MR. TOLE'S AUSTRALIAN VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 115, 15 May 1906, Page 5

MR. TOLE'S AUSTRALIAN VISIT.

VIEWS AND IMPBJESSIOIfS.

The Hon. J. A. Tole, Crown Prosecutor, returned from a visit to Australia by the Mokoia on Sunday, and to-day a representative of the "Star" had a chat with him concerning his trip.

"One hardly knows whether one 19 glad or sorry to come back," he said in reply to a question. "Fot while there is a big criminal session ahead there is nothing in one's Australian visit to diminish one's loTe for New Zealand, and in especial for beautiful Auckland. I have been away for over two months, and 'humorously,' I suppose I most gay I enjoyed myself—you will understand that when I say I was accompanied by my whole family. Sydney and Melbourne are two great and prosperous eitiee, and what struck mc on arrival at Melbourne was the great provision of parka, recreation grounde, and beautiful | open spaces, which axe beautifully and tastefully cultivated, and are ablaze with the season's flowers. This makes the place very refreshing and pleasing to the eye. It is well to note that the small spaces are not fenced in as axe those in Auckland, but are simply.defined by rough border stones, the authorities trusting to the good sense of the people preserving the flowers. The people seem to be their own police in a great meeeore, and one sees notices to this effect, "These gardens belong to the public, and it is the duty of eftesens to protect their own property." Such notices appeal to popular responsibilffcy and I saw no aign of injury or destruc- , taon of-any kind whatever. Melbourne strikes mc as an artificial city, ft ra as money has made it. It is not endowed with any beauty by nature, except per- *£ l° le ' 3 tonality after Mis.) The people are enterprising, and Kan^L^ t0 Uke M varx fU3 Tariety shaw 3) ha^ a (^^

"Then as to Sydneyf" £ itt *?*«»« residence within bour both from the picturesque and the commercial points of riew ly rery fine, but in one respect Auckland seems more attractive; thus the beauty of Sydney bursts on you only after you have passed through the narrow gateway of the Heads, while in Auckland you have in the »pproaehes'a blendine of the cuter waters with their lovel7 island features and the placid calm and lovehness of the inner harbour proper Coming down the eoa-it the other da/we passed the Kings a t midnight, and had the whole day along the coast-line. The scene was the universal admiration of all the passengers—nothing in the world, it seemed to mc could surpass the scene which we beheld on Sunday." "And what is the present condition of public affairs in Australia?"

"Well, when I arrived in Sydney, to judge by the newspapers, Australia seemed totea land of political scandals. The papers were MI of inquiries relating to Railway Commissioners and. their relations with each other, prosecutions of public men for alleged bribery in connection with the public lands, and military inquiries combined to make the visitor consider that the state of affairs existing in New Zealand redounded to the credit of our public men and the Departments. 1 met Mr Deakm, Prime iMinister of the Comonwealth, and Messrs Irvine (ex-Premier), and Bent (Premier of Victoria;. Mr Deakm ia a cultured literary man, and possesses great refinement of spe&rh. Mr Irvine, who may be a candidate for the Federal Parliament at next election, is a strong antiSocialist. He possesses a. well-ordered mind, but on hearing TiiVn speak I was ' disappointed at his iack of histrionic effect. Mr Bent resembles In many respects, and probably emulates, Mr Seddon in the political arena, and though without our Premier's commanding presence and volubility, he is tactful, practical and popular. The approaching Federal campaign will resolve itself into a bitter fight between the Labour or Socialist Party and' those opposed to it. The Labour Party, which Mr Seddon might call the humanist party, seems to be very powerfully organised under Mr J. C. Watson, who ia a yery solid and moderate man, though leader of the labour organisation. I think the party will be successful at the polls." "In what estimation ia New Zealand held?"

"New Zealand and Mi Seddon are almost interchangeable, these stand high in the estimation and admiration of the people and public men of the Commonwealth. They realise that Mr Seddon does not fear to seize the psychological moment, and either carry out reform or extend the functions of the State, and I feel confident that he will receive a warm welcome wherever he goes in. Australia, and that his views will have countenance and effect. I was glad to ob- \ serve that even with, regard to poit improvements tie authorities are is com- ( mimication with Auckland and Wellington Harbour authorities in order to ascertain their views on port facilities. One thing wMeh struck mc wae the dearth of new 3of New Zealand. While absent one likes to keep an courant wrfch events in the colony, and It ia very dim? cult to get information or news. Oils can go to the library or shipping offices for the New Zealand paper*, bat they are sot bound to kMf that, uft tn«

,--..,.; -*.;.. .. .__ .- ,--.--:■- .... »...,.„....- ~ _,„ .-:■ ":;:;::.•■ establishment of a repositdiy for fhe- : New Zealand papers would he"very use*- >';v ifeL Speatmg- of *- - nothing to coinpare, wiQi the flluatratel papers of this cbloiry and oi Auckland in particnlar. All readers admit that New ■ Zealand is incomparably in advance o£ ; anything produced in Australia."

T suppose you attended the jubilee of the Melbourne University?" "Yes. Though I was not a delegate appointed by the University as a member of the Senate I accompanied Set Robert Stont as the representative of the Xew Zealand University. We extended the cogratulations of all the Sew Zealand colleges to the Helfcourne University. "There were 40 delegates present from different colleges, and about 200 representatives, and. the reception scene was of a most imposing 'character." *

,£ Did Sir Robert Stout get a good hearing?"

"Well, the students were very 'noisy on reception day, and though they gave an excellent hearing to the GovernoxGeneral and to Professor who is very popular with the students, owing to the fact that he assists in. the writing of eonrie Greek verses, and takes an iaterest in the sports, many other professors were sung down. Sir Robert Stout got a broken hearing, and you eouid hear interpolations such as "He's Stout," followed by the reply,, "But Tommy's Stouter;" this being a reference to the rotundity of Victoria's Premier, Mr T. Bent. On the whole he got a very fsrTf hearing. The noises of the students stdv prised a Tokio University who said,their own students were almost too quiet, and it is a revelatioi to him to bear the row which the students made. A dramatic incident occurred on reception, day. Professor Vasilyef, representative of the St. Petersbirrg Daport Universities, spoke of education as having- no nationality and making for peace. Turning towards the Japanese representative, Professor Tshi Kawa, he said that he was prepared to hold-ant the hand of friendship. lso sooner was this said than the Jap advanced, and the two shook hands amirf vociferous cheering."

"Did you visit the Gearts?"

"Yes. There is a very large volume of business constantly flowing through, and I could not help thinking that we in New Zealand had very little to learn from their methods. We are ahead in. the matter of allowing counsel the right of challenge of jurors, and as the result ef a letter which I wrote to the 'Sydney Morning Herald , that system is being adopted there in place of that of the irritating system of preconcerted signals between counsel and client."

Tn two points we are behind them— the aboEtion of grand and coroners' juries. Twenty-four years ago a bill which I introduced providing for the abolition of grand juries passed its second reading. Had it become law, many thousands of pounds- would have been saved in bringing witnesses- and constables to town to give evidence on bills. Tn Australia I lunched with my fellow class-mate, Sir Edmund Barton, now High Court Judge. Sir Samuel Griffito, and Mr. Justice O'Connor, and the company was congenial, for w« were alt students of the Sydney- University. Me. Tole stated that *lie indeterminate sentence was apparently working wejl in New South Wales, as was the Wirst Offenders Probation Act. wMelt was modelled on the Nevr Zealand law, but was not so extended in its scope.

Speaking on question of: temperance, Mr. Tole siJd thst there seemed to be a greater mission fjl Australia, than in New Zealand for the. teiajeEanee cause. He was surprised at the great number of inferfcr public-nouses, and of the extensive use of that even -worse evil, the bottle license, wHch enabled the family grocer to sell mtoii£an.ta in. bottles. He was present at "Father: Hays' farewell in Melbourne, and speaking at that meeting referred to these two evfls. He believad that their abolition was coming. Mr. Bent, Prime Minister, was in favour of this.