Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21. "INDEPENDENCE " OF A SORT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue XXXVI, 24 October 1902, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21. " INDEPENDENCE " OF A SORT.

THE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING AS " CANDID FRIENDS." THE exact definition of an "independent" member of Parliament is very difficult to giye. As a rule the "independent'' politician is one who reserves to himself the right of taking equestrian exercise on that convenient and common article known as a rail, which has the qualification of eDabliug its rider to dismount on either side. Following up the query, one naturally asks whether the "independent' elector is also as " free " as the set terms in whi h he ie gsnerally described presume him to be. On the foregoing text a recent election article in the Auckland " Herald " is of interest, while it also affords much cynical amusement. Our contemporary refers entirely to local affairf, that is, to the attitude of Auckland members in the Honse ; but the colonial application of the comments is that these Auckland members typify the Government ' following generally, with the limitations and the extent of their freedom on thc chain. • » • " H hau is the use cf ' free and independent' electors," asks thc " Herald,'! "if there is a power that binds membe' s hand and foot so that it is the merest joke to call them free in their legislative capacity ? We admit that Ministers allow to members of the Houso of Representatives a considerable latitude of tongue. They do this on the principle that it pleases t v, eso members to be able to fiy out occasionally, and to get these flights into Hansard, while it does not hurt Ministers in the least. Ic is indeed rather accommodating. It enables those members to make a claim, which is purely fictitioii3, to b?ing ' free and independent.' They come before their constituents, and they turn up the pages cf Hansard, and they show how they have denounced Ministers for not doing as tbey should have done for some local work or interest. But they do no eay ib was all a piece of by -play.'' * • » Typical instances of this by-play by Auckland members are ihen given. Quito Intely Mr Jackson I'almer, member for Uhinemuri, took the Government strongl- to task f r tbo manner in wbich it had dealt with tho Paeroa-Waihi branch railway line. iVr Talmer pointed out in the I'ouse that tbe private companies, to leep work going in the mines, are now employing 300 horses daily and late into the night carting on the road. The cost of keeping the railroad 16 miler, in repair is £6000 a year, Government money, and tbe road is romplcted for only eight miles. In spite of the heavy annual expenditure on the roads, as already pointed out, 300 horses had to be continually employed carting for the mines. At the same time the mine owners were not permitted by the Government to complete the line by privato enterprise, and as a consequence many of the mines were shut down. Mr Palmer further charged the Government with keeping eo few men at work at the Karangahake tunnel that they could not cope with the water, and were making no progress at all. ». .**! • The " Herald " considers that in any place other than New Zealand such an impeachment of a Government by a pronounced supporter ' would lead to a Ministerial downfall but here it did not even alienate the vote of the member who made th. accusation, or of tbe constituents who had put him into rarlhnient tc watch their interests. "Mr Jackson Palmer shows t u at thc additional cost thrown on tho mines by tbe cost of conveyance to Waihi has compelled tho shutting down of many of the mines. t>ut it all comes to ' Words, words, words !' The Government Whip, or the Acting. Premier, simply has to point out to Mr Jocksou Palmer the lobby he has to go into, and bo goes there, without the slightest regard for the interests of his constituents. And the Government demands as a ri»ht the servile obedience of the member for the district. Sir Joseph Ward is going to Wafhi, and perhaps also Mr Seddon, to tell the electors that I tbey must send a man who must have no will but theirs as to how he is to vote, but who may exercise the very trifling privilege of talking. His duty, in faot, is to speak in one way, according to his conscience, and to vote in another way, against his conscience.'' • * • Passing on to other Auckland members who speak oue way and vote the other, the "Herald'' quotes Mr Fowlds* strictures on the opening I [ of the Ross- Hokitika railway while I work on the Main Trunk railway had been suspended. It was on the Loan Bill that Mr PowJds spoke, j and he said : — '• Now that the Koss- * Hokitika railway has bced mentioned, just let me say that, in my i opinion,0 pinion, that k one of the wickedest *-'

Ithings the Government has ever done. Jt was monstrous that at ihe ! very time when large numbers of men were being dismissed from the Main Trunk railway line construe tioa wor's tbe Premier should be turning the first sod of a new railway in his own electorate. Ido not know the locality myself, but I have been told by many people that there are about 400 people at the outside - that will be benefited by the railway. . . I have frequently heard the honourable member for Ohiue- . muri speak about the waste in naking tbe tunnel at Karangahake. There the work is being carried or mite close to wheie similar work h )eing done in connection with the ?old mines, and instead of having lp-to-date rockdrills, as the gok nines have, where they could pui ihrough considerable quantities o work, they have men handling hammbrs and crowbars, spending weeks on what might be done in a day's time with up-to-date appliances." • • • _ Further on Mr Fowlds practically pilloried Ministers for " mendacious statements" respecting the Pa roaVVaihi line and the Main Truak line in regard to the suspension of work. Yet neither he nor Mr Mr Palmer had dared to vote according to their speeches. The glaring inconsistency was noted by Sir William Russell, who inagoodhumouredly sarcastic address, said : " I paid great attention, as I generally do, to the remarks of the honourable member for - Auckland City (Mr Fowlds), and it seems to me a complete puzzle »vhy he should bo on the Ministerial side of the House. I cannot understand wby he sits there, because never does ho make a speech of any importance whatever without denouncing, lock, stock, and barrel, everything the Government do, and yet when a division is called thero is apparently no person who is a most consistent supporter of the Government than himself. ' Yet these very members, and many like them, will strain every nerve, to say nothing of their consciences, to keep the Government in office and, after condemning Ministers utterly in the House, they go to their constituencies and laud the same Ministers to [the skies. Ministers, too, continues the " Herald'' will tell the electors what, fine fellows the3e eretwhile impeachers and accusers are, leading the electors to understand that if they do not send these members back they must not expect the Governmental born oi plenty to pour out benefits. Th« irony of it is that as a rule the slavish supporter gets little or nothing tangible for his constituents, but only some worthless sops and many words of promise. » » * If members now beforo their constituents would only realise it, thev would probably find that there is a strong desire among tbe electors for a House of Representatives consisting very largely of really independent members who may support the general policy of the Government, aud yet not be slavish adherents. We do not say that new candidates at the election who run entirely on the independent ticket will defeat any considerable number of old members who admit to being thick-and-thin Government supporters. But there are many indications that old members who are prepared to break away from Ministerial thraldom and to re-enter Parliament as rea'ly independent will not lose support sufficient to etisure their exclusion. It may be early to predict that the result of the general election will increase the ranks of tho candid ciitics and trne independents. But already there are signs that though there may ba no distinct issues by which Governm/nt and Opposition candidates may be defined, former members who are prepared to ehake ofl* writt n or tacit pledges to give the Ministry unquestioning support will not sacrefice votes so appreciably as to imperil their re-election. The thick-and-ihick Government henchman and man-of -all-work politician is already held in considerable contempt, and used merely as a means of getting small roads and little bridges agin one's door. But in course of time he too may pluck up some courage, 3eai ch inwardly for the fraction of soul he may possess, and declare that In is a man first and a Government supporter afterwards. In connection with thc Post Oliice feiie agitation now proceeding in Nelson, the petition asking the Council to grant a site in Trafalgar "Street North on condition tnat adjoining . owners gave sumcient. land free of cost, to make a square ot streets was forwa'raert |to i-hc Council before 2.30 this aitcnieon. Thc letter covering the 'petition is from Mr Win. Lock, as chairman of tlie Citizen's Committee in favour of the Trafalgar atreet North Site, and thc petition, it is claimed, is signed by 15<j& nauie«. A letter signed by four residents was also sent in asking the removal of their names* from a counter-petition on the : ground that they had signed it unuer misapprehension. a counterpetition., winch ii is claimed lias becn largely signed is likely to be presented by a Councillor this evening at the meeting, together with a plan, etc., purport^ ing to show the averages of populations as served by the two sites The counter-petition however, had not been received at the Town Clerk's Office at 2.30 p.m. today, the hour at wbich Ihe receiDt c*if cotresponaencc for the fortnightly meeting closes. For tho last two or three weeks lhe children of St. JolnXs Sunlay School have been practising I Lhe music for their anniversary whicli takes place on Sunday, Nov miber 2. Some of the hymns arc sxceedingly pretty, and were sung Lt the Crystal Palace, London, on „ Ji<o occasion of the Children's Fcsa tival in June last. Other hymns are from Dr Torrey's Mission Serl vice collection, and other sources. I Mr Fclton, stationmaster at . Wakefield, has been promoted to \ thc stationship at Reefton. Mr W. Martin, clerk in the railway office 1 at Hawera, has been appointed to ' tha vacant position at Wakefield. A full attendance of members of j St. John's Church Choir is requested at the usual weekly practice this evening. ISergt-Major Bealy left for Blenheim this morning to instruct the Blenheim Rifles, wno are now encamped. Serg't-Major Roberts also left last eviening for Takaka to attend the Takaka Mounted Rifles' Camp, and to instruct the men in mounted manoeuvring. Captain J. G. Hughes, D.S.O. ha?s receiv-ed the appointment of Inspecting Officer of Defence for the Cadets- of the colony. L Timarn farmer who h=is jast sold 17 pijrs at the ral« of 4jd a lb, says tbat afc (bat price it pays bim better to fatten pip** tban lambs. A youthful Master! on roßideDt (according to an exchange) haa had the ffood fortune to havo a wiodfall, aniountidff fc somh ,-537.000, lett him. B

A ping-pong match was played last night between the Wakapuaka and * Thistle Clubs at the club room of the latter, in which tho Thistles scored a win ( by 23 games to 19. So close wa3 the , mat ch that, playing three rounds, at the i conclusion of .the second both teams had 14 games to their credit. A 1-r-re number of interested visitors enjoyed the 6p rt, and : u >per wa provided by tl e ladies of tbe Thistle Club. It is intended to play 1 a return match at Wakapuaka next week. Mays the Napier '* Daily Telegraph's " Hastines c rresponHent :— A rumour is cm re ttl at >n obt, true! ion. was found on 1 or nenr the railiv y line at the Lonslands i ! bridge. This is said to have consist* d of a crowbar, which waa bent by the enw- ' cat he •ofa tr in, which then passed < vor safely. The police are investigating the 3 matter. ) r Messrs W. Rout and Sons report j having sold 60ft by 152ft in Waimeastreet. adjoining Mr Kershaw 'rf allotk uient, from the N rt tional Bajik to Mr \V. A Ro lighten. Messrs W. Rout and Sons will sell vehicles, wool picks, etc., at fh-ir yards at 11.30 a.m. 10-morrovr, aud at 12 noon in their land saleroom, 4 building sites in Bronti-street, la'e Judge Macka>'a property. An incident which ended happily though it might hare been otherwise, occurred the other day when Mrs Mumbles was asked to sign a petition for the present site for a post office. She became enraged, and said, " What do yer take me for? I'm not an Andaluf-ian. The old place is good enough for yor grandmother. I want something up-to-date as will ba a credit to tho placa end help the working man. I'm agin these ere swell cliques as tri-s to rule toe roost. Good day. I'm off to Bill Lock's up-to-date shop to buy one of tbe 20th Century Atlas MaohiDe**, the best in the world ; aleo some Linoleum, a Couch, a Chefionier, a few pairs of Curtains, and a nice Hearth Rug for my spring cleaning. Lock'-* is by far the cheapest and best place to buy Furniture. Be rigs you out c m pletely for a few pounds, and manufactured anything to order. Lock has just received large direct shipments of teautif ul and si yhsh goods, and oh — so oheap. I'm going to get some, as I espects Bob home at Xmas." — advt. j House, Farm and Station Requisites Tbe recent ex ensive alterations in Messrs Bisley Bros, and Co.'s premises enables them to cany larger stocks of gr cedes, hard wa-e, and produce, which they are now offering to the poblic at wholesale rates. Parcels delivered to any part of the City, Railway Station or Port. Stocks include 500 bags A. I sugar at 7s per 401b bag, floor at 21b 9d per 2001b sack, beßt Ceylon teas in 51b, 10lb, and 201b tins and 601b chests from Is 3d per lb, Price's sperm candles from 6|d, Neleon soap from 6s 9d per box, rice oatmeal, coffee, et-*. Produce— brao, pollard, chaff, wheat, barley, potatoes, grass seeds. Also, for farm and st\tioi» use — fencing wire, wire netting from 8s i per roll of 50 yards, roofing iron, roofing felt, nails. — Enquire Grocery Department Bisley Bros. & Co., Hardy-street, ; Nelson. -Advt. • With a desire to fnrlber extend onr i business, wo bave made substantial reductions in all departments, and for this ' month are offering greaater ind mc in -.nts ' to buyers. We can offer our clients <ind r the public generally, cheap and desirable building sites, cheap and desirable farm?, cheap and reliable merchandise, cheap, durablp, and best makes in carpets and linoleums, cheap and desirable furniture and furnishings, cheap and up-to-date cream separator*., and farm implements. I 20 Ladies-' Le Roy bicyclos, brakes, and sundries complete, £9 ; Gents' £9 10s. The greatest value offered to the public. Bisi.bY Bnos, & Co.— Advt.