PAELIAMNETARY TRIMMERS AND POLITICAL HIGHWAYMEN.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 59, 7 September 1905, Page 4

PAELIAMNETARY TRIMMERS AND POLITICAL HIGHWAYMEN.

The debate on the Premier's land resolutions kept the House of Representatives going again all yesterday evening, and it is devoutly to be wished that his expectation of winding up the debate today may be realised. For -yesterday's proceedings it may at least be said that they were not quite 60 demoralising in their listlessness as those of the previous evening, though the standard reached was still very far from a high one. There are a few points of resemblance between the Prime Minister of Britain and the Prime Minister of this colony, yet the insincerity and evasion which the one has systematically displayed with regard to the fiscal question finds a very close parallel in the attitude of the other towards the land question, and unfortunately tho parallel still holds in the degrading effect of these unmanly tactics upon the Chambers upon which they are practised by the titular leaders who are,. afraid to lead them. Last night the debate was resumed by Sir Joseph Ward, who walked the tight rope as skilfully as the star of the company, and with a good deal moie dignity. He expressed the opinion that a question upon which such divergent opinions were held was one to be approached in a spirit of compromise, and compromise was indeed writ as large upon the face of his speech as upon that of the resolutions to which he was speaking. Personally, he preferred the 999 years' lease to the freehold, but he believed that public opinion had now set the other way and favoured a limited freehold. From this he deduced the moral that if public opinion forced the matter upon Parliament, then Parliament should consider the matter calmly and dispassionately, with a view to ovolving the system best suited to the needs of the colony. Such an attitude represents the very quintessence of compromise, not to say abject capitulation ; it avowedly deprives statesmen and politicians of all initiative or even critical power; it converts them into mere chips on tlie stream of public opinion, which they must follew in all its windings, eddies, and back waters, withoutventuring to dictate its course or to bhape their own. Where Sir Joseph Ward abandoned tho oil of compromise for the solvents of criticism, he was dealing with an element less suited to his powers. To suggest that the difference between the Opposition fl.nd the Government on the land question is that the former have declared for tho coercive breach of contracts and the latter for the voluntary principle is utterly ab&urd. It would be more currect to say that the Opposition have declared for the freehold, and the Government, for nothing at all; but in any cose there is no more coercion about the Opposition proposals than about the present' law. The Opposition merely ask that the terms of existing bargains should be altered by the State so as to give its tenants the option of purchase. Such a concession would be voluntary on the part of the State, and its acceptance would be equally voluntary on the part of the tenants. There would be no coercion at all, because both parties must be agreed before any change would take place. The real objection to the proposals of the Opposition is thnt they involve the total alienation of the public estate, which should not be tolerated on any terms, and also the alienation of it on terms which,- even if the principle is conceded, are absolutely unjust. In a speech which was enough of itself to ledeem last night's debate from the reproach .of colourless mediocrity, Mr. Millar refened to the Farmers' Union as "politicil highwaymen," and we do not see that robbery is too strong a term to apply to the proposal to authorise the sale of Crown land at less than its present value. To tliis request of the political highwaymen the Opposition returns a unanimous "Yes" ; some of the Governmen pirty answer "Yes" and others "No," while their lenders say "Ye'-No." What commends itself to 'the bland Post-master-Gene nil as the quintessence of compromise excites the contempt of the ordinary man us the ne plus ultra of cowardice and imbecility.

At a meeting of the Election Committee of the Independent Political Labour League last night, it wan decided to open the general election campaign i& tne first week in October. Consideration was given to a scheme for esfcab lishing a -weekly or fortnightly publication during the currency of the electoral! campaign, and a sub-conimittee was appointed to go into details. Mrs. W. E. Collins will hrH the silvej putter of the Wellington v ilf Club foi the nest twelve months, as she has won it four times. The club's junior meda} for ladies has been won by Miss Stafford. The action of Dr. Gibb, to which strenuous exception was taken 6orne daya ago by certain members of 'the House of Representatives, meote with the approval oi the Bible- in-schools Referendum League. At a meeting of that 'body yesterday afternoon tho following resolution was passed :—" That this TLxecutiv© Committee heartily endorses the ac* ition of the chairman (the R«v. Dr. Gibb) in calling the attention of oerUift members of Parliament to the non-fulfil-ment of the pledges given toy them to the League; and further strenuously protests against the doctrine sought to be set up that members of Parliament aro exempt from legitimate criticism." The ninth annual meeting of members of the No. 1 Petone Co-operative Building Society was held last evening, Mi. H. Damant presiding. The directors' report stated that during the year appropriations amounting to £1800 had been taken up, and £903 paid to members withdrawing from the society*. During the past nine years £13,900 had been advanced as loans to members, leaving a sum of £400 in hand for further appropriations. The profit and loss account shows a credit ba'ance pf £678, of which £330 has been divided among and credited to members. The receipts for the year were £3332. In discussing the balancesheet Mr. Piper drew attention to a previous resolution whereby the directors were instructed to divide the amount standing to the credit of profit and loss account at the end of the last financial year, which the balance-sheet stated was £520, whereas only £330 had been so treated. The effect of this, Mr. Piper contended, was that persons taking up shares after August, 1904, would participate in the next triennial division of profits in the division of £190, which was in contravention of the shareholdeis' decision and unfair. He moved- that tho Secretary be instructed to amend such credits to a full pro rata share of the £520. A long and somewhat live'.y discussion ensued, the motion ultimately being agreed to. Vacancies in the directorate . were filled by the election of Messrs. A. W. Watson, A. Anderson, and P. M'Arthur. Mr. J. W. Powell ■was re-elected shareholders' auditor. A ballot for an appropriation resulted in the members represented by the first and second marbles drawn deciding to forego, the third draw falling to Mr. A. Anderson, who receives a loan of £200. This not extinguishing the' credit, a second ballot was drawn, which: fell to Mr. J. Parrant, who, holding one share, receives a loan of £100. On the motion of Mr. Caverhill, seconded by Mr. Piper, a. vote of thanks and confidence in the directors was agreed to. As the sale closes on Saturday, buyers of drapery are urgently requested to visit the house of Pearson and Co., Mnnnersstreet, where the whole stock is cut down in price in order to make a clearance.— Advt. The New Zealand Express Company, Ltd., makes a specialty of handling fufniture locally, and also of packing and shipping same. Experienced and rehotok men. Rates moderate. Telephone, No. 92.— Advt. Munt, CottreJl, atid Co., gtneral carriers, Customs and forwarding agent*,. Storage a speciality. Furniture packed dud removed. Office : Queen's Chambers. Telephone No. 23. — Advt. Ladies' blouses will be in great demand during the summer season. We have therefore catered to supply every want in this department. Iv lact, every blouEe was bought and selected under Mr. C. Smith's personal supervision. Mr. Smith's sj-et<>m of paying spot cash on all purchase enables us to sell goods in every department at leaet 20 per cent, lower than the a.verago prices asked for similar articles. Lovely designs in white embroidered linen blouses, embroidered muslin and silk blouses, in white or co.oure; also large varieties in mousselaino do laino, voiles, and mousselaino de soie. Inspection invited. O. Smith, Cash Draper, Cuba-st.— Advt.