LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 106, 31 October 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The reply of the Minister of Internal Affairs to our criticism of his action in regard to the "Nelson system" clause 6f the Education Bill was much what we had expected, and except in one respect is entirely satisfactory. Mr. Bell was not expressing his own opinion, but merely that of the Statutes Revision Committee of the Council when he moved that the clause be struck out. Anybody in a public position must sometimes move ex ofneio a resolution which does not accord with liis personal views, and that was the Minister's position, in the present case. On the other hand, a public man who is forced into that position is always free to dissociate himself personally from the course which is forced upon him in his official or represents,, tive capacity. If he fails to take this step, he has only himeelt' to blame for any misunderstanding that may arise. The misunderstanding becomes practically inevitable if, ac in the present case, he gives a reaaon for his action which is no reason. The virtuou* indignation which Mr. Carncross wasted over oui criticism of the Minister's action would, therefore, have been better kept for some more deserving object. How could we or anybody know" what took place in a Committee of the Council sitting behind closed doors when not a single word of it was made public? Our criticism hasdonp all concerned a service by eliciting th& truth. The unsatisfactory point in Mr. Bell' 6 explanation is his statement that it was not the matter but the form 01 the clause that was objected to. If 60, was it not tne duty of the Revising Com' mittee of a Revising Chamber to amend the form, so that the spirit and intent ' of the clause might take effect? We raised this very point hypothetically two days ago. "It is possible,' 1 we urged, "that Mr. Bell's legal mind ha* discovered some difficulties in the clause which have escaped the lay mind. If 60, it was clearly his duty to point out and clear them up." We are still of that opinion. Nobody ever suapectrid Mr. Bell of a personal capitulation to the Bible-in-Schools League, but if he has really allowed a* clause designed for the extension of the Nelson system to go through in a defective form he ha-s missed a good chance of completing the defence against the League's propaganda. A "stonewall" by the Opposition on the Iron and Steel Industries Bill last night and early this morning ensured a- continuance of the session into next week. Opposition speakers declared for a State enterprise in preference to the proposed system of bounties. The Bill was passed in the form desired by the Government. The Legislative Council agreed to a reinstatement of a clause in the Education Bill, enabling committees to permit the use of school buildings for voluntary moral and religious instruction, outside the regular secular houi'B._ Tile House rose at 2.40 a.m. The Council passed the following Bills : Inspection of Machinery, Wellington City Milk Supply, War Contributions Valida tion, Mortgages Kxtonßioti Amendment, New Zealand Loans Amendment, Aid to Public Works Amendment, and Pensions Amendment. The Council rose at 8.45 p.m., and resumed at 11 a.m. to-day. Owing to an unusal concession in buying, Messrs Kirkcaldio and Stains, Ltd., are able to ofier for sale new and fashionable Dress Materials at about one-third below their usual values Ladies may now picture many smart additions to their summer wardrobe because of these remarkably low prices which a trade exigency brings to you.— Advt. Renowned for our caps. When you have once worn one of our shape* we guess you'll repeat your order. Geo. Fowlde, Ltd., Mamiere-Bto'eet.— Advt.

Last week an amendment to the electoral law was passed by both Houses of Parliament reducing the time necessary for residential qualifications to vote in a district from three months to one month. This Act has not come into force, according to an answer given Sir Joseph Ward by the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon. Mr. Massey said the Bill was not law yet. Sir Joseph Ward : " Yet it has been passed by both Houses of the Legislature. Peopk arc being refused their rights under the Bill right throughout the country " Mr. Mossey said he believed the Bill had not yet been signed by His Excellency the Governor. Sir Joseph urged that as the Bill had been passed over a week ago people ought by this time have an opportunity of enjoying the privileges due to them under it It practically meant the disfranchisement of thousands of people. What was the use of the law when people could not avail themselves of it. The Prime Minister promised to give the matter his immediate attention. Further particulars were presented to Parliament yesterday afternoon by the Minister of Finance of the initiatory action he had taken in the matter of asking the Imperial Government to guarantee loans during war time for the different dominions of the Empire. The first move in the matter had come from himself in a cable to the High Commissioned, dated 26th August, in which he had suggested that the Imperial Government be asked to guarantee a New Zealand war loan. This suggestion had been carried out and the Imperial Government had agreed w the proposal as stated in the cable news. Sh Joseph Ward said he had .been permitted to see ir confidence the documents relating to the rates to be charged on the loans and he was quite satisfied with the arrangement. The details, of course, could not be disclosed. In reference to the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill which is now before Parliament, the impression has apparently got abroad that the Bill proposes to compel all shopkeepers other than tobacconists) who sell tobacco, cigarettes, etc., as a side-line of their businesses to close their shops at the same hours as tobacconists. The Bill does not make this provision. The Act already provides that the sale of tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars in shops kept by storekeepers and others shall cease at the hour at which tobacconists' shops are required to close. The Bill further provides that every shopkeeper who sells tobacco will require to take out a license and pay a small fee for same, and in the event of his being convicted for a breach of the original Act, as abovementioned, for having sold tobacco after the hour fixed for the closing of tobacconists' shops, the conviction will be endorsed upon his license. Power is also given in the Bill to the Court to cancel the license of any such shopkeeper for such period as it thinks fit. T)L actors of the Wellington Gas Company met to-day, and resolved to donate £50 to the Fund for the Relief of the Poor of Great Britain and Ireland and Belgium. Replying to a question by the Hon. A. Ngata in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey said he believed that provision could be made for polling booths for members of the Maori Expeditionary Force, who will be in camp when the election takes place. A fourteen days' refresher course (voluntary) for officers and N.C.O.'s of the Territorial Force will be held from 16th to 28th November, at a locality to be determined. No pay will be allowed, but expenses both ways will be permissible, and rations and lodgings will be provided. Names of those desirous of attending should be handed in before 4th November. This year the New Zealand Year Bo( has been rather late in appearing, am the attention of the Prime Minister was ' called to the fact b;/ Mr. G. W Russdll in Parliament yesterday afternoon. Mr Massey announced later that he had made enquiries and ascertained that the Year Book was now in the bauds of the printer, and would be ready very shortly. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Watson, of Nelson, have no less than four sons in the Expeditionary Forces. The eldest, "\h: "Wid" Watson, an Australian veprcsnntative footballer, is with the Australian forces in New Britain, and has been in the righting line. Another son is a gunner in the "D" Battery at Samoa, another is a corporal in the artillery section of the Main New Zealand Force, and the fourth son is in training at Trentham for the reinforcements. Steps are being taken in Napier to obviate any further trouble with the electric wires through the strong winds causing short circuits. The engitteel 'Mr J. F Warren) is putting on the wives wooden discs treated with paraffin wax, which are situated opposite each other and thus prevent the wires from coming into contact. The device, which is Mr. Warren's own invention, has already been used in several places, and all the bad positions \yill be similarly treated as soon as possible. Four prisoners will come before Mr. Justice Hosking at 10 a.m. on Tuesday i next for ' sentence. Included in this number are two Maoris, who have committed breaches of the terms of their probation orders. One, Taimona Karetu, waß in March last, at Napier, admitted to probation on three charges of theft of bicycles, and the other. Bernard Tamatea Walden, was given probation in May, 1913, for the theft of a motor bicycle. The other two prisoners are Patrick Joseph O'Connor (forgery at Wellington) and George F. Sievers (thflft at Masterton). At to-day's bitting of the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., two first-offending inebriates, including a female, were convicted and discharged. Thomas Reeves, charged with being helplessly drunk, admitted five previous convictions within the last aix months. He was fined £3, in default one month in gaol. " Clifford William Frederick Parrant, a lad just over sixteen years of age, was charged with criminally assaulting another male Ho was arrested at Lower Hutt yesterday. On the application of Chicf-T)elcetive Broberg, accused was temanded until Wednesday next, bail being fixed at £50, with sureties to that amount. No fewer than 47 applications have been received for tha position of manager of the Auckland municipal fish market For iiwimming at the bays ; best selection of costumes, neck to knee Is 6d to 6s 6d, two garment 2s lid to 8s 6d, at Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Mannerfc-strcet.--Advt. The battle for supremacy is ahuiys going on. Against all others we art* first for quick, safe delivery of parcoir-. We send to any address. NZ. Exprws Co., Ltd., 87-91, Customhouse-quay. - Advt. A visitor from London and Now York staites that one of the first things that strikes 8 newcomer here h tho remarkably smart attive of the lfwliftt. During tho Istsfc ten veßi':< lie htw lived in Now York, Loii' don, and Paris, and ho states that, in none of these cities do you s»o finer gmwonts than you do hero. It stand? to reason that when Mcwi'*. C. Smith, of Cubiwstreot, have resident bikers in these fashion cctittos they can she/ such beautiful garment* as tlioy have tins seasou. Our representative noticed some o' tho most charming Raca Frocks in ther. windowH that have over been displayed in this city. Ladies of rotl Be»cnt-»lrret and Fifth-avenue tasto will do well to pay a visit to O, Smith's now Showroom", at 06, 98, 100, 102, Cubft'gtroGt.— Advt.