The Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1910.

Evening Star, Issue 14530, 5 December 1910, Page 4

The Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1910.

It is deeply to b9 regretted that the House of Representatives should A National have disgraced itself on Scandal. the last day of the session by voting £2,500 as " compensation " to the notorious J. J. Meikle, We are afraid that' the member for Mat-aura, who led tho opposition to the proposal, did not display much skill or determination, in dealing with the ! matter. iAlk>waace muet be made for him

as a somewhat inexperienced parliamontarian ; but we have no hesitation in saying that all the forms of tho House should have- been used—and they might have been successfully used—to preserve the count 17 from what is simply a national scandal. Small credit attaches to the Prime "Minister and tho Leader of the Opposition for their joint complaisance, in respect to tiio impudent demand of IMeiklo and the Meikleites. On tho other hand, the Minister of Commerce showed some degree of consistency, seeing that ho at least supported tho reduction from £5,000 to £2,500; but the other Ministerial AJ'Kenzie, who was anli-Moikleitc in 1908, does not appear to havo had the courage of his convictions. How much of the £2,500 will go to Meikle, and how much to the Meikleites, wo neither know nor care ; but wo do know that there has been eome very strango manoeuvring in connection with the business. And, having regard to-all the circumstances, the evidence, and ihe involved, wo emphatically assert that the. New Zealand Pi.'liament never authorised a. moro unwarrantable payment than that which was voted on Saturday. Perhaps some of thoso who havo been opposed to the claim may be inclined to iind comfort in the reflection that' a nuisance has been got rid of; but relief may bo too dearly bought at the. cost of a vital principle; and, besides, who shall say that Meikle and the parliamentary Meikleites will not bo back next year for tho balance of the £5,000? No doubt he will be required to pledge himself to make no further demands; but ho did that years ago. To J. J. Meikle pledges belong to the same, negligible category as trulhI telling, ft is pertinent to remark that when grievous injustice is really suffered in consequence of the blundering of tho Courts—as in a too memorable instance or. tho West Coast —tho Government strenuously resist all applications for financial redress. It takes a Meiklo to arouse their sympathies and liberality—with the public money.

In order that between the present date and that of the General Election the, constituencies in Otago and Southland may have opportunities of thinking furiously over thin scandalous misappropriation o£ the public funds, we append a table showing those who on this occasion preferred Expediency to Duty. Of those who returned to their homes after pairing, nothing can be said ; but these who either intentionally abstained from voting or walked out of the Hocse rather than record their opinions should bo called to account by their constituencies. Absent or unaccounted for, unless paired : Arnold Okev Bollard Poland Graham Poole Greenslade % Rhodes Hunan Seddon Hardy Sidey .Lawry Thomson, J. C. Ngata Witty Of the above. .Messrs Greenslade, Hardy, Nawry, Ngata, Seddon, Thomson (Riverton), and Witty were in Wellington, but abstained from voting. Of those who opposed the vote in 1908 the following have either passed over to the majority or do not sit' in the p repent House : K. G. Allen, Chapplo, Flatman, Gray, Houston, Lethbridge, Macpherson, .Major, Donald Reid, Tanner, Wood. A. L. D. Fraeer, Remington, and Hornsby.

The aftermath of the "red pamphlet" discussion: When the member for Christchurch North was arguing on Saturday for special recognition of the splendid service rendered by Mx Tyers, of the Land and Income Tax Department, in connection with the Bowron Bros.' prosecutions, he was saluted by loud cries of "dog" from tho Opposition benches.

The Conservatives or Unionists (for the ■ terras are interchange-

The able) appear to have Ceneral Election, gained a slight advantage in tho first day's pollings—though, at our present time of writing, wo are not suro that Saturday's results aro all to hand. It may bo worth while to point out that tho trend of events from day to day is best gathered by observing, not tho total numbers returned on each side, but tho number of seats which havo been transferred from ono ( party to tho other—bearing in mind that the Opposition must effect a net gain of 6omo sixty scats in order to destroy the Ministerial majority. Our " Swing of the Pendulum" list will show tho real significance of each day's record. So far, tho Opposition apparently have secured a not gain of three seats. They havo won seats at Grimsby, Darlington, Warrington, Wigan, Ashton-under-Lyno, South Salford, and King's Lynn; while they havo had to hand over to tho Government party South-west Manchester, Roche.jter, Exeter, and Peckham. Tho Liberal victory in South-west Manchester is not surprising, the Conservatives having only gained tho seat in January in consequence of tho splitting of the Liberal and Labor interests. On the other hand, tho Opposition gains at Salford (which is practically a part of Manchester), Warrington, and Wigan indicate a certain weakening of Lancashire Liberalism—though the Liberals will justifiably rejoice over the retention of the famous North-west Manchester seat. That talented but rather unlucky champion of Tariff Reform, Mr Bonar Law, tried hard to securo a reversal of January's decision; but Sir George Kemp has held his own, and Mr Law (not for the first time) will be on tho look out for a quiet refuge. Special interest appears to havo centred at Great Grimsby, where Sir George Doughty last his scut to the Liberals on the first day of tho January elections. Mr Lloyd George, it may be remembered, waft there on the polling day, and had to escapo "silently, secretly, and surreptitiously" to tho neighboring town of Louth. The Conservative Leader spoke at the Lincolnshire seaport on Friday night, and Mr Winston Churchill (a very modern Herminius) dashed Tight across tho country from Cheshire- and displayed hisup-to-dato resourcefulness by replying to " fragments" of Mr lialfour's speech, which kept arriving per motor. The Home Secretary is a doughty champion, but Sir Gcorgo is Doughty with a capital, and the representation of Grimsby is again in the hands of tho Opposition. One of the outstanding features of Saturday's results is the reduced polling in comparison with the returns of last January. This is noticeable in almost every instance,, and would seem to suggest that a certain proportion of the electors cannot be bothered to vote twice in one year. Of course, it is too ciriv to bo gauging ultimate results, but our "sporting conjecture" of Saturday does not look amiss.

When the members of the' Hospital and Charitable .Aid Board The Press meet to-night', it is l 0 Antl he hoped that they will The Hospital, recognise, tho unmistakable trend of public opinion regarding tho issue of Publicity versus Obscurantism in connection with public institutions in general and the Dunedin Hospital in particular. If they have any true sense of the character of their representative position, they will flatly refuse to cndor.so the preposterous recommendations which the InspectorCeneral, in ait obsolete spirit of bureaucratic bumptiousness, lias thought lit to make; and will unequivocally disclaim approval of the dangerous doctrine which stigmatises a reasonable outspokenness as rank disloyalty. We tell them plainly that if they dismiss Nurse Woodward for having '•allowed a reporter to interview her," or if they take a serious view of l)r Whetler's "breath of discipline'' iu giving a Press representative admittance to one of the hospital wards, they are likely to have to I'aeo a mingled manifestation of public resentment and public ridicule.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Saturday, Mr Wilford complained that an Kuglish visitor had " commandeered " tho Wnihaha Stream, which is in the Taupo district, for fishing purposes, lie eaid that the visitor cl.iimed to have got a lease from the natives, under which ho had the. exclusive, right to foil the stream. It was his (Mr WilfordV) opinion that the natives had no right, to give such a lease. Would the Hon. Mr Carroll explain ihe position.': Mr Carroll fiaid that he. had made inquiries into 'tho matter, 'there was nothing on record to show that lho natives had given any such leat-o to any Europeans. At anv rate, the. ownership was such that no such lease could he given until tho matter came before, the Land Board.

The question of luggage on tramcars came before tho Wellington City Council, when it was decided, on the recommendation of the Tramway Committee, to make, tho following arrangements during the holidays: —" That a box car for luggage be run behind tho oar .meeting the, heavy traffic trains, and that luggage which cannot be carried in the passenger car be charged for as follows:—All luggage, such as handbags of ordinary dimensions and weight, the same rate as passengers; luggage of a bulkv nature, such as large portmanteaus, 3d aiiy distance within the city." Tho 'Sydncv Morning Herald' says: Mr Sydney Kidman, the cattlo king, has sold Warenda (Q.) to Mr Hesketh Williams,, of New Zealand. This holding contains 5,000 square miles—3,3oo,ooo acres — and the new owner has decided on a vigorous policy of wool production. Its capacity for sheep is estimated at half a million. The average rainfall is a trifle over llin. Tho head station is 104 miles directly south of Mount Klliott, and 168 miles north-west of Winton. it would make at least half a dozen big squattages, and it is reported that tho owner intends to arrange subdivisions. On Warenda there are twentysix artesian bores. As tho sinking is shallow, other bores will no doubt be put down.

The vexed question of the delay that has taken place over tho settlement of the old soldiers' claims cropped up in tho House of Representatives again on Saturday. .Mr Herries, who brought up tho matter, said that ho sincerely trusted that there would bo no further delay. Members: "Hear, hear." Mr T. E. Taylor said that if the payments wero long delayed the money would ho only of us© for paying tho i*>st of tending to tho veterans' grave... He was sure "the Prime Minister would not relish his trip Homo if ho remembered that there were-numbers of old veterans in need in Now Zealand. Ho wished to know when tho claims would bo settled. Sir Joseph Ward : " We intend to settled these claims as soon as they are all investigated." Mr Trylor: "When will that be?" Sir Joseph Ward: "In about two months." After further discussion, the Prime Minister gave his assuranco that, a settlement of all admitted claims would take place within a few weeks.

A nine months' old Christchurch baby had a bad time the other day. Tli© father, who had been given charge of tho child, left it for a time to go on with some job in his workshop. On returning to see how baby was faring, he discovered to his horror that a ferret he kept locked up in a cage had managed to escape, and was attacking'the child fiercely, the latter's face being badly torn and lacerated and covered with blood. A doctor's services had to be requisitioned, and that ferret ie not likely to have a second chance of attacking that baby. ,

f A ■witness named Fairley, who appeared in the Police Court last Friday to give evidence in a licensing case while in a state of intoxication, was charged this morning with contempt of Court. Ho had'nothing to say. Hi 6 Worship (Mr Bartholomew), in addressing him, said: "It was most improper of you to appear in court in tho condition in which you did. Tho Court has power to send you to gaol or impose a fine". I don't think that you intended any wilful disrespect to tho Court, or that you were fully awaro of your condition. I don't think you properly realised the whole situation. Still, of coarse, that is no excuse. There can be no justification for your appearing in court in thp condition in which you did. 1 will tako into consideration your circumstances, and also tho fact that there was notliing intentional or wilful in your coming to the court in such a 6tate. I will not punish you on this occasion, but I hope this will act as a warning to you. Now you can j*o." A voto to cover the cost of a display of Now Zealand products at the Roubaix Exhibition was discussed in the House of Representatives on Saturday. Mr Uerries asked whether the proposal was to exhibit New Zealand wools in tho French centre. Tho Hon. T. Mackenzie replied that French wool buyers were beginning to come to New Zealand. Under tho circumstances it was thought that New Zealand should mako a good display of tho fine wools it produced. Mr Homes: "What classes will be shown?" Mr Mackenzie: "All classes." Mr Uerries: "Who is to make tho selection?" Tho Minister: "The department." Little boys and girls of Dunedin, your Father Christmas is dead. You remember him : the. old man who at each Christinas during tho past two or three years has driven about in a motor car and entertained the children at the D.I.C. fair. His name was Walter Modus. Ho died a week or two ago in the Benevolent Institution. He was bom in Victoria. As a young man ho becamo a sprint Tunner of note, and he was skilful at the game of billiards. During the eighties and early nineties he was on tho stage, associated with Coghill Brothers and Bland Holt, Subsequently ho toured New Zealand with the Taylor-Carrington, Kennedy-Deering. Collet Dobson, Eloisc Juno, and Georgie Smithson companies. Ho appeared lure last with the Coppin Company. He was a good all round man in tho profession, his specialty being small parts in sketches and farces. About a year ago he fell ill, and had to lio in tho hospital for seven months, and ho entered tho Benevolent Institution six months ago.

Ministers are dispersing for tho holidays. Tho Prime Minister expects, as usual, to spend his Christmas vacation with his f;imilv at Invercargill and Stewart Island ; the lion. Thomas Mackenzie will be in Dunedin on Wednesday evening; tho Hon. J. A. .Millar leaves the capital on Wednesday for an extended tour of north of Auckland, first visiting the country around Lake Taupo, and coming to Duncdm m February for a lengthened stay ; and tins Hon. It. M'Kcnzie will attend the meeting of mining experts to be held at Auckland during the second week of January, and thereafter will inspect the railway construction works to the north of Auckland.

Last. Saturday tho candidates for one oi'_ the Trinity College examinations in. Dun-' edin had'to sit a, second time. From certain facts that came to light it was suspected that somebody had beforehand got access to tho examination papers and secured a copy and made use of it. As the Trinity College must be kept free of any "funny business,'' the examination was cancelled and another ordered with a fresh set of papers. On Friday of this week Justice Williams will hear argument on a. motion for injunction. Mr W. Quin, of Tapanui, is seeking to prevent tho Empire Dredging Company from polluting the Pomahaka River.

While Mr Speaker, accompanied by the mace, was in attendance at. Government House receiving the Royal Assent to a number of Acts, a mock parliament was run for three-quarters of an hour by the gayer spirit* of the House. Mr Ell was put in the chair, Dr Buck was promoted to the Primo Minister's seat, and Mr Hogg to that of tho Leader of the Opposition. The fun was fast and furious, and at times some capital points were made, notably by Masterton, who explained the derivation of the term "nss-phyxinfion," which he liad applied (jocularly, of course) to a North Island representative who is prone to debato in and ojlt of season on the natural beauties of the northern city. Masterlon scored heavily.

Tho labor conditions prevailing in Southland at. tho present time ate of a. very satisfactory order (fays the 'News'), and very few linemployed'nro reported fo he in the'province. Flax-milling is at its woist, and scarcely a. mill is working at present on account V the low price of fibre on the Homo market. Saw-milling ™ brisk, and there is still a keen demand for farmhands for field work. Shearing if, general all over fVrathland. and that industry is keeping a large number of hands busily engaged. A dutv of 3d per oz on all gold for export from the Dominion has now to he paid through the Customs to the Public Trustee's account to the credit of the. Gold Miners' Relief Fund. This regulation camo into force on Saturday.

The average daily attendance at tin Carnegie Public Library' for the week ended Saturday was 588 persons.

A party including five cyclists from Auckland successfully climbed Ngaruhoe on Wednesday. Owing to the abnormal activity of the mountain great clouds of steam prevented a minute exploration, but judging by past descriptions, great_ changes have- taken place in the mountain's misshapen interior, for at the present time there aro actually four distinct craters, two of which, though apparently of recent origin, aro inactive. Near the summit the peculiar corrugated ridges of the mountain slope aro covered ivith recently-ejected nrud and sand of a leaden color.

On dit that several members of Parliament intend being present at the Coronation festivities, whether an official invitation is received by the Government or not. Over a dozen aro likely to put in an appearance. Under the direction of Mr A. Hamilton, director of the Dominion Museum, Wellington, a further attempt is being made to find huias. Mr John Stevens, of Bulls, has organised and despatched an expedition of natives, under the chaTge of Mr A. B. Cameron,- for the purpose of making a search along tho western slopes of tho ltuahine Range. The- party left Great ford on Monday last, and arc now encamped near the head waters of the Kawhatau River, in tho forest near tho foothills of tho mountain. It is intended that operations shall continue, for several weeks unless some huias bo sooner discovered. Should tho natives succeed in locating tho birds, a second expedition will be sent about the month of for the purpose of capturing several pairs, which will be. liberated in the Government sanctuary at tho Little Barrier Island. A native expert, Wheriko Poni, who has had considerable experience in the capture of huias, has been employed.

Tho St. Clair Presbyterian Church saleot work on Saturday netter about £35 with tho help of cash donations. Tho impending retirement of Mr Dillon from politics basset tlio political quidnuncs agog. In the event of a certain contingency arising, which might cauw Mr Dillon to liand in his resignation before the General Election, it is quite on the cards that Mr R. M'Nab might bo induced to place his services ab tho disposal of tiio Hawke's Bay electors; indeed, he has already been requisitioned to do so. lint it is understood that at the General Election Mr A. L. D. and Ma- lan Simson will be prepared to stand against all comers. The quarterly meeting of the City Licensing Committee was fixed for to-day, but-t-here was no business to transact. Neither aro thore any matters to bo dealt with by tho Caversham Committee to-morrow. Tho item from Christchurch that the artesian wells aro this summer giving a short yield led to an inquiry as to whether the continued dry weather has had any effect upon the deep stream under Ihmedin, and wo aro told by Thomson and Co. that their artesian bore, which struck tho water at a depth of 200 ft, is keeping quite full and maintaining ite.temperature of 55 Fahrenheit.

Mr William Short, the King's Trumpeter, will be in New Zealand again early next year, to act as judge at tho band competitions in Palmerston North, and there is some talk ot his coming to Dunedin to give another recital. * The Hon. Dr Findlay intends to deliver a series of speeches at Auckland on the ove of his departure from the Dominion.

In the Blenheim Court to-day (says a P.A. wire) Mr Floranre, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiff for £2OO (the full amount) and casts in tho case of Jackson v. Baldick and others, a claim for the value of a whale, lest by the plaintiff's party in Queen Charlotte Sound and found by the defendants. Notice of appeal was given by each of tho defendants, and the case, wili come before the Chief Justice this week. Tho fall of Christmas Day on a Sunday is causing a good deal of doubtful scrutiny of the Act. For example, it is asked : What is tho position of shops which habitually closo on Saturday afternoons? Tho only clause in the Act dealing with this reads: "Nothing in this Act shall render it unlawful for the occupier of a shop to employ his assistants till eleven o'clock at night on Christmas Evo and New Year's Eve; or, when (Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on Monday, then till eleven o'clock at night on the Saturday preceding thoso days."

Last week tho Government Labor Bureau despatched sixteen men to.tho Mosgicl duplication works. Owing to the fact that Christmas is at hand, with a ten-days' holiday break, there is some difficulty in getting married men (who have the preference) to go to the Cat!ins railway works,, and as ten men are wanted tho Labor Department may find it necessary to send single men, of whom plenty aro seeking work.

Tho annual meeting of the Otago Institute will be held to-morrow evening. Conscientious and faithful effort is what you receive at the Acme Photo. Company, George ctrcet. You certainly obtain the roost beautiful portraits at moderate charges. Telephone 965.—rAdvt.l Tho very latest and most up-to-date photo picture is" the " artist's proof portrait," by Morris photo, Princes street. Call and seo specimens. Telephone 859.—[Advt.] A glass of Speight's beer at lunch and supper is better than all the tea in China. — [Advt.l Ladies reeommead Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores. Seo you get the genuine.—[Advt,]