FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 2

FIFTY YEARS AGO

FROM ‘ STAR ’ FILES The following veracious explanation of the causes of Sir Robert Stout’s defeat appeared in an editorial in the ‘ Wairarapa Star,’ which is edited by the Liberal candidate who unsuccessfully contested one of the Wairarapa seats:—“ In Dunedin East Sir Robert Stout threw his pearls of eloquence away—cast the seed of political and social reform on stony places He met in with the race who in certain parts of Scotland spend a great part of their lives as divided communities revile each other, and in bitterness of heart refuse to speak to one another because they cannot agree about such things as the date of the creation of the universe. With the three P’s against him—Presbyterian, publican, and pawnbroker—he was in as sad a pligbt as the Light Brigade at Balaclava. There were Bible in schools to right of him, whisky barrels to left of him, and golden balls in front of him. Hemmed in by such a mixture of carnal and spiritual forces, is it any wonder that he was worsted?”

About 20,000 delegates attended the great Liberal conference at Nottingham. Mr Gladstone, who received a glowing reception, spoke for over two hours, eiichaining the attention of his hearers. Ho was received with the greatest enthusiasm, his speeches eliciting frantic recalling the excitement of tie meetings over the Bulgarian atrocities. At a mass meeting held in Alexandra Rink he addressed an audience of fully 6,000 persons, and was easily heard all over the building. The new Liberal programme propounded comprises the condemnation of plural voting, “ one man one vote ” being a plank in their platform. The principle of local option is endorsed, and country boards are recommended to take charge of local government administration. The disestablishment of the church in Scotland and Wales is also advanced as a leading principle. At a meeting of the Women’s Federation League Mrs Gladstone spoke on the Irish question, which she declared was one that affected the hearths and homes of all the Irish people. She considered that the Irish had been calm in the face of great provocation, and deserved their reward.

Captain John Watson has been appointed doekmaater, secretary, and treasurer to the Otago Dock Trust.

In the Government’s Financial Statement it was revealed that the Government had resisted the pressure to increase the tariff on certain secondary industries. An increase of Id in the £ on property tax was announced.

Lord Brassey, in urging the fortification of Thursday Island, expresses his. belief that the island will become a future Aden, and states that the work is urgent, but need not be costly.

During October 116 males and 82 females arrived at Port Chalmers from the United Kingdom, one male from Queensland, and 33 males and 18 females from Victoria.

The death is reported of Madarao Goldsmidt (Jenny Lind), the famous prima donna. The death is also announced in the United States of Alice May, a noted vocalist and comic operatic actress.

Signor Crispi, the Italian Premier, has assured the Porte that Italy has no designs on Tripoli.

The number of patients in the Dunedin Hospital is 100.

The Victorian Derby was won by Australian Peer, with Abercdrn and Niagara second equal. The Melbourne Cup was won by Dunlop, Silvermine second, and Australian Peer third.

Ten fatal cases of smallpox arc reported at the quarantine station at Launceston. Tasmania.

Premier Parkes proposes to ask the New South Wales Parliament to give the electoral franchise to women. He maintains that their vote would be safer than that of* men on all social questions and on all matters affecting the treatment of juvenile offenders and education; that their vote would be sounder, more independent, and more truly patriotic than that of men as a whole.