THE UPPER HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 167, 15 July 1914, Page 4

THE UPPER HOUSE.

I There is nut very much to say in a personal scn-e about file long list nl" nominees to the I'pper House submitted by Air Masscy to bis T.x.vllcncy the Governor. Dr. Collins ln.l Mr Samuel ■are simply re.ippointed. .and the other !ninc new members are. naturally enough. I supporters of the '-Reform" policy an.l its exponents. Beside 'fills portentous truth, tlie fact that only «ne Aucklander had received a .seat pales! into insignificance. . We are well aware that Mr. Massey's excuse for thus 1 adding to the I'pp.T House his adlierclts is that he means to force Ui-rough a liill for tlie reconstniction of the Legislative Council, and that, as the Council has twice re-jecU-d bis nieasure. thli is the only Ipracticable way of peliiiii; \\-er tie dilli-i.-ulty. Hut. while this -may. sound plansI imp, it is obvious that, otthlr altwnative cr.urs.x might ea-ilv be tak.Ji. Tie Parliament Act by which tho IVitish House

of Commons can now ovcrjri.le. an obstructive I'pper House spggesta one method: the power to dissolve the. Federal Senate vested in thi- Govcrnor(.Vnernl of Australia by tli- Constitution Act indicates another. Tint Mr Massoy has not attempted employ cxpodicnts fi this kind.' In the lirst. .place, .to gain Ihis end, he has decided tn use the very method of fillit.g vacam-ics in the f ninci! which he has niosi scathingly condemned, and

which I,is own chosen system is to supersede. This, boweverj is merely gross inconsistency and it ootcrriw the Council pelha-ps .more than it ilfectr. the country just now. Hut what ij infinitely more scrionr. in this, that by tie hcVp of this specious pretext the (lovernment has now secured an Cppcr Hnuse that is presumably favourable 1.. "Keforin" views. 'I I should 'be ..bserved that the newJy-aippninted members will hold oflice I'm- seven years; there tire five ,more niemibiTs in the Council whose term will not expire (ill 1!>21>: three who willi hold their «ents till lftWi and two who will hold their seats till 101 S. With the exception of .-even life members the balance nf nine ill.'miners will retire by I'llluxinll of time during I h.i next three yeans. Hut it is clear 'from tluvc ligures that for several yean- tn cnniir- the - Re formers " will control the Cppcr Ifrnisp. And what will .be lhc position nf the Lihprn'is if they regain oflice at the next election? Hi'cii if they eboul.l secure a lurjfp majority in the Lower (House, they ■wi.ll be confronted by a. solid- phalanx of "Reformer*" in the 'Legislative Cnuncil. aide and willing (v üb-lruct an.l defeat all truly progressive nr dem.wratic legislation .-cut up in them, of coups,, it will ibe possible then for the Liberals tn make some provision t.. l.real; il.iwn oJbst nut inn on the part of iii,. Legislative Council, and no doubt this will lie done ii! due Utne by submitting the whole question tn (he electors, arul ern;-!oying scime siicb expedient as Mr. lAerpnth devised fo deai •with the recalcitrant Hoiioe of Txrrds. But though the w-i.ll nf tbe people wiTI iilfimatelv prevail, it is nn-ilc-.irable thai lhc Coper Tlnusc, as now reinforced, will lie able tn present a very sorbin.* obstacle to the onward progress of Democracy.

The foMwwing k Mr. ~li. C. Bates' weather iororaust for -_4 hours from 1) a.m. this day: ""."lie indications arc for v'aria.hlc an.l etrjng 'brtezets, but rao--,1,-rat-- to e'ronj soutlierly prevail ing. Tlu- weather wirhprobably prove squally. with heavy shortens, ak-'o 'pr-obaibly cold | ami t-hia-ng.Mt.blc. The Barcmctcr has a rasing tei'.diaicy.'' The ißwul -Nfn.il steamer Moana has adrvised, ! by wiroJoti tha.t _he will arrive ! at Wellington front Syd-n-ey at "3 a.m. to-m'orww. This is in amipllv time to allow nf '-In' Ailstralian mails being brought t» Auckland by i-he tnidikiy express fnmi WiU'mgiuii whi'.'h arrives here nn Iri.'lay -morning. The Moana i-u.ils from'Wrll-ington for S a _ Francisco nn Friday evening. Jlorses md cows that make nocturnal wanderings about the roads of the F.psom district lave often aroused the wrath of varioiu ratepayers, with the result j that the lor.rd is constantly being p.-ti-i tinned to take steps that will abate tlie | nuisance. . A last night.-, meeting of 1 the Board a ratepayer wrote in very [indignant terms, stating that it hal heenine nffessary fur him to get out nf bed at night to prevent tbe total I destructioi of his hedge and garden by hnr.-es thit had been stabled ou the public. Mr Frost, a member of the i Hoard, staled that the trouble had been j very aeuterecently because of the illness lof the Boird's ranger, but he thought that the natter would now receive the necessary tttention. Mr Clay said that Ihe matte- was one that bail always been inn easily disposed of. He thought the time had'now arrived for snnie <:ra-tie acton. It was decided that the ranger be instructed to immediately take pruceidings against the owners of tin- nffcmlitg ami. a Is.. The demand for Improved passenger , accommodation in the service between Onehiinpn md Kaglan, Kawhia. ami llnkianga, has increased so much of late that the Northern Company recently decided to make considerable improvements and alterations to the steamer Ivimu. I'lansliavo now been prepared, and it is c.\prctell that the work wijl be pro-,-:■•,',led with very Rhortlv. The specilications s'hnw that 2B cabins will be a.l,led to flit ship, each having accommodation (nt t\\"6 pib-scngcrs. Klectric light is to be installed nn the ship, and a number of othrt improvements arc to he made which will make the llimu a comfortable passcigcr vessel. Two ollicials of the Nortliirn Company arc now in Wellington in connection ' with the purchase, of tin- steamer Arapawa. whi ih. it is expected, will shortly make another addition tv the White Funnel licet. "We just secure! the option in time.'' was the remark of a member of the Auckland I'reshytiry. when discussing the suitability of] a proposed site for a church at New Lynn, lie explained that while he wal iv the land agenl's nllice, an Anglican ieame there to secure th" adjoining GCctim. "[ pointed out." added the speakc], "that we lhail an I option on this sitef' whereupon tlie Anglican remarked, "Ye would be too near each other. 1 must look elsewhere." "'lt's about the lottest thing T cvef heard of." said the resident of tue Auckland Aeeliruatisati >n Society (Lieut.Colonel W. 11. Haard) lust night when, enmmenting on the action of the Department in taking yerling trout from the stream adjoining tie society's butchery to he lilierateil inll.ako Ivolonia. lie explaincl that the pva bad in the lirst - pla.e 4.ceu pnrchasj.l from the Department from Lake Titipo. and liberated at considerable expensnto tbe society. Then. without any by-yonr-leavc or explanation of any kind tbe Department's ranger had netted |ur the society's own yearlings next its njrn butchery to stock Kntorua. It was .lci-i.1c.1 lo lodge a com- | plaint with the Milistcr. Judging ,by the apouiit of cargo offer- ! ing in Australia anj New Zealand, there seima to be little pear tor the success .of the new montljy trade to Boston land New- York. I Tlie Fedcra.l-Shire cargo steamer Kent which arrived this I morning from Sydnfy. already carries a t Inrge amount of Aiastralian cargo. and when she has) eottpleted loading at Auckland and Welliigton, it is expected that the whole of W carrying capacity of over 70(10 tons will be called into use. So great, iv fact, Siis been the demand fur cargo srjiace in tie service to America that be.th the stramersi Sussex and | llororata arc alTrtidy assured of big cargoes. The Kcnt'sails for Wellington I :it noon to-niorrnw, I A cowardly manner of obtaining j motley -was- Tcvealeij in a dhargc against I William Joseph. Dvjycr. a sto.-kily-huilt young man . j„ {'|„ Wellington Magiejtrate's Court on Monday. Tbe a.-cused was .-barged with attempting to oi>j tain from Alice l.'tiodruan the sum of C.l by means of a certain false pretcnee. Mc vvas also charged with false pretence..-, and with tho theft of a florae and harness, both offences alleged to have been committed at Auckland. A plea of guilty was entered on the fir.it charge. It was explained by Chief Detective Kroberg that about July Ist accused was staying at a private hotel. ThcTo wa* also a yonng lady visitor there who bad bpon unfortrmate enough tn lose her purse. Accused commiserated j with her. ajld said he wo-nld (help her nut of her difficulty. TTe drew trp a cheque fur £8 on the National B-nk at Aneklaud. and signed it " —. Dobson.'' the name nadcT which bo -was staying at Ore .hotel. Accused pointed out that the cheque was on an Auck land Rank, and sng|r-sted to the ynun" woman that she should go to sonip husi" nesß firm in the city, -who wonld no doubt cash it for ihrr. Tr she was successful she could kcap £.-, as n lnan and give arvused X.l. "f)f eour.v the cheqne was valueless. That was his cowardly way of getting money," concluded the detective. A sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed. On the application of the tlhief Detective, amiood was remanded to icppear at Auckland on l-ndny. The kaka Is In future to tie absolutely protected in New Zealand. This is the practical effect of an order that his bee" gazetted fry the Minister for Interna, Affairs, stating that the. kaka has ceased to be native game within the moaiiin,' of tlie Animals Protection Act. There will be no more "open seasons" for this picturesque bird. The announcement was received with entire approval by the council of the Acclimatisation Society last night. The sitting of the Auckland Presbytery was enlivened last night t>\- a burst nf laughter due to the ready wit of (be .Uev. Ivo ltertrnm. A ' minister standing behind tjhat gentleman had just reached a point in his remarks where he -used the expression, -One of the sins -was this," whe/reupon Mr. Bertram ejaculated. "J protest, Mr! Moderater, the speaker has his hand upon niv shoulder." Tlie -pnntaneous outburst nf laughter once again proved tJie falsity of the slander that tinScot is slow to sec a joke.

Few of the re-idents of Epsom are [aware that they possess in tlheir district a piece of land thai hits great po*isihilitics us a domain. The land, which lis some twelve acres in extent, frontage; 'Gillies Avenue and Church Street, and is j admirably situated for the purposes of a [park. At a meeting ol" the Domain Hoard iheld last evening, the chairman (Mr. F. 111. Wood) statin! that plans had been prepared by a landscape gardener which would." if carried out. turn the "section I into a very beautiful breathing space. The work was estimated to est CISOO, but of this the Hoard hail L2OO in hand, and there was no reason why tlie work ■a'loiild not be gone oil with at once. In tb,. opinion of the landscape gardener |wlin designed the improvements, th" I piece of' land was one of the must [piomising that he hud ever dealt with, lit was decided tn appoint a committee to fri) into the matter with tlie gardener. The matter of permanent improvements to Maiiiiky.il Road was ifiscilsse 1 at s..me length at a meeting ul" ihe Kpsoiii Komi Hoard la-t niglH. ' llu ' Chairman -tate.l that il had been suggested thai the only way nut (if the dillicultv was the achievement <if Creater Auckland, lie thought, however, that such a solution might entail waiting fur ten rears or more, which would be simply wasting time, lie suggested that the Board should wait until the Government brought down its bill dealing with , roads and" bridges, and then a strong appeal should lie made fur a substantial vote. Mr Macfarlunc static! thai il was also a war-te of time to wait for the Government. They would probably | Uriel when the bill did come down, he | -aid. that little nr nn provision bad \ been made for city roads. Mr Clay [agreed with Mr Macfarlane. stating that i the Government bill would probably deal I with country roads. Tlie matter was | left iv the hands nf the chairman, who I undertook tn interview local body representatives and bring about another meeting. AVhen l)r Tiiaiker returned from Sydney he reported that Dick Tims! was going tn make a serious attempt to regain his lost honour- as champion sculler of the world. Arnst has been in retirement bo long, however, -hit a go_.l many people were sceptical a- tv the big fellow's intentions. A letter received by a Christchurch sport-man fro.ii Sydney nn Tuesday, however, says there is absolutely nn doubt about tbe New Zealand.'!- making another effort to win buck his „ld position a- the world* sculling champion. When Artist's intention nf returning tn sculling was lirst published In- did not immediately take I.i-, residence on the Parriiui.'.'.ta River and commence work, and this lent colour tv the statement that lhc report was a canard. Instead of doing this Arnst has gone away to the country, aud according to the letter he is engage 1 felling timber and doing all serfs of tough wnrk tn hard.en himself up before actual training on lhc water. Artist is located at Mount Victoria, and is getting "as hard as nail-.'' lie is varying his work considerably, and by the lime' he returns should be in tine condition tn settle down tn bard training in his boat. He will go back to the' Parramatta in alxntt a week's time, and front then will continue to row every day until he is in a position to know whether he I ! iran coaie back to form. j "I think a term in gaol is the only , suitable .penalty." said Mr Frost, at a meeting of the Kpsout Koad Boiwd last I night, when the furious driving of motor cars along Mannkau Koad was beingj discussed. It was pointed out by -several i members that the penalty of ten shillings jor a pound usually inflicted by a magisj tra-to was quite inadequate. The olletiI dcr.- ai-peared to Ik mostly taxi cab | I driver.-. Mr F. Tl. Wood, the chairman, stated that he thought tbe reckless driving of motors was such a menace to life that the matter should be brought before the Minister of Justice. Mr Clark moved that the Hoard's inspector lie instructed to sii_peiul taking any further notice of fast driving, so that the higher authorities -would be compelled to Lake some steps. This motion was, however, reluctantly ruled out of i • order by tbe chairman. It was nlt-i- ---| nmtely decided tv communicate with the Minister of .lustier, asking that j heavier penalties be inflicted for the i offence. I The bulk of tine evidence that has br-on 1 j collected by acclimatisation societies regarding ..possums has been in favour 'lot' the little Australian. This was the observation made ut last nighfs meeting ,lof the council of the Auckland Aoclinliii I tisation Society. Auckland, iliowever. has ! not had •much Irst-hand knowledge ot "opossums, so tltat an inquiry ""am tnc . Bay of Islands society regarding the advisibility of their proposed introduction I in tho far north was referred on to Wellington for fuJl consideration. The northern society desired information as to [ the opossum's alleged destruetiveness to ' orchards. t A meat war Is developing among t Paimcrston itratohers. One butcher, who - undersold ibv one penny per pound for a - considerable period, is currently rctputed to have acquired an immense share of r tlie town's trade. Other butchers nave i now dropped their ■prices, and placards 1 announcing the new prices are a feature r of tbe chops. 1 The directors of the Xew Zealand Inc smranoc Cotr.paov have declared an in- " terim dividend at tme rate of three 3 shillings per share for the half-year 1 ended May 3 let. Mr. William Adams. Bal-ehitha Gov- " ornmont rabbiter, has had to enter the j Dunedhi Jlo&pital suffering from Tlhosphorus poisoning. It is stated that only . after years al this work has the poi- , don affected the system of Mr Adams. ? The Napier Borough Council is eon--8 sidcring the desirability of establishing s a superannuation scheme for its em- " plovccs. 1 ' A telegraphic message has ibecn received f renin Mr. George Mack-ay (of Mackay's Clothing Corner. Queen Street) •' who i.s at 'present in Woßington. stating * that -lie lias purchased a large quantity 1 nf men's stilus overcoats, hats, pyjamas. ' etc., at exceptionally low prices. tWise 1 men will save their money, and watch ' this paper for particulars nf these Iwr- ', gains.—C-Ail.) , This week's "N.Z, Sporting and ■> Dramatic Review" is now on sale, at T all booksellers and news agents. The issue is- brimful of up-to-date illustrations, the principal of which include, a - ftdl page, picture of Miss Sylvia Bremer, t nf the Argylc case: two full pages. t King's College Old Hoys' Ivcunion; r groups and snirpoiiots: full page. Ilnntt invj .Scenes at Oisbnntc; full page, f.'iss borne Races: full page. Lipton's New f Yacht Shamrock I\'.: full page. Grand -. National at I'iemington: English League -. Touring Team; Wellington Rugby i i.c-agiie: tioxins; ai Dimedin; Hockey s Teams: Ponsonby Cricket: Knglish. Ausi tralian and New Zealand Racing; Stage: f Coif: and Motor l'i-f.ir.v - a striking seriec.— lAd.)