MR GILCHRIST'S BOGY.

Evening Star, Issue 18138, 30 November 1922, Page 6

MR GILCHRIST'S BOGY.

It is time that Mr Gilchrist disclosed the source of /"inside information ” to ’which he says he lias access. He has committed himself to the improbable statement that immediately after the elections the chambers of commerce of the dominion will bring pressure to bear on Mr Massey, should he be re turned &> power, to do away with trade unionism altogether. Ho has backed' tins up with an assertion that at the recent conference of chambers of 'commerce in Dunedin there w-as almost a unanimous decision in favor of the abolition df preference to unionists. That conference was open to the Press, and so far as we can ascertain the question w-as not even discussed there. The president of the Dunedin Chamber of Oommerco, Mr (H. W. Jones, has emphatically contradicted Mr Gilchrist so far as that body is concerned. The matter can hardly bo left where it is. Mr Gilchrist has been challenged to produce his authority, and his taking shelter behind such a vague and unsatisfactory -phrase as “Inside information ” is nothing but a subterfuge that any unbiased elector will see through -at once. The cause must .bo in a bad way indeed if it -requires tactics such as these to buttress it. Election time canards are no novelty; but this cue which Mr Gilchrist has released is so audacious as to suggest that his recklessness will not recommend him to electors who behove that tho person representing them in Parliament should have some rudimentary conception of the responsibilities attaching to the position.

There was some straight talk by Mr George Thomson at the meeting held last evening to consider the proposals made by the committee for selling Tahuna Park and seeking a new ground elsewhere. Mr Thomson said that those, who benefited -from the A. and P. Society did not support it in tho way they should. Some of these bodies were associations to which his firm belonged. For every person who was brought into Dunedin for the show the society received, roughly, 4s, whilst those who benefited directly, as wholesalers and retailers, averaged, in Mr Thomson’s estimation, about £4. _ The A. and P. Society, he said, was going to afford these bodies one more chance of giving their support.

A paragraph in one_ of the reports presented to the Masonic Grand Lodge ox New Zealand at its sitting yesterday {announces a Christchurch Association message) states that a spurious and clandestine Masonic organisation known as “Co-Masonry,” which has been at work in the Home Land' for some time, is now setting up lodges in New Zealand. This body professes to work the degrees of craft Masonry, to admit women, and to confer degrees and signs claimed to be Masonic; and endeavors in different ways to copy the practices of Freemasonry. Further, attempts have been made to induce Freemasons to attend its meetings. The Board of General Purposes considered it necessary to issue instructions warning members of the craft that if they attend any of these meetings they will violate their obligation and render themselves liable to Masonic discipline.

A suggestion has been pub forward by Dr Arthur, M.L.A., that an all-eight bank should be established in Sydney (says the ‘Daily Telegraph’). Dr Arthur points out that it seems impossible to stop the operations of eaie-breakers in tho city and suburbs, and adds that in the large cities of the United States many banks have depots where money may be deposited up till midnight. This allows hotels, restaurants, amusement bouses, and businesses to place all their takings in safe keeping, instead of having to rely on expensive safes that may bo shattered by a plug of gelignite. “ A bank like tbe Commonwealth Bank,” the doctor concludes, “which lias, I believe, an armed guard through tho night, could easily arrange to receive tho money of customers of other hanks for safe keeping till the morning or over tho week-end.”

Out of a total of 425 passengers' on the Suffolk, which arrived at Auckland last Thursday evening from _ Southampton, there wore 394 nominated immigrants, the remaining thirty-one being ordinary passengers. There were 109 for Auckland, ninety for Wellington, forty-nine for Dunedin, forty-three each for Lyttelton and Westport, twelve for Napier, and seven for Gisborne, the others being for various smaller places. The majority of the newcomers are going to friends who have provided them with accommodation. Among them are a number of miners who are to proceed to the West Coast. There were no fewer than 150 children on the ship. Crossing the line Father Neptune held his court, although the ceremony, once quite a usual event, is not nearly so common on the big passenger boats as it was in the past (says tho Auckland ‘Star’). The reason given for its discontinuance on many vessels is that accidents happen so frequently during the ceremony that tho captains refuse te sanction the entertainment being held.

Has Honor the Chief Justice (Sir It. Stout) held a short sitting in Banco yesterday afternoon. In the estate of Robert Campbell, deceased, the registrars report allowing remuneration to the executors and trustees was approved. In re Lcedham v. Dooheriy and others, an originating summons far maintenance, an order was made in terras of an agreement submitted by counsel. His Honor this morning granted probate in the estate of Lewis Adolph Henry Hotop. “Since the postage on newspapers was doubled tho revenue from this source lias actually fallen by 50 per cent.,” was the remark of an experienced postal officer to the ‘Manawatu Times.’ This, of course, indicates clearly (stqtes the ‘Times’) that the number of papers now posted lias decreased by 75 per cent, on account of the prohibitive charge.

Tlie plans of the Government in regard to wireless communication with the outside world were briefly touched upon by the Han. J. G-. Coates at Kaukapakapa last week. New; Zealand was 12,000 miles from Great Britain, ho said, and there wore alternative methods for wireless communication—the all-round'tho-worldi schema (which personally was the one ho favored) and the chain system. He thought the dominion would) have to adopt the all-round-the-world system. The cost of the first installation would be about £IBO,OOO, and it might increase to £260,000. That would igive direct communication. If the people did not want to borrow the money for the scheme, then it could ho loft to private enterprise. Already two companies had been negotiating to take it over. “We have been unable to move because Great Britain has not made up her mind what she is going to do,” the Minister, added. “I would lilce to say that, after consultation with my officers on the question of the chain system as against tlio direct scheme, I cannot help thinking that the latter, the all-round-the-world scheme, is the proper one. To keep the people of New Zealand in touch with the world we must have direct communication.’*

An amusing story of the early days of Dunedin is told in Mr Dunbabin’s book, ‘The Making of Australasia.’ In 1848 a Scottish colony consisting of members of the Free Kirk, led by Captain Cargill and the Eev. Thomas Burns, a nephew of Robert Bums, settled in Otago and established the village of Dunedin, which made steady but slow progress. It was here that the deliberations of tho embryo Parliament were disturbed by tbe daughter of one of thq, members, a tailor, who called out to her father “ Andra has come for his breeks.”

In an appeal case at tho Wanganui Supremo Court the other day relating to sly grog-soUiug at Rqetihi, Mr Cohen, for appellant, said that two of the witnesses were a husbaiicl and wife. From their evidence it appeared that tho wife was afraid of tho husband and the husband afraid of the wife. His Honor Mr Justice Chapman i “It is a very wholesome state of affairs.” “It is, indeed, sir,” replied Mr Cohen, “it is an equation,”

There was a clean sheet at the Police Court this morning.

Ensign Coombs states that, as a result of the article ‘No Blum Areas’ which appeared in last Saturday’s ‘Star,’ she has received at her office in tho Salvation Army Barracks a number of donations in money and kind towards tho relief of the poor. A gentleman has undertaken to supply meat for tho use of one family for throe weeks; another person wishes to make the old couple mentioned in the article happy for Christmas; still another will help the widow in whatever way mav bo suggested. And so it has gone on. All this is very gratifying to Ensign Coombs, but it maiy bo pointed out that her “ family ” is a very big one, and there is need for continued help.

The annual exhibition of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society continues to be well patronised, and last night’s attendance constituted a record for this exhibition. The country visitors are taking advantage of the opportunity, and are seeing the exhibition during their stay in tow. The art union will be drawn at 8 o’clock to-night. The latest sales reported by Mr R. H. Neilson, the secretary, are: ‘Fir Trees,’ by A. E. Lothian; ‘Patience,’ by M. E. R. Tripe; ‘ The River Bend,’ by J. L. Palethorpe; ‘ The Starboard Tack,’ by R. T. Little; and a hand-painted cup and saucer by S. A. Beck. The exhibition wll close on Saturday evening.

Advice received by the New Zealand Shipping Company states that passengers for Otago and Southland by the Rimutaka from England will leave Wellington by the lorry steamer Maori to-morrow evening. They will reach Dunedin on Saturday afternoon. Passengers’ baggage will be forwarded by the Wingatm, which leaves Wellington to-day for Lyttelton and Dunedin.

The annual picnic for so long associated with the softgoods and boot stores retail assistants seams to be in danger of dying a natural death, owing to the apathy displayed by the assistants themselves. A meeting called for last evening ■was so poorly attended tint it was decided by those officers present to call a final meeting to consider the question of handing over the accumulated funds to some worthy local charity. Another bountiful supply of fish was disposed of at itJhe cross wharf this morning to a constant stream of customers. Three large motor trawlers and a seine boat came in at an early hour from the fishing grounds, each boat being well laden with several varieties of fish. As usual, soles comprised the greater portion of each catch, but there was also a good sprinkling of flounders. Many housewives were cany on the scene, ana secured a supply at reasonable prices. The bundles of flounders looked very choice, and as usual these fish wore disposed of first. The fishermen are now giving additional fish in each bundle for la and 3s.

Watson’s No. 10 i* a little dearer th« most whiskies, but is worth the money.-a [Adri.j Cheap Chair Seats, 14-in square, Sixpence each. —Todd’s White House, 133 George street.—[Advt.] Attention is drawn to the Taratu advertisement in this issue re reduction, of 4s per ton in price of their coal.—[Advt.] Great enthusiasm prevails throughout New Zealand for “'No-rubbing" LaundryHelp, “ Keep Smiling ” Boot Polish, and. “Golden Rule’’ Soap (the ruling soap).— Mackerras and Haalett, Ltd., wholesale distributors.—[Advt.] Holiday excursions announced for Gore and Invercargill Shows. Ladies recommend Martin’s Apiol and Stool Pills. Sold by all ohomista and stores. Bee you get the genuine.—[Advt.l The nip for nippy winter weather—Watson’s No. 10, line old Scotch whisky.— [Advt.l