The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1911.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10763, 10 May 1911, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1911.

The fact that the British House of >- Commons is actually Invalidity and engaged in discussing Unemployment, a Bill for insurance against invalidity and unemployment of work people would have been one of the wonders of the age under ordinary circumstances. But the ordinary circumstances of' the legislature are supplemented by the ex-, traordinary disturbance of a constitutional question greater than has hitherto arisen in the" history of ParliamentIt is evident therefore that the abovementioned fact is of phenomenal character. Thus we arrive at a just measure of the importance of the Bill brought down by Mr Lloyd-George. Were there any doubt still lingering on that point, it would be dispelled by the enormous amount and vast varieties of the support accorded to the Bill. The whole of the younger Tories are said to have subscribed with their very hearts, and at their head stands the Pall Mall Gazette, which, after its long history as a Liberal newspaper, duriug which is produced Viscount Morley and Mr W. T. Stead, who are at present among the most shining lights or Liberalism, went over to the extreme Tory camp. This journal is now loud with expressions of the most cordial approval of the Lloyd-George scheme. At the other extreme comes Sir J. G. Ward, the Premier of the overseas Dominion which has carried the Liberal banner farther on the road to progress than any other country in the world; in between are all the exponents of all the political creeds. One does not, by the way, hear anything of the Fabians and the Shawites, and the other monopolisers of the talk of reform. The absence of their names lead to the inference that their talk has been one I of the main preventers .of action in j the astonishing and bewildering. and ! regrettable past. Be that as it may, the unique fact is now evident that the Insurance Bill of Mr Lloyd-George has not only got into Parliament, but that it has on arrival there been acclaimed by all and sundry except the very men who ought to have been the first and loudest in acclamation. This impression is increased by the simplicity of the measure. While the Fabians and theorists of the "superior person" order have been, and are now as they have been from the first, volubly hesitating on the brink of the river of reform, this measure plunges quietly in with a proposal for a perfectly feasible payment leviable on the right people, on a system sure to give the desired benefits, on a scale, modest it is true, but at the same time quite satisfactory to all concerned. It is even possible to realise in a flash that the Tories are amazed at the Liberal moderation of this Bill against invalidity and unemployment. Details have not been plentiful mainly because the persons trusted for the collection of facts by the Press Association are about the most incompetent and futile on the face of the earth. This seems stj-ong. But what can be stronger in its favor than the striking fact that for four days after the introduction of the LloydGeorge Bill there was not one word of explanation of the unemployment sections. These botchers of the Press laid themselves out to give some account of the terms of insurance against invalidity, but the other object of the Bill which was presented to them at the same time they ignored as if it had never existed. Even when they did notice'it, they did so perfunctorily. As witness the fact that while telling the amount of weekly wage allowed in the case of builders, it was silent about the terms allowed in the engineering trade, the second of the only two "trades to which this part of the measure applies. Reporting as bad would be regarded by most New Zealand journalists as impossible to find from one end of theJDominion to the other. These are, we may remark hi passing, the things w-hich search a press service. So long as there is nothing but the play-of party politics, and the only things in the air are. shiboleths, these bunglers can get on well enough. But the'.first thing that comes along requiring sense of proportion, grasp of facts, and strength of vision, bowls them off their feet "at the first shock. Hence the extraordinary mess made by the Association reporters in London of the Lloyd'-Geor.ge Bill, which is truly described as an epochmaking measure. It is _ useless under the circumstances- to ' discuss the de-. tails.. Fortunately it is at the present stage to do so. The important point for the moment is that the principle of devoting the united strength of the State to' the protection of the individual, as an-individual, _noV socialistic member of the body politic, has received recognition both in the Lloyd-George Bill and in the expres-* sioiis of opinion that have come in from all sides of politics, even to the utter- > most coast of the farthest sea. That.js the point of stability./ Made good, it will serve as a basis for further regeneration. Here, in fact, is tho fulcrum that the philosopher of old sought vainly on which to prizo his fulcrum for the moving of the universe. Well may we ' watch the progress of the Lloyd-George Bill with intensity of interest. One thing must not be forgotten. The Veto J Bill does not monopolise the attention fof the Government or of the legisla»tare. In the midst of the stress of a tremendous constitutional conflict the Government finds time not only to discuss important reforms, but actually draws up a measure for the immediate amelioration of the lot of seventeen million workers on principles which have enforced the amazed admiration of the world's medley of warring sentiments. Archimedes, we repeat, has found the fulcrum for his lever. The extent and /power of that lever are the magnificent opportunities which must follow the I constitutional expression of the heretfi-

tary power which has taken centuries of care that -there should be no opportunities at all.

In connection with the retirement ■of the late Chief Postmaster (Mr W. W. Beswick), the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce decided at a recent meeting to afford that gentleman some proof of the Chamber's appreciation of his services to the community. Yesterday an informal meeting of the Chamber was held, and Mr Beswick was asked to accept a silver salver, tea service, and entree dish as a, retiring gift from the members. The following letter signed by the President and Vice-Presi-dent'accompanied the presents: —" The Committee of the Oamaru Chamber of Commerce, at a meeting held in February last, very heartily-supported a proposal by its'members that on your retirement from the position of Chief Postmaster at Oamaru some fitting recognition should, be made of your cservices to the commercial community-in that capacity. It was intended to confine the matter to the members of, the Chamber itself, but certain other citizens expressed a, wish to join. As 1 representing the Chamber, we have.extreme pleasure in asking you to accept the accompanying articles of plate as $n earnest of the esteem in which you ,arft personally held, as well as marking .appreciation in general of the manner in ■ which you have conducted the business of your Department. We trust very sincerely that you may long be spared! to enjoy the leisure that your lengthened services have so thorougUy meriteid:Mr, W. Gibb has received the following acknowledgement of gifts to ihe_ Barnardo Homes: —"Dear FellowHelpers, —Your kind help is most welcome and encouraging at -a. time when the burdens of .the work press heavily upon our shoulders. .Our family of 9130 boys and girls-j many of whom are fatherless and motherless, and all of whom were destitute—need food, clothing, education, and training, and the other requirements necessary to mako men and women of them; our 1000 little sufferers need special care;-aud our host of babies want a great deal of individual attention. Added to this, we are rescuing other destitute children from all over the country in large numbers: You* will, therefore, understand how much I appreciate your aid and how grateful I am to you for sharing our burdens. —Faithfully yours in the childrerrs service, Wm. Baker, Honorary Director." . The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways, was a passenger by this morning's northward-bound express. At Oamaru the Minister was met, by. the Hons. George Jones and T. Y. Dun-, can. The latter introduced some members of the farming community, who were In the unfortunate position of having no feed for their stock and were, desirous of taking advantage of the department's concession of free -railage, about which a good deal of .uncertainty has existed. Replying to his interviewers, the Minister stated that each application would require to be backed up by a statutory declaration that the case was a bona-fide one for relief,.when free railage would be granted. Replying to a direct question as to whom the application should be made, the Minister replied: "To the local stationmaster; all stationinasteis' have been furnished with the necessary instructions." The Minister strongly deprecated the abuse of a somewhat similar concession granted during a previous period of drought. "Anybody found abusing the privilege on this occasion," said Mr Millar,' "will 'go up' as high as oyer the law will allow."

There was only a fair audience >t the King's Hall last evening, when the M'Donald Picture Company held, for the second evening, their picture entertainment on behalf of the Boy Scouts. ■-> The entertainment provided was an excellent one, and the subjects were thrown on the screen in a clear manner. The Chief Postmaster advises the re-, i.pei'iitg of M'acrewhenua telephone, office in charge of Mr Charles Adams. The site of the office 1148 .Jjeen removed a mile and a-quarfcer JaStSni its original location. Judgment fox plaintiff by default of defendant waaHiie morning entered up by Mr T. HBWElson, S.M., in the following civil' cases:—Arthur Thomas Barry and James Henry Lock wood Barry, trading as A. and J. Barry, v. John Chapman, £3 7s 4d, costs 10s; Lee, Grave, and Grave v. Andrew John M'Laughlin, £39 5s 9d, costs £1 10s.

The monthly meeting of the South, •School Committee was held last evening in the school office, at 7.30. Those* present were: —Messrs J. BeOi -A--Cross, L. Dewar, T. Hunter, J. Crombie, T. Williamson, S. B.'Patersori, and. R. C. Alain (secretary). In theabsenc* of Mr A. Lucas, Mr J. Bee'was voted to the chair. The secretary read the hofvdiua.ster's report for "the month,'. • showing that the attendance had been very good, the average being 98 per cent, of the average' roll number. It, was resolved to procure a few more library books for Standard IV. A subcommittee was appointed to have a test made of a suitable stove for Jhe better, heating of the school, as the present grates provided by the Board were far. from satisfactory in the winter •months. Special reference was made' to; the splendid condition of the school grounds, the Committee having greatly improved the appearance' and made them more comfortable for the children.,. In this connection, the Committee expressed its appreciation of the liberality of the parents, a substantial balance re- * maining on hand after the work had been paid for. Accounts amounting'to £l2 lis TOd were passed for payment.: Messrs S. B. Patcrson and R. C. Main were appointed a Visiting Committee for the month. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting. All those interested in the North Otaao Ladies' Hockey Club are invited to be present'at the Show Grounds tomorrow afternoon at the opening match, between teams chosen to represent Captain and Deputy-Captain. Play will commence at 3.15 sharp, and a good ex-' hibition of the game is promised. The Club will provide afternoon tea. The Universal Picture Company have procured another of Messrs Fuller's programmes for to-morrow evening's entertainment at the Opera House. This programme has. been shown to large audiences in the centres, and as it is an exceptionally good one there.is.no reason Why the Opera House should not be crowded to-morrow evening. A full list of the pictures will appear in tomorrow evening's issue of this papery The management wish to state that they have procured the services of Messrs Fox and Dale as an addition <to the Pathe Orchestra, so the music that" will in future be supplied by. his orohesra should be- well worh listening: to.;;

The English mail; via WoUingioii. Sydney, and- Naples, which wiis despatched from Oamaru on Thursday, 30th March, arrived-in London on tho 7th May, '

A special session for ladies will l«» observed at the Skating Rink this evening, and two sessions will be held to-morrow. The for concession cards will be found haTour advertising columns

Complaints have been niade of "thewant of respect for the feelings andsafety of otter users of the byways shown by some drivers-of motor cars. Yesterday on the Junction Hill a young, lady cyclist had it suddenly forced home on her that her only safety from severe injury or possible death, by a swiftly oncoming motor car laj; in quickly disr mounting and dragging herself and f machine on to a grassy embankment which skirts the road; arid this morning; the driver of a vehicle had a, narrow-/ . escape from serious mishap owing to the rule of the road not being sufficiently' observed by a 'chauffeur whose greatest object appeared to be to find out by _ how many miles per hour his car could exceed the speed limit. If motor ears must be tested it should be done, at.* place'where the'rights of others wfll not be interfered with.

PHO'SPHOL is an emulsion of Cod Liver Oil with Hypophospites, and is the finest nerve, bone, fat, and musclebuilder known. . Been too long on the loo much jar and noise—give you a throbheadache? Instant relief with one' wafer of Stearns' Headache Cure. Simple and effective. 3 Mr J. SWINDLEY, Surgeon Dentist, will visit Kurow on Thursday next, 11th irstant, and may be consulted at Spiers' Hotel. , 470 WA.DDELL AND CO.'S Alteration Sale —Just fancv! 10s 6d Hats for Is: 2s 6d Braces for 6d. Three Is Gd Ties for Is, 9s 6d 'Cardigans for 5s Od, Sweaters 8s 6d for -Is Od, 25s Boys' Suits for 9s Gd, 40s Overcoats fo- 19=- 6d.