders of the producers, the great majority of the traders, whether iavorable or unfavorable to the general principles of tariff reform, arc satisfied that, in the case of meat, tbe consumers will have to pay the whole of the duties, through, the necessary raising of retail prices. Indirectly, this advance would, doubtless, tend to raise the selling value of homo-led beef and mutton, and thereby benefit the British farmer; but. inasmuch as imported meats are consumed practically entirely by the working and lower .middle, classes, there seems to be no doubt as to which sections of the community wan/ild hear the direct burden of this particular imjoort- duty. “The idea that- by giving the colonial producer some preference’ he would thereby be induced to increase his output may, conceivably, apply to seme classes of produce. In connection with meat, however, it gives no promise of success, because the English market for years past lias been able to absorb every surplus ounce of suitable meat available for export from Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Prices secured in tfifs .market are already so much in advance of what is obtainable anywhere else in the world, that it may safely be assumed not only that the colonial producer lias sent forward to it every suitable animal which he could spare from his local markets, but that he will gladly continue to do so m years to come. The placing of a small handicap of, say. 2-1 or 5 per cent, upon his foreign competitors, when it must be accompanied by a raising of the cost of his own meat to bis customers, seems unlikely in itself to bring about any further expansion in his export trade.” Generally speaking these contentions arc perfectly correct, but it is not strictly accurate’• to suggest that the English market can always absorb r.i good prices every ounce of meat available for export. Last year’s experience was quite opposed to such a theory. Still it is highly improbable that a preferential duty of 24 per cent, would have helped New Zealand producers- much when the slump came.

The Morere-Wairoa and , TmirotoWairoa coaches leaive at 7 a.m. tins morning, and the Coast coaches at 8 ~a.ni.

A big attraction for patrons _ <>t moving pictures is the film illustrating Lieut. Sir Ernest Shackle.ton's “Dash for the South Pole,” which is to be shown locally on March. 9th. Out of respect to the late Mrs. W. H. Tucker, the meeting of farmers to have been held in the Ear mors’ Onion rooms on Saturday afternoon was postponed. The secretary of the Harbor Board, Mr. J. W. "Witty, lias bee-n advised by telegraph that the .modified plans for the extension of the breakwater have been approved by the Govornor-in-Council. The following passengers left by Messrs Redstone and Son’s coaches this morning:—For Tologa Bay, Miss Fruborn: for Tokomaru, Mr. L. Olsen ; for Morere, Miss Leeper and Rev. Bailey; for Tiniroto, Mr. A. G. Austin. Nominations for candidates for membership of the Waiapu District Hospital Board will be received by the returning officer, Mr. A. P. Durrant, Waipiro Bay, up to Wednesday., March 9th. Further particulars are given in our advertising columns. The following .was the amount of the revenue collected at the local Customhouse last week:—Customs duties £6-52 8s 7d, surtax £ll 17s lid, beer •duty £6l ss, light dues £l3 4s 4d, •slii/jiping fees £5 os; total, £744 10s 10d.

Mr. Andrew Black and concert party arrived in Wellington from Sydney l>v the Warrimoo last Wednesday. Prior to leaving Sydney the company played a short season there, and received great commendation from the critics. Mr. Black will visit Gisborne lor a season commencing on March 12th. It is not improbable that the visit of Hon. It. McKenzie, Minister for Public Works, to Gisborne will be further extended along the East Coast. Mr W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P., has invited the Minister to visit the Coast, and means of transit will, if he accepts, be placed at his disposal by the Waiapu Settlers’ Association.

Owing to the wet weather, the entertainment to have been given by the City Band, at the Victoria Domain, yesterday afternoon was postponed until next Sunday at the same hour, 3 p.m. It 7s anticipated that the Band’s new instruments will be to hand on that, date, in which case they will be used.

The TJ.S.S. Co.’s Ta raw era, which left Auckland at 1 p.m. on Saturday, did not arrive in the bay until 4 p.m. yesterday. the passage thus occupying 27 hours. Across tho Bay of Plenty a c!io*~ beam sea was experienced, with misty, thick weather, heavy rain falling at intervals. Owing probably to the thick weather, the vessel was net reported as having passed the East Cape, as is customary. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks conducted their usual spiritualistic service at Townley’s Hall last evening. Mr. Weeks spoke on “Why I ain a Spiritualist and Why I am not Orthodox or an Atheist.” The lecturer, after defining the various problems under consideration, said that h G had been finally led to the acceptation of spiritualism as the highest and siibliniest truth the world had yet received. because there was a greater amount of evidence to substantiate its claims. Mrs, Weeks gave a number of psychometric readings and spirit messages, which proved very interesting.

The date- for the election in connection with the new Hospital Board has been fixed' for Wednesday, March Kith. The Board will consist of eleven members. reoresentirq; Look ami Waikohu Counties, and tire Borough of Gisborne, in the following proportion : Cook C-ounty 5, Borough 4, Waikohu County 2, tile representation being ar. rived at on a- basis of valuation and population. A number of candidates to represent the Borough have already been announced, and it is probable that Dr. J. Clive Collins will also be asked to stand.

The funeral of the late Mrs. AV. H. Tucker took place at the Alakauri cemetery on Saturday afternoon. The Rev. E. W. Ward, of AVaerenga-a-hika, conducted the service in an impressive manner. There ivas a large cortege, 2d vehicles accompanying tihe hearse,

and at the deceased’s residence and the graveside the pall-hearers were old friends of the deceased. Afany beautiful floral tributes were rent and accompanied the cortege to the cemetery. The?? included a wreath from the Harbor Hoard and from Air. AV. A. Barton, S.AL Tihe casket was of ]K»lished rimu with white mountings. At the Police Court on Saturday morning, before Air. AV. A. Barton, S.AL, Patrick John Hofen had two further charges preferred against him of alleged theft of certain goods, and with selling a sowing machine over which security 'had been .given. In view of the committal for trial on Friday, Air. Burnard thought that it was unnecessary that these charges should be proceeded with, and asked .permission to withdraw thorn. His AVorship granted this, and said there was ample evidence taken on Friday to allow the Crown solicitor to indict on these charges if he thought necessary. The accused was.then discharged.

It is estimated that the new tarring machine which the Wellington City Council has ordered, on the recommendation of the City Engineer, will tar any ordinary road, from pavement to pavement, at the rate of 220 yards per day. It was hoped to tar from sixteen to twenty miles of city roadways next sprin* and by this means do a great deal to minimise the dust nuisance which affects' "Wellington under present conditions. As water sprinkling is not necessary on tarred streets, the tarring process is likely to prove an eventual source of saving to the city, especially as the tarred surfaces add materially to the life of the roadways. The cost of the machine was £2OO.

The Rev. F. AV. Chatterton, Principal of Te Rau College, accompanied by Airs. Chatterton and their daughter, returned to Gisborne on. Saturday morning. Air. Chatterton left for Australia some, weeks ago to meet Airs. Chatterton, who lias been visiting the Continent of Europe for about twelve months and who returned to Adelaide, South Australia-, by the R.AI.S. Oster!oy. In conversation, with a “Times" rcoorter. Air. Chatterton said that he was greatly impressed with the apparent prosperity which is evident jtn Australia. ITe only paid flying visits to Sydney and Melbourne in passing through, but is enthusiastic regarding the City of the Churches. “T was much struck with, the stability of overyting in Adelaide,” he remarked to the pressman. “The city is excellently laid out; there are numerous lovely gardens and plenty of open breathing spaces. The early settlers must have been far-seeing men both in these respects and iir regard to the arrangement-* for the educational and scientific institutions, which are admirable.”

Pa till e Pictures at His Majesty Theatre to-night. . A Melbourne o>U«pl ram yaj . Members of the at corntaiiuncnt are reminded that .i tu afc bined practise wi 1 bo hoW - the. Oddfellows’ Hall,, t-A P- m ; Letters of admin^atiou^: estate of Hi© late Mr. if. v Mrhave 'been granted by His H )no: r o Justice Edwards, to Mrs. Ik - . Partington, on the application <n Mr. E. H. Mann. Appbhatos -for rcieirak for 24 allotments tbo tate must he J landed m < Honda v Lands Office, or at Napier on I week March 14th. Further part C; hits are given in our advertising col limns; The following figures show the quantity and value of the principui imodimts that-passed through the local C ; house for export from tile Ist to x loth inst.: Butter, 287cwtrallied at £1471; - cheese, doewt £9O, 3794 £711; tallow, 14 ton.-, ~010, wool,' 1,392,1071 b, £-53,822. During the absence of the Rev. »> - Grant at Morere, the pulpit at bt. Andrew’s Church was occupied yesterday by the Rev. F. H. Bailey In the morning the rev. gentleman took his text. “Christ Humiliated on Earth, but Triumphant in Heaven,” while at the evening service the subject of h’S discourse was “Jesus of Nazareth m the Light of His Age.” _ 7 here iv©re good congregations at botn services. At the Police Court, on Saturday morning before Mr. V - A. Barton. S.M., Rawinia Te Pai (Mr Hei) proceeded against Wi Karauria, for assaulting her at Muriwai, on February t. The defendant, who did not appear, was a brother to the informant. The evidence disclosed the fact that the informant's two children were quarre.ling and she smacked the older, ihe brother remonstrated with her lot thrashing the child, and her in tin- eye with his clenched fist. His Worship entered a conviction and fined defendant, with costs added, £-5 16s 6d.