NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16744, 28 December 1914, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Those party newspapers that are making over the increased aggregate vote cast for Reform candidates at the recent elections' as compared with the elections in 1911 may be pardoned for their joy, perhaps, but they either forget or prefer to ignore one or two rather important facts. The first that occurs to our mind is that, while tho Reform vote expanded, it was still appreciably short of the support given to Opposition candidates. That cannot very well be denied. Another point is that the war must have considerably assisted the Government, as many electors would, no doubt, have decided that the time was not opportune for political changes. The Opposition, indeed, was of that view, and urged a postponement of the elections. "Wo think that the Opposition was quite right, but we also think that when Mr Massey determined to go on with the conflict the people were perfectly entitled to put him out of office. Ho provided tho opportunity. Another fact largely affecting, the voting strength was the superior and more expensive organisation enjoyed by the Reform Party.

It is fair also to mention that three years ago the Conservatives did not choose to contest all the seats. They allowed several to go to the Liberals by default. This year Mr Massey and his numerous organisers put up a candidate for every seat in tho Dominion, and this, of course, swelled their aggregate vote. It would, indeed, have been strange under all the circumstances if the Reform strength had shown a shrinkage, gauged by the total votes recorded 1 . But all the same, the party is still in a considerable minority. The Conservatives, as a matter of fact, have never secured a majority of the votes at a general election in this country sinco the abolition of plural voting. Conservatives have never secured a majority in any country where all sections of the community have equal franchise rights. It is very doubtful if they ever will, notwithstanding that they do sometimes get into Parliament by pretending to be Liberals.

The exciting incident at Sumner on Boxing Day, when a small yacht, sailed by one man, got into troublo on the. bar in endeavouring to beat out to sea

against a strong easterly breeze and swell, again afforded proof of the usefulness of the lifeboat at that holiday resort. Saturday's rescue of the yachtsman in distress was a sufficiently dramatic affair, occurring as it did in the middle of the day, when tho beach was covered with holiday crowds, and there were many, no doubt, who regarded it in the light of a little bit of thrill that gave an extra flavour to the day's diversion. There are, however, all the possibilities of tragedy in the holiday boating at Sumner, particularly when, as in.this case, small craft attempt to beat out over the bar in the face of a high wind and sea. The volunteer crew of the lifeboat did' very smart work, and their promptitude and handinoss could not have been bettered. These accidents prompt the suggestion that tho signal staff on the Cave Pock at Sumner should be put to its old-time uses again. The Lyttelton Harbour Board and tho Sumner Borough Council and residents suielycould devise some working arrangement by which the. former bar signalling system could bo restored, at any rate on Sundays and holidays, when it is chiefly required. That it is needed has been demonstrated on several occasions during the short period which has elapsed since the Harbour Board abolished the signalman's duties.

Many people interested in preserving intact the beauty spots of the Dominion have expressed indignation at the action of persons who visited Arthur's Pass on Saturday last. In order to preserve the plant life of that mountainous pathway across , the backbone of the island', it was made a national scenic reserve. Mountain lilies, mountain daisies, primulas and other plants found in the higher altitudes grow there in profusion and to perfection. The excursionists, or a considerable section of them, plucked those flowers of the mountain side in great quantities, carrying down armfuls of the most beautiful blossoms, which they brought back to quickly wither in the city. As ono of the excursionists said, it only needed half a dozen such raids, and mountain flowers would be rare in that part of the range. Those who took the flowers and plants have rendered themselves liable to a fine of £IOO, for it is an offence to destroy or take away any flower or plant found in a scenic reserve. They are probably not likely to be detected and punished, but they really ought to know better.

Wing-Commander C. R. Samson, who earned distinction in rather a peculiar way last month, has again been demonstrating his ability and courage as an aviator. It was stated that his activities had' been so annoying to the Germans in Flanders that they had offered a special reward of a thousand pounds for his head. It was he who superintended the work of the aviators on the Belgian coast after the German occupation of Brussels, aiid ho and his colleagues earned high prise from the authoritoes quite early in the war. Ho is 11 navy man and commanded a destroyer beforo he entered enthusiastically into the sport of flying. Even before the waterplanes had been constructed' he had demonstrated the efficacy of aeroplanes at sea, flying from the deck of a battleship. He has been commander of the Naval Flying School for tho past two years, and he holds several records for continuous flights. On July 1 of this year ho was appointed WingCommander in the Naval Air Service. Ho is only thirty-one years of age.