Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1919. THE "NO CONFIDENCE" DEBATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1622, 8 September 1919, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1919. THE "NO CONFIDENCE" DEBATE.

The Liberals exercised a wise discretion in abstaining from the “no confidence” debate in Parliament on Friday. They could not possibly have followed Mr .McCombs’s lead in declaring that His Excellency's advisers, as at present constituted, do not possess the confidence of the House, because, in doing so, they would have given practical support to the Labour members’ condemnation of the men, on their own

side, of tho House, who had acted as .members of, and supported the National Government. It was noticeable that all that Mr McCombs and the other members of the little party following him, aaid in condemnation of tho Reform Administration, applied with equal force to the Liberals. Indeed, Sir Joseph Ward came in for stronger censure at, their hands than Mr Massey. No good purpose was therefore served l>y the discussion upon an amendment to iho Address in Kopiy that was foredoomed to fail of its objective before it was even proposed. The arguments used by those who supported it have been wont almost thread-hare in tho meetings addressed by Messrs Holland, Fraser, Semple and McCombs throughout tho country during the recess. The only advantage tho Labourites gained was that, by moving the amendment, they were enabled to speak again in tho debate in which they had already

taken part, and a re tlum able to mono poilso twice the space in Hansard thal I they would hare had otherwise. Tht j agreement apparently come to by tin 1 Liberal and Reform sections oi tin House, not to carry on the debate 01: the Address in Reply is certainly it the best interests of the country. Parliament has certain essential busiuesf that must be put through before it gooto the country. The Financial ami Public Works Statements will afford ample opportunities for discussing tin ‘ jiolicy of the reconstructed Administration, which should he, at least afPrded a reasonable opportunity ol maturing its plans and developing its programme. Under ordinary circumstances the debate on the Address in Kejjly generally ocenoies the first fortnight or three weeks of the session, and it is generally admitted that, when .-neb discussions end, the business of tin> country has made little or no nrogre.Hs. The present session should an. he protracted by unnecessary discussions. Anything members have to say in condemnation of their fellowmembers, or of the past and present (rovealiments, ran very well he, left for ;ho hustings. The present Government H in an appreeiablv better posititjn to deal with the all important questions ■ if Repatriation and 11 eronst ruction ban its predecessor, in that it has the advantage of having associated with it two, representatives of the Returned Soldiers. who - have served with' dndino-

SUNDAY POLITICAL MEETINGS. Tjik correspondent who invites us to again enter our protest against the holding of political meetings on Sunday, represents a very considerable class in the working community who object, on perfectly logical grounds, to the attempts that are made by one section—and the extreme section at that —to (icore at the expense of their political upi-Kjneuts. Che raises a question which is of supreme interest to the workers themselves. The seventh day of the week is, or was, intended to be essentially a day of rest and entire freedom from the cares and worries of the work-a-day world, in a Christian State it is a day of worship also, and while, with an increasingly large section ol the public, church-going is becoming more or less a negligible duty, the experience of British countries at least goes to show that Sabbath preservation has over been tho groat boon ol the worker. Anything that would tend to remove or undermine that bulwark of the worker’s liberty, is to be deprecated. There is, of course, no law to prevent a man or any number of men “holding forth” on social or political questions on the Sunday, nor would it be wise to legislate, against the holding of political meetings on that day. _ But it is scarcely wise on the part, of one, section oi the public to deliberately flout the feelings and susceptibilities of the other sections; apd a little inquiry on tlie, part of those w ho do so, would show that a largo section ol the workers not only does not hold with the socalled Labour demonstrations which are held on Sunday evenings, in some towns regnarly, in others (as is the case in Palmerston) at intervals, hut actually resents their being held. Tho “Standard” has consistently maintained that the principle at the hack oi such demonstrations is wrong; that it violates the canons of decency and good taste, and that, acted upon as it is by only one, class of politicians —and that largely a self-seeking class of agitators it. introduces an eminently unfair element into the affairs of the country that must, sooner or later, reduce the standard ol political morality, and cause the better class of the community, and the class that really counts in _its government, to abstain from entering political life

At Wanganui on Saturday Mr Massey received eleven deputations after opening the Sarjeunt Art Gallery. At To Awumutu last week Mr IT W. Burton, S.M., fiiiod a young man named Collins £l5O for supplying liquor to natives for consumption off licenced premises. Iho alternative was fiyod at nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Replying to a question at W anganui oti Saturday the Prime Minister said that the coal position had much improved. It had been hoped to resume normal services in a fortnight, but if the minors persisted in a “ go alow " policy, the trains could not resume. It all depended on the New Zealand miners. At the conference of the Secondary School Assistants’ Association last week, a motion was carried as follows, ‘’That tins meeting c.vpiv.-s the fullest sympathy with Miss Smith in her unjust treatment at the irands of the Datmevirko High School Board, and that the secretary of the New Zealand Schools’ Association forward a resume ol the eas*-, with the correspondence appearing thereto to the Minister for Education." A bright spark in the proceedings at the Auckland I’olice C’ourt one day last weoiv was the appcanince, during the hearing of a, case, of a little fellow of between two and tliret* years, who burst in unexpectedly iij/on the throng, and romping and laughing, mounted the Magistrate’s bench. The little fellow put all in a good humour, the sombre faces taking an immediate relaxation m the form of good-humoured smiles, brought on by the boy’s hilariousness. Vcrv rcluctamiy Mr Wilson, S.M., ordered a constable to take him out. But this was not the end of ins day’s fun, for from a far portion of the building came his cheery voice in laughter. As a sequel to the Oromahoe shooting tragedy on August 14, in which a native woman was shut dteul and a native man* her step-biother—with ehom she lived, was fatally wounded, Walter Ashby. a half-

caste i! t tromahoe. was brought up on remand belme Mr V. )l. 1.-yiem S.M.,_ at the Kawakawu Magistrate’s t ouit. last Wednesday and charged with the double murder. Accused was def. mid by Mr R. ,\. Singer, of Auckhmd. ami Mr K. Guy. of Kaikohe. Mr Wood-s. of Whangarei, acted as Court interpreter, and Mr J. Miaho, of Kaikohe, was retained as interpreter for the defence. By order of the magistrate the Conn was cleared Senior-Sergeant Cassells conducted the i..se for the police. After hearing the evidence the magistrate committed the accused for trial on both charges. An application for bail was not. granted. At Wanganui on Saturday evening, the Premier (Ri. lion. W. F. Massey), in the presence of a very large audience, which gave him an enthusiastic welcome, delivered an address on the Peace Treaty and its relation to the British Empire. Mr Massey made a .storing appeal to the present generation to safeguard the liberties of posterity, by making sure that Britain had preserved her strength to prevent any criminal onslaught by other nations. Ho particularly emphasised the value of the British Navy, which was of more importance to Britain than anything else. Mr Massey also made a strong appeal for unity among all sections of the community. A house divided could not stand, neither could si, divided nation. Pending the development of the League of Nations, the beat brains and tiie sanest statesmen were required to make such adjustments as were rendered necessary by the changing conditions.

A rather novel point was concerned in confection with a compensation claim at the Arbitration Court at Christchurch last week. Plaintiff had lost the vise of several fingers in an accident at his work and Lit applying for compensation from ins employers asked ihe Court to take into consideration the fact that as a, piano player he earned in spare time an extra 15s a week, by dance engagements. Mr M. J. (Lesson, who appeared for the defendant firm, contended Unit that was no concern of the defendant, Mr Justice Stringer (president of the Court) said that in regard to the piano playing it was a new point raised in the Court proceedings, and one in which there was u prospect of adding to thi terrors of employers, for it might be that an employee was a highly skilled performer. Mr Gresson referred to a similar

application at Homo, which had not boon allowed. A girl employed in a laundry was in the habit of earning a little <>-,na by teaching the piano in her spare time, and in applying for compensation for an accident at the laundry, by which she had lost tin' use of certain lingers, slie asked the Court to take that fact into consideration. The neglect of any form of eye-strain or f impaired vision may have very far-reach-ing consequences. But only a widely experienced and fully qualified optician ■hoiild he consulted. Mr Samuel Harry, tiie Auckland optical specialist, will again visit Palmerston North from September 3th to 11th inclusive, and may be consulted at his rooms at Hepwonh’s pharmacy, tho Square, on those dates,—Add. Cepea serge, an all British wash fabric in narrow and full block {■tripes; unshrinkable. colours absolutely fast ; width 31-inch ; price 3,s 6d per yard.—The (.’. M. Boss (A)., Ltd.; dress section. —Advt. Braby’s aluminium cooking utensils, British manufacture. Saucepans, stew Dans and fry pans. Wo are now showing a fine assortment of aluminium ware : saucepans, four in a nest, 6s lid, 7s lid, 9s 6d, 11s 9d ; stewpans, five in a, nest, 3s 6d, 10s 6(1, 12s 6d, 15s, 81s 6d ; frypans, good household size, 10s 6d, at Collinson i and Son’s. Broadway.—Advt, If you ha’*e a cold in the liead use the j Nuzol Inhaler. A few grill's and you notieo | a mark'd relief. Keep it up and the cold j soon vanishes —Advt. No more grinding of teeth with Wade’s |

A Paris cable slates that M. Cailhmv. who i.s on trial for treason, i. seriously ill, and flit) High Court lias decided to transfer him to a private hospital.

Tito architect for the new Campbell street School will visit Wellington on Wednesday to consult the Depaitnient for the carrving out ol his <Jesi;;n loi tnc whole <>t thu new school. The Municipal Conference will open at the Town Hail, Wellington, at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Palmerston North Borough Council will be represented in the Mayor (Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.J, and the town clerk. A railway accident occurred at Saint Jury near Toloust* (Trance;, 'the poorness of tiic coal caused the train to lose time and finally to stop. Ihe Borleaux express, travelling at fifty miles an hour, Clashed into the rear of tie- stationary train, wrecking several carriages. Eighteen were killed and forty three injured. On Saturday the Trentham military police arrested a camp orderly on the morning M icster ton train at J lay wards. Jim orderly was coining into Wellington from Trentham. lie. was immediately taken back to camp on the 12.15 train from WOling ton. A cOuVl-martial will be held in due course to inquir*- into charges of stealing camp rations and equipment. Admiral Jellicoe and his staff attended a korerc of lie- Christchurch Savage Club on Saturday night, when Admiral Jellicoe was made an honorary life, member of the club. Yesterday morning, in the Anglican Cathedral, AdinhaJ Jellicoe presented the Dean and Chapter with a, flag which had been flown !>v 11.M.5. New Zealand at the surrender of the German fleet. Admiral JeJlicoe was attended bv a big detachment from the warship, lie f< fI in the afternoon for Timaru ami Dunedin.

The Serjeant Art Gallery, which has just been completed at Wanganui at a cost of £IB,OOO, was opened by the Prime Minister (Hi. lion. W. E. Massey) on Saturday afternoon. 'Fite gallery is acknowledged to be one of the finest in tills Hemisphere. To marie tin opening, an exhibition extend jng over two months is lacing held, and valuable pictures have been loaned from ail parts of New Zealand and overseas. A unitpie feature i.s the collection of originals of famous .war cartoons from American publications. A very fine flight of steps, costir g over £ISOO, are now in course ol construction. A rise of 2d per lb in several brands of teas is reported, and the Wellington Post says: A 5s tea of fair quality i.s not at all unlikely in the near future. The price is working in that direction all the time, local stocks are short, and although large quantities of tea hung up in Sydney by the strike were bought at lower prices, they have cost much in storage, and they are still in Sydney in large part. The. rupee, which was Is 4d, is now worth 2 . which means that more has to be paid fur the tea, .or rather less tea is now purchasable by tin- sovereign than before the war, when the value of the rupee, was Is 4d. J. 11. G. Chappie, formerly engaged in church work, and some time “conscientious objector,” contributes an article to the Mainland Worker on Socialist Sunday schools, in the* course of which he says: “Have no Bible teaching- and put Socialist teaching in the place of religious teaching. So-called Social Ideals arc in the very host sense religions. Teach them how to think, and not what to think. . . On all sides enlightened Catholics and Protestants alike are dubious about the prevailing superstitions indoctrinated into the minds of their children, and in the Socialist Sunday schools they could both find a common meeing place.” Mr E. Newman has given notion in the House of Representative? to ask the Prime Minister whether he will civ.- an indication of the amount of ltd-. Dominion s share of the surplus profile that have been made by the Imperial Government on wool sold for other than ntilitar, purposes (a) from the 1916-17 greasy clip,' and (b> from the 1917 IB irreasv clip; and when the proportion of same will be available for distribution to wool-growers? lit <a note u> Ins fpiestson he says: A large number of wool-growers have donated their shares in the surplus profits oil wool,to a fund for tile benefit of the dependants of the sailors of the Royal Navy and mercantile marine who lost their lives during the war. and it is desirable that the fund should bo established without delay, so that tills important work mar bo started as soon ca possible.