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Evening Star, Issue 14575, 25 May 1911, Page 4

MoTirKR what it lot of adjectives he

knows !" exclaimed a little More Auckland girl, on her way home Megalomania, from church, after listen-

ing to the flowery verbosity of r. rhetorical preacher. This quaint saying recurred to our mind as we gloated,

am.azediy and admiringly, over the wealth of condemnatory epithets—adjectives, subftantives, and adverbs—with which the Auckland ' Star' has been pleased to characterise our recent remarks on the Representation question. To vary the figure, our namesake contemporary scintillates—nay, fairly splutters—with contemptuous indignation. " Extraordinary suggestion " "ridiculous and preposterous proposal"— "partisan prejudice"—■" the effrontery of the ' Evening Star''''—" the crude and extravagant view of the 'Evening Star'"— " gross and palpable injustice " —" specious and plausible arguments" —did you ever ! And all because we are bent on taking a national view of a national question. National (as distinct from provincial or insular) opinions produce the same effect upon the victims of Auckland megalomania a 6 tho sight of water is said to produce upon the victims of hydrophobia. Our contemporary is so ob.-esscd by provincial passion—so eager to claim a " transfer of " political authority from the South to the " North " —that it cannot conceive tho idea of anyone honestly holding that political authority should rest neither with the South nor with tho North. Happily, the North Island contains many people who are able to take a sane view ot the Representation problem—we doubt not that even in Auckland there is a saving remnant of reasonable folk: so that it is not only in the South that we hope to secure a favorable hearing for the contention that a serious decreaso of the parliamentary representation of :i part of the Dominion, in obedience to an obsolete population shibboleth, would injuriously affect the interests of the Dominion as a whole. And we may remark, in passing, that this contention applies not only to representation but also to tho expenditure of public money. Looking ahead, even from the narrower standpoint of self-interest, the Aucklanders should be rwidy to acquiesce in such a settlement of the Representation as we propose; for they would reap the advantage in the day, perhaps not very far distant, when numerical and commercial pre-eminence shall have reverted to the South in general and to Otago in particular. Mr James Allen (who comee in for a share of our contemporary's adjectives) has propounded a scheme which, to say tho least, is worthy of the dispassionate consideration of Parliament. He would allow the North Island its increased quota of representatives in accordance with tho existing system, without diminishing the present quota of the South Island. To attain this end, of course, it would be necessary to make a slight addition to the total number of representatives—so slight as to render nugatory the force of the Auckland 'Star's' objection'that "the enlargement "of tho totai membership of Parliament "would increase, seriously and unnecessarily, tho public expenditure pa mem-

"bare' salaries." How parsimonious, by the way, the Aucklanders can be when a national issue, instead of a non-payable Auckland railway, is involved! Wo are not wedded to any particular scheme, but we contend that Parliament, in the interests of the Dominion, should take some effective steps to loosen the grip of the population fetish; to pi event tho unwieldy enlargement of Southern (or, for that matter, Northern) electorates; and, on "eneral grounds, to correct the tendency of temporary circumstances to minimise the political importance of particular parts of tho Dominion.

In Franco it is always the unexpected that happens, though there Another were few (if-any) in Paris French last Sunday who imagined Crisis. for a. moment that out of

so simple and, comparatively, common an event at. the commencement of an aeroplane race so terrible a trinity as death, disaster, and a political crisis would emerge. Yet such is the case. Largely owing to causes that should have been foreseen and provided for, including, as they did, nothing more than a clear spaco wherein the aviators could make their preliminary evolutions in safety, tho Minister of War in the less than three months' old Ministry was smitten to death and the Premier seiiously injured. Nothing could have happened more- unfortunately for France. That great nation has just emerged from something not easily distinguislmble from civil war in her champagne district*; she is to-day engaged in a most delicate and dangerous militaiy undertaking in Morocco —one that not impossibly may set half Europe ablaze; and tho Monis Government in March last took over from their predecessors a heritage of unrest and discontent among large sections of the industrial classes, which unnst they have not so far permanently assuaged. Hence the uneasiness, surmises, and talk of resignations that are already heard. The Monis Cabinet is kept in power largely, as ' Tho Times' says, by tho grace and good-will of that eminent Socialist writer and parliamentarian M. Jaures. He it was who acclaimed the coining of M. Monis; ho it was who nominated the Minister of War whoso death has come with such awful suddenness; and he it was who dictated the policy that has to ho pursued. Clearly, therefore, the Premier is not master in Parliament, nor the head of a supreme party. At tho same time, he may quite honestly approve of the price demanded for his possession of office. 8o far as the Federation of Labor and their relation to the railway strike of last year are concerned, they lost no time and resorted to no subterfuges of speech in acquainting the new Premier with their policy. M. Monis was told that unless the discharged railway strikers were reinstated they (the Federation) could not guarantee the public a regular time, service. The fruits of this intimation were seen in the first public pronouncement of the Monis Government. It was an apjwal to tho employers to give way. M. Jaures was frankly delighted with the defeat of M. Briand and the coining of M. Monis. '" Xow," he wrote in his organ, 'Humanite,'

" wc have got a- clear situation, and that is what the country most needed after the era of confusion, disintegration, and unbridled and troublous personal Government which the adventurer (M. Briand) had inflicted upon the democracy." And be concluded his article on the occasion with the joyous shout:

Oh! would that we might be permitted to work usefully, and to combine without suspicion of personal interest and in entire independence, without abdication but without chicanery, for the promotion of substantial efforts of political organisation and of social and democratic progress. That is tho only pure and genuine joy of public life.

That is what the i-'ocialed- Leader looked for as one result of the change in government, though tho terms in which he expresses himself are vague and illusive. A disciple, however, in the same paper in which they appeared dots the i's and crosses the t's. The new Government, it was demanded, must give without delay the following four pledges of their Republicanism :

First, a general amnesty to all citizens who have bean prosecuted or imprisoned under the outgoing Ministry for offences against the Press laws or in public speeches or in connection with the strikes. Secondly, the reinstatement of all the dismissed railway strikers. Thirdly, the recognition of the right of all citizens to join or to foini "syndicates." Fourthly, the dismissal of M. Lepine.

M. Monis may not have accepted theso publicly, nor pledged himself openly to their fulfilment, but he succeeded in gaining the support and approval of the Socialists, and there has been no revolt. To-day, however, all is changed. The Minister who linked Government and dictator together is dead, and the head of the Minietiy is incapacitated fiom active duty for many weeks to come. What, then, may r.ow happen ir. Franco it is impossible to predict.

The Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, who has ligured largely in the public eye of late in connection with what is known as tho " secret case," has resigned his seat in the Legislative Council.

Some interesting information about the cost of attending the Delhi Durbar is given in a letter which Neill and Co. have received from the Norddeutscher Lloyd Company, for whom they are agents. The following par is from the letter :—" At the present time the Government are considering the ad visibility of erecting camps to accommodate about 1,000 persons, but these will be primarily for Government visitors and officials. Any accommodation which the Government do not require will be available to tourists at the rate of £ls per day, and the same must be taken for at least ten days, so that for accommodation alone the expenditure would amount to £150."

The minimum low-water dopth at the entrance of the. harbor this month has been : Noith channel 35ft, new cut 24ft, Victoria channel (centre) 18ft, sides 17ft. During April lifty-two vcfsels entered tho port, of a total tonnage of 80,376, and forty-sevon departed, of 70.903 tons. The Committee, of the Otago A. and P. Society are at present negotiating uitli the managers of the Technical Schools to sec if it is possible for a display of pupils' work to be made at the Winter Show. There is every prospect that the propcs.'d will be taken up most cordially, and the society believe that it will he of groat interest to country people to see the work turned out by pupils at the technical classes. 'From April 22 to May 20 fiyo vessels were docked in the Otas?o graving dock, contributing £lsl Is 6d" to tho Harbor Board's revenue.

"If I had my way, I should mnko it compulsory for every candidate for Parliament to pass an exainination in English history before- taking his seat in Parlia.said Mr S. Percy Smith, ex-Sv.rvevor-General, at the meeting of tho High School Board at New Plymouth Lust week. " Then ho would know that many of the laws that wo are worried with have been tried before and have failed."

The county bays, which were once 6iieh a feature of the Otago A. and P. Society's Winter Show, virtually broke down from their own weight, as they had become most elaborate affairs, very costly to these responsible for their exhibition. This year, however, competition of this nature is being revived in a very much modified form. Prizes of £2O, £ls, and £lO are being ottered by the society for farmers' bays, the competition being between individual producers, and not collective bodies of farmers. Tho conditions state that the prizes are foT tho most comprehensive collection of agricultural, dairy, and pastoral produce, manufactured, gK>wn, or produced on the farm of tho exhibitor. In addition to the prizes mentioned, Messrs Herbert, Haynes, and Co. have donated a fifteen-guinea cup in connection with this competition, the cup haying to be won three times, not necessarily in succession, before becoming the absolute property of any competitor. The society aspect a large entry for this competition, including one or two from Canterbury,

Complaints having been received by tho Tramways Committee that passengers sometimes over ride the sections for which their tickets aro issued, instructions have been given to conductors to check ail tickets at the beginning of each section.

A most interesting letter has been received by the Otago A. and P. Society from tho president of the New Zealand Farmers' Onion (Mr James G. Wilson, of Bulks). It ran:—"l take the liberty of writing to you on tho subject of classes conducted by the technical schools for shearers. Every year our shearers get scarcer, and we are generally dependent on Australian shearers, who may or may not come. Shearing is so easily loamt and so well paid for that there should be no difficulty, if tho opportunity wero. given, to get many young men in town to iearn, and go benefit themselves by getting work at j-hearfng, and be to tho advantage of sheep-ownors as well. Such classes have been started in Christchurch, and are quite successful. Thero by the generosity of tho A. and P. Association and tho Owners and Sbeep-breoders' Association the funds aro provided. I would urge your society to go into this matter and try to get classes begun during next spring, as it is of great importance that such an opportunity should bo afforded to learn shearing. Now that the machines are being so much used, learners aro almost a tiling of the past in private sheds. Hitherto the 'fleece-ohs' were able to learn by shearing a sheep in tho 'smoke-ohs' and at meal times. This is impossible now, as the machines are not then going. I would therefore ask you, in the interests of the workers and the sheepowners, to try to secure shearing classes in your technical schools." The Committee referred tho matter to the Shcop Committee, and instructed tho secretary to ascertain how tho scheme works in Christ-church. Members of the Reserves Committee of the City Council spent this morning inspecting Chisholm Park and otlvar reserves. Tho park, it is considered, with the expenditure of a little money, could be improved so as to provido six playing grounds fo% athletic purposes. The Committeo also inspected some properties belonging to the Domain Board, which might also bo utilised for a similar purpose. The Committee were greatly impressed with tho possibilities of Chisholm Park, and under Mr Tannock's supervision tho Park should eventually piovo one of tho best grounds around the Citv.

The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, writing from tho Villa Victoria, Cannes, on March 23, to Mr W. 11. Triggs, editor of the Christchurch 'Press,' which celebrates its jubilee to-day, says : —" Dear Mr Triggs,—l hear that you are celebrating the jubilee of the Christchurch 'Press,' and I venture to send you my compliments and good wishes on the occasion. 1 follow with interest all that is done in New Zealand, and I believe that, although our position is very different in England, we nave much to learn from your experience. The past shows that the New Zealanders have understood their own affaire, and the great progress they have made must give satisfaction to all Knglishmen. I still Lelieve that before long we shall carry laiilf Reform in England, and I anticipate great benefit both to ourselves and to tho Dominions, which have already given us their approval, and shown their inteiest by the preference they have allowed us. In my view, the Dominion will form the most interesting part of our future development, and 1 look to them lo show us the way that we ought to follow. Meanwhile I wish you every priority, end am yours truly, J. Chamberlain. '

The old-fashioned cures for obesity, which entailed more exercise and less food, will have to give way to a novel formula discovered by Professor Albert Robin, which involves eating live good meals a day (says the Paris correspondent of the London ' Daily Telegraph'). The ideal dietary, according to the doctor, is a breakfast 'of iish or meat at eight, two boiled eggs at half-past ten, to be followed by a hearty lunch consisting of cold meats, "salad, and fruit, tea at live o'clock, and a substantial dinner at seven. Dr Robin recommends weak tea without sugar, with a light infusion of camomile, by way of drink. Dr Robin claims that a patient of fifty-two, who weighed 20st before following this regime, lost over 2st in ninoty days.

It is estimated by the Director of Forests, on data supplied in New Zealand (says the 'Sydney Daily Telegraph'), that tree-planting by prison labor in that country has cost an average of £o 18s 9d per acre, or 1.57 farthings per established tree—an " exceptionally economical" initial cost, for afforestation work. The Director estimates that the crops, covering 9,B3sacres, will mature in from thirty-live to iiftv years, " and in tho interim will be thinned down to about 150 trees to the acre. The sale of thinnings should more thin pav for cost of all future treatment, so tk; i, by taking even as low a value ;s 5s por'ma"tiired tree, the gross return from sales of timber would represent a sum of about £590,000 during the next iifty years." .Said a speaker .at a church gathering last night: "They were told that Dunediii was the most religious centre in the Dominion. Well, if Dimedin were the best, he did not know whbh wm the worst one.'' lie had previously referred to tho desecration of the Sabbath by motor car picnics and harbor excursions..

What has been termed the Opposition campaign still goes on in different parts of the Dominion. Mr A. L. Herdman, M.P., spoke at Levin last night, contending, amongst other- contentions, that the Ward Administration during tho past- live years nad not been exerting the same power of control as the Seddon Administration. There- v/as now general public distract, which would bo shown soon in an unmistakable manner. He advocated putting tho public service and railways under the control of commissioners. The Hon. Mr Millar had striven hard and fairly to carry out his trust, but his task was too great. Mr Herdman received a hearty vole of thanks for his speech. Serious concern was expressed at the Farmers' Union Conference at Auckland yesterday at the statements niado recently to tho effect that the American Meat Trust have, commenced operations in A'evv Zealand. The following remit from the Auckland branch was passed:—"That the Union view with concern the fact as reported from Ixindon of the control of the Shaw-Sa.vill Shipping Company by the Morgan Combine, and as the (-hipping companies arc so bound up with the frozen meat industry of the lionunion, urge tho Government to keep a watchful eye. over the possible means of Americans'"contiol cf this very important industry of tho Dominion." it was also decided to ask the Dominion conference to take tho matter in hand and bring it before the Government. At a very well attended meeting of tho Committee of the Otago A. and 1\ Society to-day, presided over by Mr J. Loudon, the buildings sub-committee rejxirted on the progress of the new structure and announced that the contractor, favored by fine weather, had made good progress since the Committee's last meeting. The architects (Messrs Salmond and Vanes) wrote intimating that they could see no reason why tho building could not be ready for tho show, proposed to be held during the first week in August. The contractors (Messrs G. Lawrence and Sons) also wrote stating that they were making every endeavor to complete the building as soon as possible. Several members of tho Committee expressed the opinion that in the interests of the country people it was, most desirable that the show should be held at as early a date as possible, not later than August 1. Tho Committee did not to-day definitely fix a date for the opening of th> Winter Show, but postponed doing so until next meeting. However, every endeavor will bo made to complete arrangements to enable the opening to take place on Tuesday, August 1. At to-day's meeting nominations for judges in the various classes were received.

Some remarks made by the chairman <jf the Harbor Board in the course of his speech at tho West Harbor mayoral installation last ovening have given rise- to considerable speculation* We understand that what Mr Belcher was foreshadowing was his intention to bring before the Beard at the first opportunity th© fact that tho expenditure is considerably overiiyining the current revenue, and that lie means to place before the Board suggestions with a view to squaring oxpenditxire and iuoome.

The London ' Standard' of a recent date stated :—"We understand that a post will very ahortly be provided for Lord Kitchener having some connection with tho organisation and preparation of troops for war. At the end of the year changes will occur in several of tlv*"hjgher appointments which will provide an opportunity for some rearrangement by which the services of Lord Kitchener will be utilised. A proposition is being advanced outside the War Office that the Aldershot and southern commands be amalgamated, and made into one great training area for the principal troops in England of the Expeditionary Force,"

Tho detectives have recovered all the. property stolen from Hayward and Garratt's, with the exception of two watches. These wore left in the street by the boys, who are alleged to have committed the theft, and tho detectives aro anxious that tho finders of the two watches should hand them to the police. The New Zealand Farmers' Union, at the Auckland Provincial Conference yesterday, resolved —"That tho Dominion Conference be asked to appoint a committeo to fully consider the working of tho new defence regulations as affecting tho farming industry, and especially in regard to tho camping of young men from dairying districts during tho milking season."

The South Dunedin branch of tho New Zealand Labor party will hold a public meeting in the Kensington Oddfellows' Hall this evening, when several well-known speakers will deliver addresses. Points where wc score—pose', expression, and finish of photographs, accompanied with moderate charges for work. Acme Photo Co., George street. 'Phone 965.—fAdvt.] The programme of organ music to be given by Mr Jesse Timson to-morrow night in First Church is a well-diversified one, and most of the pieces will be played for the first time. A berceuse and allegretto, by Hollins and Wolstenholme, two blind organists, a toccata and fugue by Bach, another toccata by Mailly, and a prayer by Callaerts aro included. Mr Timson is also including a romance by Dr Charles Harriss, which at the present time should be welcome, seeing the Sheffield Choir will soou be here under Dr HaiTiss's direction. Mr Haggitt will sing solos by Sullivan and Newton. No softer or more beautiful effects in photo portraiture can bo seen anywhere than in the showcases in vestibule of Morris, photographer, Princes street. Telephone 859. [Advt.]

To aid in the establishment of a good library for the Methodist Sunday School children at St. Kilda an entertainment has been arranged for to-morrow evening at eight o'clock in Wesley Hall. Musical, physical, and singing items wlil be rendered by the young people. The chair is to be taken by the Rev. R, H. Wylie.

No lady should be without Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores throughout Australasia.—[Advt.] The annual smoke concert and presentation of prizes of the Otago Amateur Swimming Association takes place in the Waratah Tea Rooms to-morrow evening.

A glass of Speight's beer at lunch and Bupner is better than all the tea in China,— [Advt.]