GOVERNOR OF THE PHILIPPINES.

Evening Star, Issue 20998, 12 January 1932, Page 6

GOVERNOR OF THE PHILIPPINES.

Roosevelt is a name that lias loomed large in. later American political history. Theodore the First was an apostle of the strenuous life whose sympathies were always with the undeMbg. He fought combines and trusts, and had no small part in freeing Cuba and the Philippines from the tyranny of Spain. Because of his forthright ways he was often an embarrassment to the representatives of the industrial and financial interests in the Republican Party. A curb was put on his activities after he assumed the highest office in the land, but nevertheless he will be remembered as one of America’s most notable Presidents and as one who firmly established his country’s place in the international sphere. Now his eldest son, Theodore the Second, has been appointed Governor of the Philippines. He, too, has a distinguished record. After a creditable scholastic career at Harvard he entered business, but forsook it for official life, and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy he has had much to do with the developments in America’s naval policy. Yet another Roosevelt, of a different family, occupies a high position. This is Franklin Roosvelt, Governor of New York State, who at the moment is regarded as the most likely candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Presidential election in November next. The Philippine dependency has had some notable Governors-General, including General Leonard Wood and Mr W. H. Taft. The post calls for strong men, because of the turbulent tendencies of tho people and the insistent demands for complete independence. The retiring Governor-General, Mr Dwight F, Davis, appears to have been an effective head, for during his administration no untoward events have occurred. Delegations have on several occasions visited tho United States to prosecute the independence campaign, but the various Administrations and Congress have refused to grant the request on the ground that the Filipinos are not yet ready for absolute self-government. Not only has the protecting hand of the United States maintained order in the islands, but according to Governor-Gen-eral Davis’s last report free trade with the United States has saved tho islands from a “ major economic disaster ” during the present world-wide depression. Manuel Quezon, the President of the Philippine Senate, visited President Hoover at Washington in August last, and reiterated his belief that the Philippine people were ready for immediate independence, even without any free trade arrangement with the United States. In reply to this statement it is pointed out that at the time of; the cession of the islands America was taking 15 per cent, of their total exports. In 1930 it was almost 80 per cent. In such circumstances " immediate, complete, and absolute ” independence would leave tho islands adrift on a sea of economic troubles. President Hoover declared that it would result “ in the collapse of the Philippine revenues and the collapse of all economic life in the islands.” In the United States, as in tho Empire on the Indian question, well-meaning people have been advocating compliance with the demands of the Filipinos. Formerly they were idealists who took their stand on moral grounds. Now, however, they are receiving support from industrial, agrarian, and labpur interests, which, wedded to America’s high tariff policy, object to the free importation of goods from the Philippines. On this ground alone they would give tho islands their political freedom. Tho cases of India and of the Philippines are practically analogous. In each instance the declaration has been made that self-govern-ment will be progressive and up to the full extent of the capacity of the people to exercise the powers implied. A general election in the Philippines in Juno strengthened the belief of those who contend that the probationary period has not expired. The Nationalists triumphed, but the polls, even under official supervision, were accompanied by frauds, intimidation, and violence on a scale that indicated that America must still act as trustee for the welfare of the Filipinos.:

An old landmark in Gordon road, Mosgiel, was damaged by fire early on Sunday morning. The early arrival of the brigade prevented the total destruction of an old unoccupied shop in the estate of the late Mrs Margaret O’Grady. The building was not of any great value, beyond historical interest, ns it has occupied a place on the main street since the early days of tho town. A promise that he would inquire into the dismissal of returned soldiers from the Addington workshops was made by the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) to a deputation from the Returned Soldiers’ Association whicli waited on him yesterday afternoon (states a Press Assi...ation message from Christchurch). A similar promise wa made to a request from the Disabled Soldiers’ Re-establishment Committee, that the granting of an economic pension to those in receipt of small wages would be continued and that the wages would bo subsidised from the unemployment fund. Considerable damage was done by a fire which broke out in Mackenzie’s cooperage, Hastings, at 11 o’clock last night. The fire started near the boiler, evidently as the result of a spark or ash falling into same sawdust. The proprietor was working until 8 o’clock, and the boiler was in use up till then. Portion of the building was badly gutted, and prepared timber for casks was destroyed, but most of the machinery appears to have been saved. The insurances were not available last night. The new classification of the lands under the rating of the Taieri River Trust was submitted to that body yesterday at its monthly meeting. It was resolved: “ That the chairman sign the classification as required by legislation; that it be exhibited for public inspection at the offices of the trust and in tho post offices at Outram, Henley, and Momona, and that public notice bo given of the classification having been made.”“Financially the St. Kilda Borough is in about the same position as it was this time last year.” This statement was made by the chairman of finance (Cr H. H. Leary) at last night’s meeting of the council. He added that the rates were coming in satisfactorily. As they will receive only three days’ work between December 24 _ and January 25, a deputation, consisting of Messrs‘Wilkie and Trail, representing a married men’s group in the borough, attended the St. Kilda Council at its meeting last night, and asked if the council could see its way clear to grant the twenty odd men in the group an extra day’s work during that period. It was also asked if it would be possible to work their three days a week on end —not with a break on Wednesday, as was the case at present. The deputation explained that there were no Communists or extremists in the borough. When the deputation retired the councillors remarked on the courteous way in which the men had explained the position and made their request, and it was decided to place the matter in the hands of the Unemployment Committee.

At ]ast night’s meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council_ Cr Edgar referred to the smoke nuisance from the tip in the borough, and suggested that the matter be referred to the Domain Board. Cr Roy made the suggestion that all rubbish be placed in one corner and set fire to at a convenient time. Other councillors agreed that the tip was a disgrace to the borough, and finally it was agreed to send in a protest to the board. The Port Chalmers Council last night agreed to a proposal that vacant corporation sections should be made available for the growing of vegetables by the unemployed. “ Canterbury could bo made a dairying country,” said Mr R. W. Winter, addressing 300 farmers at Waimate on Saturday. “ There are 600,000 cows in Auckland. If we put 100,000 into Canterbury the north would begin to regard us as a competitor in the trade, and they would let us grow our wheat as we wished. It would bo a strong argument and we would be making money at the same time.”

Tho matron of the St. Helens Hospital, Dunedin, has advised the Medical Officer of Health that Mr J. Edmond, of 37 Albany crescent, Melbourne, who has in the past shown his goodwill towards the patients and stair, has again shown his thoughtfulness by presenting each member with a Christmas gift, and by supplying the institution with fresh fruit during the holidays. The department is greatly indebted to Mr Edmond for his thoughtful act. “ It was weary work for some of the examiners to weigh the merits of 150 to 250 papers,” says - the 1 Church Chronicle,’ in referring to the recent examinations conducted by the Wellington Diocesan Sunday School Association, “ But, even in weighing examination papers, there are bright moments. It was a sheer joy to come across the candidate who described Bar-Timaeus as a ‘ bung-eyed bloke what sat cadging in the gutter.’ Bar-Timaeus was no anonymous puppet on that intelligent youngster’s stage. And how is this for ‘ association of ideas ’ —Saint Christopher discovered Columbus ’?” A more or less cunning device for the transport of alcoholic liquor from the United States, and also within the United States, has been revealed to a Christchurch resident. It is in tho form of a cigar, but is in reality a glass tube made to look like one. It had been filled with liquor, but the glass tube was broken in transit —not a great loss to the Christchurch resident, who is a strict teetotaller. Enclosed was a Christmas greeting card. A drastic remedy for tho present situation under which bakers use Australian flour in making bread was put forward by Mr R. W. Winter at a meeting of farmers held in Waimato on Saturday. “Any person not prepared to eat bread made wholly of New Zealand flour should ho made to go without bread,” he declared. A first offender was charged with drunkenness at the Police Court this morning, Sub-inspector Cameron stating that he was married, with four children and a relief worker. The defendant was fined 10s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. The young married woman who was reported missing from her home at Morniugton on Sunday was found at Waikouaiti yesterday, being in a fairly exhausted condition.

An attraction at the brass band contest quickstep competition, to be held in Dunedin on January 23, will bo the playing of tho Bugle and Trumpet Band of tho First Battalion, the Otago Regiment. This . combination has reached a high standard of efficiency under Liteutenant Napier, and will commence training for the event tomorrow evening.

Regarding the original steamer Wanaka these details, supplementary to those already in your possession, may be of interest (writes “ M.J.M.”) : “ The Wanaka, 493 tons gross, reg. GOO tons, 1 li.p., struck a rock, 8011. Point, New Plymouth, on Thursday, April 2, .1891, and was abandoned the following day, having four feet of water in the hold. The mishap led to the retirement of the master from the service of the Union Steam Ship Co., on April 80.”

Occasionally there were cynical touches to the atmosphere of last night’s meeting cf the Port Chalmers Council, but on the whole it was a good all-round meeting. The general atmosphere may have been due to the fact that the financial statement showed that tho council’s budget was not likely to balance at the end of the financial year, in March, It appeared that if all the outstanding rates, rents, etc., were received in full a small credit balance would be shown. But such a desirable eventuality was not likely owing to the industrial depression. The Finance Committee had apparently looked to tho Works Committee to curtail expenditure in conformity with tho lagging income. But that had not evidently taken place, and one member of the Finance Committee freely censured the inadequate control of expenditure. The upshot of it all was that very little could now bo done to remedy matters before the end cf the present term, but that drastic steps would have to be taken at the beginning of the new financial year to bring the expenditure into line with municipal income. The theft of notes and gold which had been placed in a pickle bottle for safe keeping was discovered by Mr and Mrs Pepper, of Milson, on their return from Wellington. The amount taken was about £4O, and represented their savings over a long period.— Palmerston North Press Association telegram. On a charge of obtaining goods by means of a valueless cheque for £6 15s, Cecil Johnston, a traveller, was sentenced at Timaru to six months. A malicious false alarm from the intersection of Highdiff road and Every street, Anderson’s Bay, called file brigade out at 9,30 last night.

Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult VV. V. Stumer (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old ago—[Advt.] S. B. Ferguson Ltd,, Consulting Opticims. S. E. Ferguson, G.P.0.C.; Miss B. Ferguson, D. 1.0., N.Z., 45 George street, Dunedin. If your eyes trouble you consult is.— [Advt.] A fortnightly dance, beginning next Saturday, will ho held in the Botanical Gardens Tea 'Kiosk.