Grey River Argus and BlacKball news.

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1918, Page 2

Grey River Argus and BlacKball news.

Delivered sver> morning in Greyinmilh.. "Kivmsva. Hokit'kd, Dobaon, W:illseij<? i'aylorvrilt, Crouaduu, Npilie'-e, liln detail, Nelson Creak. Biimuer, Te Kiiifrha, liotonm:iu IrchliouiiieuPatara, Burn, Kaiinatu, Kot'.iku, Moiiua, Ai>tik>-., iTuiii.uga, Duuollie, Cobcleu, Baxter a, Kolovi, Aiiiiiua, Ikasaatua. Styiv/utei*. V r "iuta. iiuil Beefir>"

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1918. WHAT IS THE GERMAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT ? *AS IT MAY be lookc/L upon as certain tlnit the Kaiser and his clique wiliv now coinc forward with offers to dempcratise Germany, it will be interest ing at. this juncture to consider what the German Constitution really is. The present German Empire dates its existence from the proclamation ' of K?ng- William I of Prussia, as German Emperor, at Versailles I'll, 1871, near the close of the Franco-Prussian war. The imperial sovereignty is not vested the oretically, in the person, of the ruler, but in the Buiidesrat, or Federal Council, whose members are German Lords, sent, as representatives of the twcnty-tw'o monarchies and three free city republics, whose union forms the German Empire. Actually, however, despite the Kaiser's being, strictly speaking, mere Presidents of tho German Federation, and forbidden, to vel'o laws passed by the Imperial Parliament, his wiy \A law in every root and branch of the German Government.. The Imperial dignity is hereditary in the line of Hphenzollern ; ho possesses 17 votes put of .61 in the Buudesrat. and 23fi oui ( of 397 in the Reichstag,: and so can order the passage or killing' of any measure he wishes ; he appoints and dismisses, without regard to the political complexities of the legi's-

lativc bodies, the Imperial Chaaicellor, who stands second only tn himself in the Government ; lasi'ly, while he may not declare) an offensive war without the consent of the Bundesrat. he is Comiuander-in-ChieJ: of the Nnvy, and actively s>. the army, in both oitwhich fighting arms he appoint the. chief officers and exacts the fullest and blindest obedience and allegiance. The Bundesrat is a non-deliberative body, the members voting imraedfately. by States upon the measures called up, in strict, accordance with instructions received from their bpme Governments ; consequently, only the results, not the proceedings, of its sessions are pub lished, leaving free consideration and discussion tn the. Reichstags The functions of the Bundesrat are legislative executive, and judical. First, bills must have its approval before they become laws ; second, it supervises, subject to the Emperor's will, the imperial administration ; third, .K> acts as a Supreme Clmrt of Appeals in case any one of the State Courts is- accused of a denial of justice. The great German forum for the dieussion of public questions and the hope of the democratic element in Germany 'is the Reichstag, corresponding to our House of Representative. The membership numbers 397 Delegats, chosen to-day, throughout* the Empire, exactly as in 1871, on the basis of one member, to each 1,00,000 of the population. The elective system for the .Reichstag is rigidly uniform throughout Germany, though Pru ssia and many ovhet- States have differ ent systems for, the election of .members iof their State Legislatives. Every German male citizen over 25 years of age, mot mentally deficient or a criminal and not in active service with the colours, may vote in the general elections for the Reichstag. Delegates are chosen for five years, and arc paid for their services. As it stands, the Government, though it is founded, on a written Constitution, and the Reichstag is elected l)3 r popular vote, is the least democratic in Western Europe In the first place, the Constitution makes essential the approval of each and every law by the military imperialists who compose the Bunderat which may thus veto a law passed by the popular assembly, the Reichstag. In the second place, the representatives of •t-he people in^ the Reichstag have absolutely no voice or control in the inner circles of the Government. The Emperor rules by right of birth and is subject Ht none — "I take my Crown from God alone ! ' ' Hife Minsters, far from bearing the mandate of the popular party in Parliament, are lesponsible. to the Emperor alone, since it is he who at will appoints and dismisses them. His immense bloc of votes in both Houses of Parliament, combined with the additional support he usually receives, is sufficient for him to block any measure he wishes; and furthermore, he may vote down any constitutional measure to which he is opposed, since fourteen votes in the Bundesrat are sufficient to defeat any proposed amendment to the Constitution. Public criticism of the Government is liable to cause the arrest and imprisonment «of the offender. The complete subjection of the popular will- to the dictates of the Government' is seen in the fact that four times in the past the Reichstag 'has been dis.-olved for presuming to use its only weapon against the Govern-, ment — rejection of the Ministry's mea sures— and in all four; cases a new elec tion has provided an assembly that passed the measure upon whicli its pro decessor was wrecked. So it has been that n Germany the will of the people has been directed by the masterful all powerful few, Avho compose the Go vernmeut, along the path which has been prescribed and marked out f,orit and the Hohenzollern dynasty has succeeded in preserving t-o a remarkable degree its ideal of a Government impesed fiom above and being of and ■in- the people to a very limited degree Events will show the truth of the prophecy which has been so often, made by impartial -obsrvers of German political life, that the release from political bondage will have to come from outside pressure. . It .will be surprising to note how suddenly .liberal minded the Kaiser will become- when the. enemy is knocking at the gate. Before Germany will ever be able to take her place again among civilized-na-tions, she will have to eliminate ' from her socal and poltical system the elements of force, of personal will, and of remaining absolutism. . These elements will have no place in the new wfirld which will be built upon the ruins of the old, after the conclusion of this great world conflict.

Coal has been struck in the boring operations in progress at the Nine Mile on the State Coal reserve.

Last month the birth-rate in New South Wales fell below the average for the previous Septembers to the number of 150.

' Large strong, Hand Baskets at prices from 1/- to 6/6 each are procurable from B. Dixon, Tainui Street. G|Jod value here. — Advt.

Seventeen births, seven deaths, and five marriages wore registered in Westport during the month of September, just ended.

Those in want of a Christmas suit should place their orders early with James "Kyle, Gents' and Ladies Tailor, Mackay Street, -Greymouth. There is always a rush at this time of the year, so to save disappointment it is necessary to place your order as early as convenient. — Advt.

A sergeant-major who was recently on the Cliristchurch instructional stafi of the Defence Department is stated i> have come in for a legacy of £30,000,. • ■ ■

Your advantage as we / sec it is to buy your sheetings now, 72-inch heavy white twill, from 4/3 per yard. Good thick white Turkish Towels from 2/6, 3/6 per pair at Tynions ' and, Co. — Aw, .■;■'.;__ ____ _ ;__

An advertisement invites tenders for leasing Rotomanu Experimental Farm.

There will be sittings of the Military Medical Board hero on the 14th and 15th inst., at Kcefton on the lGth, and West port on the 17th.

Labour organisations of all kinds in France have been putting forward demands for higher wages or higher war litmuses. The railwaymen asked that their war bonus be merged in their permanent wages.

An interesting quarter page display advertisement dealing with the question of National Efficiency will be found on page 4 of this issue and should be carefully considered by every reader.

A Sydney cable states that onions there are quoted af £3(3 per ton; potatoes (Tasmanian) from £(5 to £S; MaJze 5s to 6s per bushel; oats (Algerian feeding) 4s 3d per bushel; millIng 4s 7d; Tasmanian 5s (id, and Adelaide 3s 6d.

In the TasmaniiVin Legislative Assembly a measure to enforce G o'clock closing of all licensed premises and temperance bars has been defeated, the voting being": F 01; 9; Against 16.

Getting the best means buying now. Our first shipment of- the new cotton dress materials hsls come to hand. Prints fnom lOd per yard, Voiles and Gabardines in all the latest colours and designs, double widths, from 2/0 per yard. Tynions and Co., Mawhera yuay, Greymouth. — Advt.

A Melbourne cable last night states that the Acting? Commonwealth lYemier, announced that* T!te Government does not intend to introduce any. Bill to prohibit the sale of alcoholic li«n;prs.

The usual Public Service Entrance ExamJnatinns for shorthand-writers and typists will be held on 23rd November, 1918. Applications .close on 13th November.

Ladies, do you require- a go.od pah of glove fitting corsets? if so, we can recommend the celebrated D. and A. Corsets (all British made), imported direct from the manufacturers and sold at wholesale price at C. Smith. Ltd., the wholesale \ cash ■< drapers, clothiers, boot importers, and house furnishers, Greyiuouth and Wellington. —Advt. 9* ■ ■•■

The Chairman of the Gta&ymouth Harbour Board, Mr J. Steer, recently wired the Minister of Marine, .requesting his intercession with the Minister of Public Works to have a report obtained regarding the tihreatoned encroachment Df the Grey River on Coal Creek Flat, endanger?ng the harbour works. The Minister has replied, promising to at once institute inquiries. • .

B. Dixon, Bookseller, Greymnuth ife now booking orders for Xmas numbers of Auckland Weekly News, Weeuly Press, Brett's.. Xmas Annual due October 21st, price 1/6, postage extra. — Advt

Some of our County Councillors have spent' a day or two in the" Karamea district, (says the Westport eveningpaper) and it may be here said that they could not have spent time at a better place. There is more valuable country, fn the district botween Westport arid Nelson than* any other two put together. ■ .

worried to buy. We want you to see our New White Goods, all of which are | out of the boxes and displayed in our Store. This Great White Sale, for nine days only, commencing- Thursday, September 26th, and ending Saturday/ October sth. One Shilling Cash Discount will be allowed on every lUs spent. Make it worth your while to pay. a visit. M f Gruer and Co., Drapers, Greymouth.— -Advt.

After seeing the pSssibilitfes of the gas emitted from the oil bore at Waipaitik^ a Gisborne. resident, who has a bore on his estate, is having" balloons made by a Dannevirke firm 1p act as holders for the gas, which he intends to use for tire driving power of a motor lorry, in the Poverty. Bay district.

Motorists Hand Books:— "Motor Cyelos;" "Dynamos and Electric Motor Building;" "Electric Lighting;" "Electric Primary Batteries;" "Electric Accumulators" 2/- each posted 2/4. "Motor Mechanics Handbook" 3/-, posted 3/4; "The Maintenance' ?nd Depair of Motor Cars." 3/6, posted 3/10; "Faults and Hmv to Find Them," 3/6, posted 3/10; "Hints and Tibs for Motor Cyclists ' ' 1/9, posted 2/- from B. Dixon, Tainui Street.— Advt.

Messrs Gilbert Bros., the wellknown Jewellers, Tainui Street', Greymouth, are at present making a line showing^ of leather goods, -including Ladies' hand bags, thisj year's fashion, Ladies' and Gents ' <■ Dressing Cases. Ladies' Jewel Cases and Card cases! also Gents' Pocket Wallets; also in leather cases, Silver ' "Onoto" fountain pens,, military haft brushes, safety razors and field glasses. This is t&t> house for dependable goods. Inspection invited.

Regulations have been gazetted declaring that! after October Ist, save in pursuance :of a license issued by the Minister of Marine, it "shall not be lawful for an alien enemy to be engaged or to continue to be engaged as master, or mate, or as engineer, on any home trade ship or to be engaged" or continue to .bo -engaged, as harbour^ master, or in anyj/.>ther official position m, the employment of a Harbour .

Clothes, like everything else has gone up in price, and me n who wish ?o Sv e °f Omi f^ Without sacrificing ft ° f rt^.P 1 " workmanship;. «JJJ c well advised to give th« by Post System'? a trio? mis is a specialist business, whereby' the problem of fitting has been reduced to a fine art. You obtain the very best and latest materials with a saying of from, two pounds to thirty shillings. Furthermore, it is impossible for you to be disappointed, because if you are not satisfied in that the suit is correct, i n fit and in tailoring, you have only to ask for your money back, or have the suit altered. a t n p further expense to you. A laj-ge assortment of patterns, the . colour you prefer, will be sent to you, post, free, on application to John E. Glasson, Gashel Street, Christchurch, together with his easy self-measurement chart, which is so simple a child can follow it. By ;buying your suit direct from the workroom in this way it will only eos.t you 755, 85s, 955, 105s, according to the material you select, .against six, seven, and eight guineas in the ordinary retail way. Drop .a line'tonight, and the materials, will come to you by return mail.— Advt,