THURSDAY, APRIL 24th. 1913.

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1913, Page 4

THURSDAY, APRIL 24th. 19 13.

It -was-bnlv to be. expected that more or less interest should be taken in 'the future leadership of the at present lcaderless Liberal Party. It is equally natural to expect that all '-'who arc in sympathy with . the objects of that once great party shpuld turn their 'thoughts in the direction of Sir Joseph ■Ward. 1 A. good deal of speculation has been indulged in regarding Mr. Gr. W. Russell's claim to the vacant leadership. But he has made very short work' -of 'all' thq loose ; talk . that has been : going- on ,in : respect, to that matter.' Mr. .Russell has ■•'sta.ie.d-- in the most definite terrns.t'hat'.Sir "Joseph. Ward is the natural. and only' possible .leader ;6f .the party. . so .long as lie: cfiooses to remain an active factor in our. politics. -Although Mr.- Russell has ma.nv-of.: the .'•. ne.ee. ss airy capabilities required..in the: leader of a party such

as that to which he belongs, /he frankly recognises the superior claims of Sir Joseph Ward in a recent speech to his constituents. As it is clear that Sir Joseph has no : - intention of severing his connection with New Zealand politics, and is still in the prime of vigor, the probability is that- AoKil-. les will once more take his. rightful place in the field of dominion politics. The foregoing remarks were elicited by a paragraph in a northern exchange which reads thus :— "lt is stated on good authority th.it Sir Joseph Ward is returning" from England, to resume the leadership of -his party. The reason given for his inaction last session is that owing to sectional differences in his party, /"with they: disintegrating influences, he did not consider it worth while fighting the Government, but the desire for cohesion having, grown, the late- Premier has taken another view of the situa--tion, and has- decided to return to the fray." This may be correct or otherwise, but there is very little doubt that the member for Awarua will come back, and -as a natural consequ. will take at least a leading place in the House, But those who pin their faith to Sir Joseph. Ward should remember that the question of cohesion and unity of purpose must be settled before the old party Can be rehabiliatatcd. Like. other Liberal leaders, Sir Joseph has been afforded the opportunity of being a Liberal leader in the fullest .sense of the term. But neither, he .nor his predecessor, nor even the founder of the Liberal party could ever screw his courage to the sticking point to enable him to break a.way from the old landholding influence. Hence the constant halting between two stools policy of ■ the Liberals in consequence of the freehold fetters. There is only one feasible •way open by which cohesion and unity, can be secured, and that is by adopting: a policy that will give access to public lands still open for occupation. The present occupants of office . will be prepared . to promise any reform except in that particular direction; on that they are as so much adamant. Unless Sir Joseph Ward is prepared to take the new departure that the country is hungering for so as to secure the settlement of people on the lands still left, he might just as well remain at Home, for he cannot hope to do much in New Zealand. Until the country is shown thatf it can gain something by displacing the present Ministry they arc not in the least

I likely to bring about a change merely for the sake of change. They have had a surfeit pf electioneering turmoil and would naturally desire to see some useful work done before looking for a change of Ministry. The mass of ;hc people are neither Reformers nor Anti-reformers. But they desire to see the country progress, not much caring- by whom the change is effected so long as the real wants of the country are attended to; and their verdict will be influenced by actual results only. That seems to be the real crux of the position. The Liberal party must purge itself and become a clean party, united on one common object before it can hope to achieve anything of value to the country. It is impossible to reconcile the interests of the land speculators with the promotion of settlement. Their interests are as opposed to each other as day is to night. . Although there is no reason to doubt that if, a Labour Minis try acceded to power one of its first efforts would be to give the country whar is required in the way of a sufificient land tax, there is less probability of a united Labour Party eventuating than there is of a rejuvenated Liberal Party. . Labour is still a long way from securing that unity I .of purpose that has been reached by ( it in Australia, though even there it may be, properly said to be still on trial, and the result of which will largely depend upon how the coming elections go, '

The losses by iire in New Zealand, as shown by the President of the Wellington Chamber of Gomnverce: are ..sufficient to at least give pause to all who arc in any way interested in the fire insurance business— that is, that the result is so serious as to' -render it a proper and necessary step to cast about to see if Some effective remedy is not within reach. The President of the Chamber places the aggregate losses for the past eight years at four millions and a half sterling.- Although" undoubtedly .a/ very heavy rate to pay for protection by means of insurance, it does not strike one as,being, at all singular as • compared with the general average cost of insurance. The world's record, he says,: is about 12s id per; head, while the average in Europe is 10s 4d iind 10s 2d for the United States. It is only- to be expected, ■;, too, that where wooden, buildings so largely prevail, as .in '."this" Dor niinibn,. the liability to fire is increasr cd. There aTe.reasons also. why losses by fire, ; under like' insurance- rates, should' average more in the dominions than in older and more thickly-settled countries. It •is easy to understand that the conditions of life. in the more

youthful communities are less likely to/ engender • habitual against fire than where residential and business properties are usually 0f ... a more elaborate and costly nature. On the whole ' ,however 3 it does not ..seem that, heavy, as the losses' by fire h a ve u ndoubtedly been , their , prevention calls for any great change in the conduct of fire insurance business. However, there is ■no reason, why- it should not be the recognised' practice to hold a formal inquiry; into any firp of any considerable magnitude, or if " tlierc is reason to -suppose that 'there Ii s the least ground for suspicion in ! the circumstances attending it. The niore certainty of such an inquiry following, every: fire would of itself act vbry largely as a deterrent to cases of arson = and py.er-insurance; for dishonest purposes. • -. '

;WHEN.Mr Andrew Fisher, tlhe Premier of tii'e Comrn^-nwealthv 4 ..introduced;- aiid pass.e4 l. .t.Jie ; -.-'Mat.erni-ty. Banus . BiU a g-oo'd deal of oh.cap wit \va.s expended over- the incident. The mass of pub-

lic opinion was that it was a transparent electioneering dodge, a device to secure -a little cheap political popularity. The idea, -was a success.. Indeed almost any proposal that means ah attack on the funds of the public Is usually successful with --.the presentday democracy. It is only the revival in another form of the . old Roman method of appeasing the appetite of the public for requisites o£ a. (higher nature.by, giving them bread and amusements. The hopeful mothers of Australia, who participate-in the. franchise, hailed the measure with .delight' as only a proper recognition of the important part played by them in the community of Australia. It was in va.in that the adea -was ridiculed in a variety of ways ; .but few- or none went so far as to predict tha.f the- Act would be made use of for fraudulent purposes as already appeafs to be. the case: " It appeals,, .however, from yesterday's I cable, news that, .two -worn-en -ran-d a medical man lhave been arrested on a charge of conspinng to defraud ..the Commonwealth of money payable under the Maternity Allowances- Act. . It also appears that sensational developments are probable in connection \yith false bonus claims in va.riio-us ■ States df the Federation; and the Govexn.ment have .instrucbad the police to reexamine many of. the clanriis. Yet the bonus is onl} r a, matter of five pounds! It is intelligible enough that tire temptation to earn a five-pound note easily would, be irresistible to a. weak, foolish woman, but it js quitie a different thing- to hear of a mermber of . an honourable profession mixed up. in so paltry an offence against; the principles of honour and the funds of the public. If for no other ■'. reason, than the development referred to,., it would be. a proper step to repeal this votecatching measure as soon as possible.

The. indications are .for northerly moderate to strong prevailing and freshening at times. Expect; dull weather with much mist^and; fog in parts, with wjeather clouding. Rain : later. The barometer is fallings Sea rribditratC; and tides good. -.". ; s Dr. Morice submitted to the.Hospital Board yesterday a^number of • excellent "skigrap'hs," taken at the Hospital from the new X-rays apparatus.. They \vere exceedingly clearly■ taken, and. showed several fractures before!being set, and also others with the bones held in place by steeL plates. The Health Officer (Mr. J. Fletcher) in his annual report stated that during the year had been three cases of tuberculosis in Grey Borough, and two in Inangahua County. There were two cases of diptiiheria both in Inangahua County, two cases of typhoid both in Inangahua county, and one case of beri beri in Grey County. The Medical . Superintendent of the Grey River Hospital .reported that during the moniii of March 31 (23 males and 8 females) had been admitted, (discharged 33 (10. males and 14. •females) died 7 males, remaining at end of month 60. (51 males and 9 fe r males). The total number of pati r ents was 100 {77 males, 23 females) ; number of days in hospital 1S98 ; average number of days ;per patient 18.9; average number of patients per day 61 .3". The ages of those, who died were 82. 84, S3, 89, 59V 14. and S5. . ■' : ;: :-" -/, • :.. ; Exports from, New Zealand during : "the quarter ended March '3l, 191.3; reached a total value of as against ,£8,238,347 in _the cororesponding quarter 1 of 1912... The total, tor the later period' includes, specie to" the value of exported: from Wellington, and the latter, total ine'lud cs specie exports from"- Auckland .of £5400. Imports during, the quarter «nded March 3 1 ] 19 13, totalled 520, as against in the cor'respohding quarter of ,112.. '■■■. The iiripbrts for last quarter included specie to the value of .and imports in the corresponding quarter of 191 2 included specie to the value of £10, 005. ' >"- ' ': ■ '"■ ' ".'. " ' ; ■„/ -. '■■ .";■ •■■; Dr. Morice, Medical Superintend-, ent of the Grey River Hospital, submitted a . return for the quafier ending March 3J 1, 1913 and this will b"e forwarded to the Greymoufh.". Statisliciari. It. was as follows.-^ln hospital at beginning of the" quarter 59 (51 males, 8 females).-, admitted during quarter Bi' (55 males' ind. 26 females), total treated, 146 (106 males ; anjl 34 females) discharged '70 (45 rnal|s and .25 • females) died 10 males; Remaining at en'oVof quarter 60 (51 . males 9 females:) Of the Si who-Ayere,ad-mitted .53 patients were under 65 .rears and 26 over 65. Of the 70 disr charged 53 were under 65 . years and 17 over 65 years. • " Of the. ten avHo died 2 were under 65 years and S over 65. years. " , ■, . , ■ \" ■■ '-. " ;

Dre§s gods, exceptional value in Navy and Black Serges is od, is iidj 2s 3d, 2s 6d per yard. 54* ihch-woe serge 3s 6d per yard. Dress tweeds done up in dress lengths only jj's- 6d, 7s od and 9s 6d, cheapest jn tic trade. Also a ranjre of yelvet'een in all colours is nd per yard."Velvet--eens are in great ; demand this, season, note address.— J. N. Walker, Boundary St., ; v ■■'. r ■.''■--•■ ;: ' ■■[ '."■]

Whe^ Roby coughs, and Fanny chokes, And ■ Ruthie hangs Iher headi :"'. . • \.. And mother sighs atfd father snorts'; "I wish that I . weie 'de^d,'^, ;' 1 ; ; • ; : \ Then Grannie reaches fcJr the shelf/ „ A bottle to secure. " '■' ; /' ;" And gives us life-^man, child, ■-. and wife— "' ''.'■■ '.-:..'■'■'-. ".' ■ ':''''■.■ : With Woods-Great Peppermint Curie-

Dress tweeds splendid value 5s lid ; and 8s I. id, the dress piece.--^i^^ blue fine all ■wool serges is;; i^di is^oH; ris iid to "3s iid per yard, Alspfanesr ";• material f or eveniiQg wear- in^^^ani} radiantas, silk ; '.stri^ea . iustres/j po^ljnsy Sicilians, etc.-— Walker's- Warehouse; '':■ Boundary' iStTeeC • .'.- - --S

:Th« practice of ■-.;. riding cyclers r^atn rijffht is'.' inds't '.• dangerous ;.? riot : pjily ' t<>' foot/ passengers iDuts- to cyclists i^m^. selves-— .sfet 'away from .this;Ndan^erQus' 'habits and- jjet •a 1 amp-— ah ; ■ endless^ vk-; ; riety'is-'oh Vi«w at > !AVade!s ; fronl ':2s*3<i;:P

At their, rooms this morning at 1 1.30 o'clock Mark Sprot and Co. will submit to auction 60 sacks prime pofatoes. - ....'.' «Full particulars in connection With* fbe Winifred Cigarette .Competition appear in our advertising columns of this issue. ■ -'.''. ; Mr. Alexander. Doig- announces in our advertsng colum'hs of' to-day/s issue that be will be a candidate for a stoat on the Borough Council at the forthcoming elections,. In response to a rerjuisiton from 270 residents His Worship the Mayor (G, E. Perkins, Esq.), has much pleasure in convening a public .meeting to beheld in the Town Hall at S p.m. tomorrow (Friday) evening-. ■The Education Board announce in this' issue that the annual meeting of householders for election of school^ committees will be held in the principal schools of each respective school district at S Vclock on Monday next, April 28th inst. : His Worship the. Mayor (G. E. Perkins, Esq.) will be ple'ascd to -meet the residents of Blakjetown in the school house this (Thursday) evening, at 8 o'clock and express his views on municipal matters and general. He invites all candidates for the new council 'to make use of the occasion. The Greymouth Golf Club will open the season on Saturday next when a mixed foursome match will be played, entries for which close 'at 5 p.m. this.' (Thursday) afternoon. A meeting of lady members will be held at the pavilion on 26th April to select committee. A bus will leave the Post Office at 1 p.m. On Saturday afternoon at their rorr.s Harley and Co., Ltd.. will submit to auction a great entry of new and second-hand furniture, including handsome walnut sideboard with lead lights, saddlebag chesterfield,, couch, wicker furniture, axmister caipeics, -nrassivc bedstead, B,R. fender, overmantel, hall stand, duchess chests, crockery, cutlery, ladies' Triumph cycle also gents cycle, btsidt-s pioducc and sundries. These sales are a feature of Harley and Co.'s business, i. At the invitation of the Star of the West Lodge, U. A. 0.D., the Oddfel- - lows, Foresters and Hibernians met together in social intercourse luai night at the Druids' Hall. Taimii St. Representatives from each order were present to the number of about 100 •and a very pleasant evening was spent in 'singing and card -playing. „ Bro. Tennc.nt,, who presided, explained that the' idea of the function was to bring the different orders in touch with each other. Card-playng occupied about twp hours and musical numbers were rriyen by Messrs. Parfitt, Clark. King, Skinner. Mason, .Fitzpatrick, Millott, and Andrews. A lengthy toast list Was gone through and the singing ot Auld Lang Sync brought the proceedings' to a close. . A winter holiday in the coral isles oE'the Pacific is what we all wish for and • now that the Union Co run reguTax. steamers to Tonga, Samo-a, FijiRaratonga, and Tahiti it is met such an" undertaking as it was some years ago. The only means then of reaching these isles was by sailing ,>art which at the best are uncertain, but now the Union Co. run magnificent steamers equipped with every conveni ence for comfort in the tropics. A few weeks holiday cannot be more pleasantly, interestingly, and profitably spent than on one of these tours, visit ing scenes so graphically depicted in the words of R. L. Stevenson, L. Beckc and other popular writers. Anvono contemplating a holiday should call and get full particulars of. these trips from tlic local office of the Union | Co. Dt. Newmans long-promisjed book on the origin of the Maori race is oui at last. The title is "Who are the Maoris?" (says "Liber": I hope next week, or the succeeding week, to give a detailed review of this interesting . and to students of ethnology and anthropology, very important work. In the meantime I quote the following interesting paragraph from the preface: "I claim, that this book contains evidence that cannot be criticised away, and that it establishes (1) that the Maoris came .from Northern India, (2) thai their cradle land, Hawaiki. was India. (3) that I have recovered the lost history of the Maon race, (4) that I have conclusively proved the route of the Great Migration from the banks, of the Indus to New Zealand, (5) that the Maoris, are an Aryan Mongolic people, but dominantly Caucasian.'' Messrs Whitcombc arid Tombs, to whose enterprise we owe so many interesting works' on early. New Zealand '' avid the Maoris race, have produced Dr. Newmans work in a handy and handsome form. The price is 7s 6d. An agricultural visitor to the ..Old Countr yinformed an Australian press man that "in Ireland I went to see a group of 'colonists' in the West of Irealnd. "Here ..was a bie pasture estate turned into farms of '2.5 to 30 acres. I found a resident farming instructor with 250 colonists. They had been on these farms less than three years, and a resident farming instructor was living on the spot and visiting them from day to day! That was his job. He was a young farmer himself who had attended short courses provided by the Department of Agriculture. He was not allowed to make speeches. I thought that was capital: That was the one 'inhibition ,ahd he enjoyed it. The authorities did not want the instructor to make speeches. His duty was to counsel the individual and show him the best systems and methods of work. It costs some £150 for this instructor's, salary and expenses He had' an illustration field on one of these farms. On that illustration field .crops were. grown in some of the best ways, and- demonstrations were given of crops and methods new to the locality. I estimated that crops on these 2^o farms in jou V?re worth at leas* £3000 mom than if the instructor had not been there.'

Lamps that will" steer you. clear, oi the bobby at Wade's from. 2s 3d.

Don't run the risk of facing the magistrate it's cheaper to get one oj Wade's Bike Lamps. .

Ladies and childrens . waterproofs, new"s hapes 15s to 425. just the .thing for'this.wet weather, also a smart line in^ladies" umbrellas at ? s ho,^4s 110/ and. 7s lid each.— Walker's Drapery Warehouse. Boundary Street.

t T^he new lamp posts erected bythe ' Council Rive.: a very fine light, but cy^clistf^-you need one of Wade's brilliant. •PHenomenbri large-lamps at 13s