Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1917. POLITICS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1014, 6 November 1917, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1917. POLITICS IN NEW ZEALAND.

The average man lias now-a-days little or ho time for politics, especially politics of the party type. Ho is heartily sick of them and not without reason. I Six years ago he was lamenting the failure of the Liberals to maintain their old progressive spirit, and three years later the clash of the contending Liberal and Reform parties, their mutual 'recriminations and the apparent failure oi the Reformers to make good their promises, was engendering in his mind a. feeling akin to disgust towards politicians of both the old and the new school. Perhaps he was scarcely just to the Reformers, because they had entered cilice under conditions which were scarcely helpful, and they were pledged to cany out certain ideas in regard to the Civil Service of the country which were liable to he, and were, met by quiet but none the less determined opposition on the part of a very considerable section of the Public Service. Nonpolitical control of the Public Service, while intrinsically sound in itself and in its substitution of business for laissez

faire principles, can be made very objectionable in Its incidence towards the Government responsible lor its introduction, and indeed lor .succeeding Governments. Had there been loyal co-opera-tion on the part of the Service with the Government which released it irom political bondage, and from that most objectionable form of favouritism, political patronage, Mr Massey and his colleagues might have succeeded better than they did. But, hankering after

■‘the flesh-pots of Egypt” and the easygoing methods and lax discipline ol the old regime, a section ol the older hands in the Public Service did not hesitate to join forces with the politicians in discrediting the Government, and, in some instances, ol so working departmental affairs as to cause the suspicion of ministerial mal-administration and incompotency. If it were possible to write the inner history of the events and happenings in the Public Service during the first three years ol Mr

Massey’s term of oflico, the public' would get a bettor idea of the dilllcnlties He- * form Ministers bad to encounter, and would probably sympathise more heart- t ily with them in their desire to free the i country of a politically managed Civil I Service. The great strike of 1913, and other matters in conjunction with the I partial failure of flic Public Service 1 Act to engender better conditions in the administration of the several departments of State, all tended to make * the Massey Government's appeal to the • country miss fire, and, although it returned to oflico with a majority, its position was none, too strong, and. since the formation of the National Government, certain people have Indus- , triously promulgated the idea that the failures of the latter (alleged and real) are due to the ‘“reactionary Reform” element in the Cabinet, the good work accomplished being set down to the presence ol the Liberals, and its shortcomings to the Reform members of the Government. Everyone with an inside knowledge of polities knows that this is so, and that the Reform movement has suffered accordingly. Hence the desire to form new parties, on the part of those who believe that the Liberal Party lias outlived its usefulness and Hie Reform Party has failed to meet the conditions expected of it. A NEW PARTY FORMING. To meet the growing demands oi the revolutionary section oi the workers the lawless ('lenient that, il it dared, would overthrow all existing forms of Government and set up a more or less intolerant and autocratic obligarehy posing as representative of laihoni—U is necessary that the people «1 country should lie alive to theii own interests and, as far as study the new conditions that aie inaKiite R* l possible changes in our lultiic men! otherwise they may hud Hiemselves badlv left when they are next railed upon l" elect a new 1 ai haiiK nl. li, i s prohahlv for that reason that <;v - lain gentlemen in Wellington are oininlatTiig plans for the creation oi ew party, in which they may possibly trv to include the nio.Wate men ot boll, sides of the House oT Representatives. If they can do that and so obviate the necessity for three oi 1 | other parties appealing to the country toits manifest disadvantage, they wd deserve well ol the electors But th. pub,io would like to know something oi ihe men who are at the back oi th i - ported new movement. Looked at the abstract no one can possibly i ml fault with the policy they baxe ««- lined. But, after all. is there such a vital difference between the prop-aim ne and policy of either the Liberals oi the Reformers as to warrant the obtrusion Sot this fourth party upon the politic 1 horizon hj And. have the failures ot either Party been such as to justify its birth 9 If business men are to lie tempted into the political arena, they mud have some hotter safeguards against-the abuses of the existing electoral svstem ami the personalities that aro so much the stock-in-trade of a certain class of politician than is provided at present The personnel of Parliament might be improved with advantage to the community. But it needs on the part of the electors, a recognition of the tact that only as they sink main issues ami exclude the narrower view of things they hope to put good practical i men, who will legislate in the interests <■)• fbe whole community upon either the Treasury Benches, or into the Legislature and unless they are prepared to accept the rule of the minority class icpresonled by the agitators they must sink all personal differences and exclude all minor differences so as to form a waited party pledged to do its. test lor the welfare of the country. the na ,-tv truce is responsible for the cessation'of much useful domestic legisla- ■ tion, that is badly needed by the country But the members ot the Cabinet, because they have agreed to a certain line of action excluding legislation ot the character indicated by the. New party, have not deprived. themselves or 1 either the desire or the ability to carry such, measures. The supreme necessity is that of winning the war. That won they will be as well fitted to promulgate new and beneficial legislation as the gentlemen who at present prefer to shelter themselves behind the cloak cl anonymity, and to formulate new policies amid the congenial surroundings ol a city tea rooms.

Owing to engine delays, the south Main Trunk Expn'ss passed through Palmerston over an hour la'tO this morning.

\ Press Association message from Melbourne savs that the Liberty Loan of £20,000,000 was fully subscribed.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that in the Supreme Court a “no bill” was returned in the case of Perov Withers, charged with manslaughter.

Owing to the shortage of news printing paper, the Marlborough Express now appears thrice weekly as a four-page paper, with the usual eight pages on the other three (lays.

The confirmation service in connection with All Saints’ festival will be held this evenlug. and will he conducted by Bishop Sprott. of Wellington, bishop of the diocese. There are 120 candidates for confirmation. At; a largely attended open air meeting at Tauuiarunui a resolution was carried unanimously, to ask the Boundaries Commissioners to alter the name of the W aimarino electorate to Taumarunui. in order to retain the borough’s political identity. A largely signed petition is being forwarded.

All sorts of retreats have been made use of” l>y military shirkers to evade the sharp eye pf the civil police and the military. One defin'd ter who was recently arrested _ and brought into Palmerston was found m a dug-out, where he stated he had been living for some months past.

It is not generally known that the Wanganui II a rboiT Board [>ossesses the first locomotive of its kind built in New Zealand. It has been in constant use and is non in need of repair. Discussing the matter at Friday nights meeting of the Board, a member said the .engine ' should oe placed in the Museum.” —Herald.

Fourteen men out of every J5 in the armies lighting in Europe have so far escaped death and wounds, according to the statistics compiled by Mr Roger Babson, the Boston Statistician. Under present conditions when man-power is being conserved by every possible means, he calculates that not more than one in thirty is killed. Only one in fifty loses a limb.

One evening last week a passer-by disturbed two sneak thieves in the act of robbing' a Y.M.C.A. box in Napier of the magazine.-. left therein to be sent to the men tit the front (reports the Herald). On opening the box next morning it was found that several of the magazines had been torn by the mi.-creants in their efforts to get them through the email slit -it the ion of the irox.

Practice is evidently not one of the saving graces of country brass bands. At a recent function in an Oarnaru country district one. of the bandsmen'on going to the bandroom for his instrument found that a sparrow hau taken all the necessary oteps to bring into the world a batch of young sparrows, and had built her nest, in the bellmouth of the instrument.

11 is not the length of time we spend in bed that counts, so much as tin- amount oi rest we get whije there. The famous “C'.M.R.” kapoc mattresses are so comfortable (hat perfect rest is assured. The (' M. Ross Company bedding is manufactured in. our own factory under the supervision of experts. No inferior materials are used. Nowhere can yon buy kapoc mattresses that will outlast the f.M.R.’s. *Sec them in our furnishing section.—Advt. Always useful! One of our Thermos and Icy-Hot Flasks can bo put to all kinds of uses, and will always be found reliable ami valuable in the homo. Watson Bros., Ltd.—Advt.

\ lor;if coittmued 'shock of earthquake vra* felt in Ralmenton at 4 a.m. th.s n.0r,.m ß . \ concrete fence is now teing ««*«! on the Fit/herbort street frontage of the I>planade, and when this is nosing entrance gateway wdl ’ A freak in the shape of !l duck'ms v-'Ui four legs, four wings and a long beak m the place of a head was hatched at Mitel. Fry’s, Umiikuri, hist week. GivinT evidence before the Appeal Board to dav a solicitor said “the profession went sporty' enough, and would., t see a. mar. stuck.” Mr W Howard Booth, of Wairarapa, has taken his hack “Lomly’ who. has jusc been successful at, the Hatvke s Hay, \\ at and Manawatu Shows, down to Christchurch to compete at the Metropolitan Show there.

A little boy named Noel Carvell had a. miraculous escape from death at \\ angamu on Sunday. He was knocked down by a tram car at the King’s Avenue intersection on the Gonville line, but the bra.ces "’era applied so quickly that the boy was not: hurt.

Under what conditions a settler r.u.y legally shoot a straying pig will be a matter for the Stipendiary Magistrate to decide at the next sitting of the Court at Darganlle, on Xo\ember 13. Trouble has ensued ab lloanga over such u case, and consider inln int.en si is being centred in the dispute.

In tin's district, -o far as we. can loam (says the Wyndharn Herald), there will this season he a reduction in the areas planted ill potatoes. Men who have teen ootalorowers for main* years have been forced To the conclusion* that the average return from the giowing of potatoes is not a sufliclem, recompense for the outlay. Altogether the names of 5000 reservist's are contained in the first ballot of ( lass A of die Second Division. A total of 1500 First Division reservists are also gazetted. These comprise youths who have attained military age, recently and others who have had to be drawn to complete the exhaustion of the First Division.

The King (‘onntry Chronicle regrets to have Id record the tieaih of Corporal Harry Barnes, of Te Kami. who recently was killed in action in France. A painful incident r.--eentlv occurred regarding Bus young man when, through sonic ov< r.-ighi on the part of (he anlhoiiiies, he was posted as a deserter. That the supreme sacrifice has so closely followed upon this anxiety of ihe IKircrUs is a. double blow, and the sympathy pf the wholes district is extended to ihe family.

A meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held last night. ’I host- present wera Messrs (11. Whitehead (chairman), 0. Creo,. W. Bartlett. A. He I-uen, 11. Warn, and d. Mitchell, It was reported that fish in tho local holding ponds are doing veil. Matters of local imp* I 'alien were discussed, and it was decided io make ref) resen tat mriH in iln- Centra! Council. Angling in the district streams was reported to be poor owing to the recent heavy rains.

A ladv residing at Tokomaru wrote to (ltd Kaintnga County Council today stating that she had had a dispute with a councillor in that county regarding the wages pma the employees of the Kairanga County. The writer stated that, she understood that K:uranga, paid Us per day. whilst her opponent had argued that only 10s was paid, and sha desired the Council to inform her whether she was correct. The Council was able to reply that the lady was correct.

An interesting importation was received per post lasi week by Mr A. * -pstello, ■ of Dargavillo. in the shape of an Italian queen hee, with which ho intends^ To Strengthen his apiary. The queen-was forwarded in a small >vire-gauzo covered box, and was .attended by a dozen drones. The strangertj arrived in strong, healthy condition-, and appeared none the worse for their incarceration. 1 despite the fact that they tad'journeyed from West Maitland *n N-w South W'ales.

To-day’s mooting of the Kafianga County Council was the last one of the present council, the election of members, taking place on November 14. Cr. Collis stated at the meeting to day that he .had received a letter from Cr. Fawson. now residing in the Waikato, wishing the Council well, and that the members would have every success at the forthcoming election. It is the intention of all the present members to seek reelection with, of course, the exception of Cr, Fawson, ' 1

Four well-known schoolmasters from certain schools are anxious to assist''the’Dominion's requirements during the pending Christmas holidays. They are three bowlers and one learning bowling, and Hava decided to go harvesting where the chevalier barley grows in Blenheim (says tha Wanganui Herald). They look forward to six weeks' work, and also assistance to tha Empire's needs. The action of the schoolmasters is being followed up by many children, who, particularly from higher classes, have engaged, to go harvesting in the Hawke’s Bay district.

The Otago Daily Times of Fiiday say;;:—* Tlio attention of a member of our staff was din cted to a pair of gloves which were purchased in one of the leading drapery establishments in the city during the day. Thev bore an inscription stating that they were made expressly for this particular firm, bur. near the inscription appeared the word “Germany.” plainly indicating the country in which they were manufactured. The indignation felt by the purchaser may bo imagined when it is stated that her husband is at present engaged in fighting the Huns.

The following nominations have been received in respect to the annual election of members to represent the different ridings of the Manawatu County Council: —Sandon riding, W. J. Phillips; Mount Stewart, Sir Jus Wilson; Waitohi, W. F. Penny; Rongotoa, JL 11. Hunt; Kawa Kawa, J. Boyce and 11. A. Simmons; Carnarvon, 11. (I, Hammond; Awahou. W. K. Barber. As there are two nominations for the Kawa Kawa Riding, and only one L required, an election will lake place on the 14th iust. Only one representative is required for the remaining ridings, for which the required number m each case has been nominated. At. the civil sittings of the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Mr W. G. K. Kenrick, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs by default in the following undefended cases; E. Perry (Mr Innes) v. 0. Bolstad, claim £24 18s 7d, cods £2 Ids; W. G. Aitken (Mr Innes) v. H. H. Cornford, claim £lls 10s, costs £5 17s 6d ; T, Flctt (Mr Fletcher) v, Ben. S. Gray, claim £5 7s 6d. costs £1 3s 6d; W. W. Martin (Mr Cooper) v, H. Weller, senr., claim £4 Bs, costs, 16s. In the judgment summons claim, Garrity and Sons (Mr Fletcher) v. W, F. Curie, claim £l6 10s Bd, debtor did not appear, and an order wa s made for the payment of the amount forthwith, in default fourteen days’ imprisonment.

‘‘One cannot say too much about the good work that is being done by the High Commissioner (Sir Thomas Mackenzie) and his staff at 415, .Strand, London,” said Mr Titan McCabe to a New Zealand Times’ representative on Saturday. “No. 415, Strand,” ho added, ‘‘is a Mecca for our boys, from the front, and as a means of advertising New Zealand it is well and favourably known all over England. The big ground floor windows at the moment are being used lor displaying war trophies; but on the ground door inside is a very excellent exhibition of New Zealand products of every kind; and in normal times these will be disPl»yed ' n the big front windows, u hatever expense may have been incurred with regard to the office appears to have been very well expended in the interests of the Dominion. Of course, the war has entailed in many "■aysa good deal of extra work oil Su 1 homes Mackenzie and his start, but that work is done very willingly and for the love of the cause. It is very evident that they all feel that they cannot do too much for our New Zealand soldiers.”

Three essentials in the quality of the bedding that is to really rest vou—first, buovancy and gphngnesssecond, freedom from dust, odour, and impurities, and, third, reliable ticking and workmanship. The bedding we make complies with each requisite; our fan teasing _ makes such elasticity as lias never been given here before, even - particle of impurity removed and workmanship .of .the best. Collinson and Cunninghame. Ltd.—Advt.

\V hen on the look-out for dainty cups and saucers, remember the charming designs shown at Lollmson and Son's, Broadway If its only one y QU want to give a* a‘present, or half-a-dozen needed for afternoon tea, vou will find unequalled variety hor« Priced at each Is. Is 6d. Is 9d, 2s M. 2s 6.1 ■ . 4s 6d, 5s 6d. Wo very cordially invite you to see these perfectly new designs m odd cups and saucers.—Advt. '