LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17151, 3 May 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

BY MKRCITIO.

.There are man . ways of deciding the Igims of candidates for pub'ic positions, Villi that adopted at Powonby on the ftrt-asion of the school committee election i, probably as good as any. At the of a member of the audience, ,i candidates mounted the platform and iliiwered their names, e«"h being subjected to a critical ecutiny as he did so. The successful aspirants naturally left the building with a high opinion of the taste of the electors. Those defeated at least had the consolation of reflecting jwj "looks are not everything." Before this method of election is extended to candidates in municipal and general politics it mav be well to introduce the ,rddv of phrenology- or »r. ; ognoroy into the schools.

The University College Council appeared I to be satisfied with itself when it had disposed of the complaint that the claims 0 a returned soldier with long service did not receive adequate consideration in the appointment of an assistant law lecturer. Hut is the pubic as thoroughly latisfled? It amounts to this, that two candidates were considered about equal in qnali ications, but a gre«>;- clearness of expression and a more iorceful style credited to the civilian were held to be of more weight than the soldier's service. One can imagine circumstances in which clarity of expression and style might be decisive, but it. was not put in that way. On the contrary, the whole report gives the impression that it was not far from a toss up between the two candidates, nd that the soldier ought to have had it. Certainly the law lecturers' report says the principle of preference to returned foklie--s was wholly inapplicable, but unfortunately it leaves one wondoring m der what set of circumstances that principle would be applicable. One can hardly conceive of two applicants for m a position being eqnal in all things, and until two such applicants are fouri the preference to the soldier is a mere phrase signifying nothing.

Some members of the council seemed to regret, in the interests of the soldiercandidate, that the matter should have been made public. No tears need be shed over this. Soldiers will gain by the publicity, and the particular soldier concerned has already gained, for the whole town has beard of his fine qualities. Men who have served under him are particularly tickled at the idea that he has any difficulty in expressing himself. Themembers of the University College Conned are not likely to hear the* end of the incident for some little time. They were offered the services of a soldier highly qualified for a vacant position, and they did not allow his service to weigh one little bit.

An amusing incident is related in connection with the public career of Mr. W. I Speight, whose death occurred in Auckland last week. Forty years ago Mr. Speight was one of the foremost , temperance workers in New Zealand, and Grand Chief Ruler of the Rechabites of the colony-it had not then attained the dignity of a Dominion. One day the passenger list of an East Coast steamer, .« telegraphed from a Southern port and published, included the name of Mr. Speight, without initials. The tempera,,ce 'institutions of Napier saw an opportunity of doing honour, as he passed on his way, to one of their most distinguished men. Accordingly, when the steamer anchored in th» Ahuriri Roads-Napier had no wharf for large steamers in those days and vessels had to be tendered in the offing-a strong deputation of bluenbbonites put off in a launch from the shore, armed with a complimentary address for presentation. Arrived at the steamer, the deputation formed in line on the deck, and the gentleman they sought was sent -for. There was, however, a surprise in store for them. "Mr Speight" appeared in due course but instead of the head of the Rechabite Order be turned out to be Mr. bpeight, the well-known Dunedin brewer, about the last man. in New Zealand to whom they would think of presenting an address of welcome.

The popular confusion regarding the municipal and the Parliamentary franchises is evidently shared by the Labour Representation Committee. As part of its propaganda in connection with this week s elections, the committee proposes that "all persons who have the Parliamentary franchise should have the municipal franchise also ; the one roll should cover both votes." This represents a view that is apparently widely held, though those who complain at the duplication of electoral rolls evidently overlook ;he fact that Parliamentary and municipal districts are not contiguous, and that the Parliamentary rolls could not be used for, say the election of the Auckland City Council. So far as the franchise is conceded anyone who is entitled to vote at a Pailiamentary election is qualified fo* enrolment on the roll of the municipality in which he is resident, while certain (lasses of non-residents also are qualified as municipal electors.

In the statement of its •' platform' the , Labour Party proposes that " voting in j all elections' or referendums concerning: Was or any other matter should be on lh» Parliamentary franchise." his is a verv different matter. The suggestion is that electors possessing only the residential qualification should be placed on an eqnaiiv with ratepayers at polls on loan prnpoMl. The ratepayer would not un- j reasonably object that' since he must pay ; the rates, r.e alone should control the municipal eipenditure. The Labour argument may be that the rentpayer is also

the ratepayer, and that he lias an intimate interest in improvement works, but in how many cases nowadays, does the rent cover the full amount of rates. The regret expressed by English newspapers that New Zealand was not represented in the march through .L 0 " 011 Aiizac Day will be shared in the Dominion, and there will be curiosity to know the reason why. Apparently there was a blunder somewhere. Ibis is all the more regrettable because Australians as a whole are scrupulously careful to honour New Zealand's part in the Undine. Dominion troop- have been included in Sydney processions if at all possible, and many Australians have paid eloquent tributes to the significance of the second and third letters of " An/ac. Ii roav be Uken for granted that Australian soldiers regretted as much as anyone the absence of New inlanders from the London observance.

Residence in England has not deprived Mr Y M B Fisher, formerly Minister for Customs, of hit gift of picturesque, speech. Addressing the Castle Baynard Ward Club recently, he two examples of freak strikes in »w Zealand. On one 0.-CUHHI. he said, the -rew of a boat] struck because in the articles it vu , provided that a ce-tam brand of sauce should he served. A. a matter of fact, the jupph ran short, and another brand I «it supplied, with ill'- remit that the, men deemed to take the vessel out (it tbe'dock. On another occasion the convfcß at a mison went on hunger strike because a hand of the Salvation Army staUmed i's/f outside the gaol and played continuously " Home. Sweet Home." Mr. Fisher did not say where or when the strikes occurred, but those of us with g<*d n.eniorii* will doubtless retail the mci.ieii.B.