THE THIRD PARTY.

Evening Star, Issue 22106, 13 August 1935, Page 8

THE THIRD PARTY.

Something definite should soon be known of the Democrat Party, of which reports, mostly indefinite, have been heard now for nearly a year. Its “ aims and objects,” vague enough, but obviously containing something meant to tempt everybody, were then published, and it was announced that Mr A. E. Davy would be its organiser. Mr Davy had much experience to qualify him for the task. He was first heard of as a Reform organiser in the days of Mr Massey. Then he performed that role for the United Party at the time when it came to office, but quarrelled after a year with Sir Joseph Ward, transferring his allegiance to Mr Coates, who did not, however, keep it long. After his new party had been announced the name of Mr Goodfellow was prominently associated with it, and a report, for which we do not vouch, credited it with the ambition of gaining just sufficient members in the House to enable it to hold the balance of power, putting Labour into office, if necessary, and controlling it by its balance of votes. It was what Mr Asquith tried to do once in Britain, without getting any satisfaction from the attempt, but his hand was forced by circumstances. As deliberate tactics for elections, if they were ever entertained, such a programme could resemble nothing so much as a gambler’s throw. It was expected that in the coming elections Mr Davy’s party would find a congenial candidate in Mr Doidge, a New Zealander who returned recently from a long sojourn in England, where he was a director of the Beaverbrook Press. English papers, when he left Home, stated that he intended to ally himself with the new party, but the Democrats seem to have been having troubles of their own. Following fast upon the announcement, made last week, that Mr Doidge had agreed to the request of a representative deputation that he should stand for Rotorua, Mr Goodfellow being a supporter of his candidature, it was announced from Auckland that a Mr Corbin had received official endorsement as the Democrat Party’s candidate for that seat. Mr Corbin, it was explained, had informed a deputation two months earlier of his willingness to represent the party, a statement which is now denied by the supporters of Mr Doidge. In accepting the request which was tendered to him Mr Doidge did not identify himself with any party, but stated that ho would bo opposed alike to the National Government and to Labour, Political observers in Auckland suggest a break between prominent supporters of the Democrat Party and its organiser, but Mr Davy, on behalf of the Dominion executive, denies that there is “ any real ” dissension. Mr Goodfellow is still a member of the national executive. It will be left to the Dominion conference of delegates and candidates of the party ,to be held in Wellington next week to straighten out the position, which leaves Rotorua with a prospect of six candidates. The conference will have other most important functions to fulfil. According to a statement which was attributed to Mr Davy a few weeks ago, it will be for the candidates themselves of this mysterious party to decide the policies on which they will make their appeal at the hustings. The party as such, he was reported to have said, had no policy to put forward, though seventy-two candidates are expected. “ The more the merrier,” the Labour Party will say. It is impossible to see how such a movement as has been described can do anything more than split votes to Labour's advantage. We presume that some attempt to find a common basis of policy, showing more or less agreement with the original aims and objects, will be made by the candidates meeting together in Wellington, but to select candidates as a. body, and then leave them, in large measure, to decide for themselves what they will stand for, seems an irresponsible way of treating politics.

Mr D. Malloeh’s store at Waikouaiti was broken into last night and a large quantity of goods stolen, entry to the premises being gained by the forcing of a door. The goods stolen included tobacco to the value of' £lB 14s Id, cigarettes valued at £l2 15s, chocolate to the value of 15s lOd, a box of butter valued at £2 17s, and two dozen eggs.

The Otago Head Centre of the Royal Life Saving Society has received a copy of a letter sent to Lord Desborough (chairman of the central executive of the Royal Life Saving Society, London) from the King. In this it is stated that the King was most interested to read of the remarkable progress made by the Royal Life Saving Society iri 1934, which was evident from the annual report for that year. This was not only so in the marked increase in the number of awards, but in the general standard achieved, particularly by H. M. S. Ganges in the King’s Cup. His Majesty heard with much satisfaction that the Life Guard Corps of the society had proved such a success, and that it was instrumental in rescuing some 50 people from drowning last year. The King expressed the hope that the most valuable work which the society was doing throughout the Empire would continue to attract the interest of the public more and more, and so lead to ah increasing knowledge of life saving methods. The Otago Head Centre has also received from headquarters the life-saving film, which will be shown to children of primary and secondary schools at the Regent Theatre to-morrow morning. The public is also being admitted at both sessions.

The case in which Alfred Galland was proceeded against by. his wife_ on complaints for separation and maintenance orders was concluded in the Police Court yesterday afternoon. Afterevidence had been given by the defendant the Magistrate said that the allegation of persistent cruelty had not been substantiated, and that the complainant’s evidence was also insufficient to establish the claim of failure to maintain. The court would therefore not be justified in making any order. The postal authorities advise that the Wairangi, which reached Wellington from London on Monday, has 20 bags of English mail and 30 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail is due at the local office on Tuesday afternoon. Reserved judgment was given by Mr W. H. Freeman in the Magistrate’s Court, Gore, yesterday in cases in which 67 counts of stealing sheep, lambs, and fleeces were preferred against John Slater Shaw, aged 70; John George Shaw, aged 39; James Slater Shaw, aged 44, farmers, of Balfour, to which the defendants pleaded not guilty. The defendants were found guilty, and fines inflicted, with costs totalling £4O 9s. “Immeasurable damage has been done to the natural resources—the national wealth—of New .Zealand by various schemes of self-interest—some for pleasure, others for profit. The rights of the public, especially that prospective public, termed posterity, have been flouted for many years. But, happily, as the result of the systematic educational campaigns of the Forest and Bird Protection Society, and its many wellwishers, there is evidence that the unsocial practices of small minorities will not be tolerated indefinitely by the great majority.” _ So writes the editor of the society’s journal. He goes on to specify the troublers: To the deerstalker the forests are providential foraging grounds for deer; the opossum trapper' overlooks the harm to trees and birds; the gunner regards waterfowl as specially evolved for his shooting; eager hands are ever reaching out for timber that should be left for its scenic, soil-conserving, and waterregulating value, streams are polluted by effluents from factories. Thus the sway of shortsightedness goes on.

A youth was charged in the Police Court this morning with the theft of a bicycle at Wellington. Chief-detective Young, who prosecuted, said that another charge would bo preferred against the accused, and the police would have to communicate with Wellington. The accused had been located only yesterday, and was now living in Dunedin. The magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) remanded, the accused until August 21, bail being allowed in the accused’s own recognisance of £25. In view of the accused’s age the Magistrate said he would suppress the name until the facts had been gone into.

One of the marked differences between marine and aerial navigation is the rapidity with which the position is worked out from a “ sight of the sun. The working out of the position of the “ watership usually takes from 20 to 25 minutes. The vessel is not then far from the point at which the solar observation was made, whereas if the same work-out system were used in the air the aeroplane might be 50 miles away from the place where the observation was made by the time the position was ascertained. It is clear that complications might easily ensue. To avoid that a short cut in the working out of position has been devised. The old paraphernalia of books of tables has been reduced to the modern small handbook carried in the pocket. The result is that the airship’s position is worked out in one minute. Many sea captains doubt - the accuracy of the innovation. But the captain of an overseas steamer recently at this port had personally tried it out and found it reliable.

As the tanker Baecinum was leaving the Victoria wharf early this afternoon after discharging bulk cargo into the tanks on the reclaimed ground, the strong wind caught her bow, which was standing high out oD the water, and swung the vessel at a right angle across the channel. There was a delay of some 15 minutes before the Harbour Board's tug finally managed to swing the ship back parallel with the channel so that she could continue on the outward journey. The Baecinum was a light vessel, drawing only about sft of water forward.

Wellington and Christchurch have been visited by a trickster whose modus operandi is somewhat novel, but so far no reports have been received as to his operating in Dunedin. His plan of campaign in the north has been to put an arm in a sling and go into the shop of some unsuspecting tradesman and tender what he purports to be £1 worth of silver. He also tenders an addressed envelope asking the shopkeeper to give him a £1 note for the silver, to put the £1 note in the envelope, and to seal the envelope because he is unable to use the injured arm. The obliging shopkeeper docs so, and the confidence man places the envelope in his pocket. The shopkeeper counts the money, and finds there is only 18s, drawing the customer’s attention to the fact. The trickster is full of apologies, and says his landlady must have given him short money. He produces an envelope and says: “Hold this while I go and get the extra money.” More than one shopkeeper in Wellington and Christchurch is still waiting for him to return. On being opened, the envelope is found to contain merely a sheet of paper bearing the words “ Dear sir, enclosed please find £l.” Apparently the trickster carries two envelopes while engaging on what apparently is lucrative business.

The Supreme Court, Gisborne, opened before 'Mr Justice Reed this morning with the first criminal cases for trial for more than a year. True bills were returned against Albert Paraniki Kohuru, charged with breaking and entering and theft at Tikitiki, and Ernest Vivian Walters, charged with breaking and entering the Harbour Board’s goods shed and stealing a quantity of brandy and cigarettes.—Press Association,

Some time ago, perhaps a year, an inquiry came from Japan to a Dunedin music-printing firm as to whether copies of New Zealand compositions could be supplied. At the time the communication looked like drawing a bow at a venture.. Last week, however, C. Begg and Co. received an order from the Nonaka Music House of Yokohama for 200 copies of the firm’s publications, the manager of the Japanese house intimating that he was desirous of stocking such music and would take the 200 copies, if procurable, as a start. This is distinctly a recognition by the East of New Zealand as a musical country, opening up possibilities of a relationship that may be worth while.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that entries for the Dominion grand opera contest to be staged at the Wellington Competitions Festival from August 24 to September 7 closed yesterday. It is anticipated that more than 50 aspirants from all parts of New Zealand will compete.

Be Wise, See to Your Byes. W. V. Sturmer, Optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Consulting Opticians: W. Y. Sturmer, 8.1.0., N.Z.; A. K. Watson, F. 1.0.. 5.D.0., N.Z.—[Advil Mr R. Semple, Labour member for Wellington East, will reply to tho statements of the Acting Prime Minister regarding the Labour Party’s Guaranteed Price. He will also deal with the Native Affairs Commission and the administration of the unemployment funds. All are cordially invited.