THE LAND TENURE QUESTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14684, 18 November 1909, Page 7

THE LAND TENURE QUESTION

"Whatever other purpose it may fulfil, the debate in the House of Representatives oa the Budget has had the useful effect of disclosing the numerical weakness of the leasehold party in that Chamber. Tho amendment which Mr T. E. Taylor proposed on Tuesday night, afßrmiug that the concession of the freehold option' should be delayed until the sense of tho electors had been taken upon tho subjeot by referendum, was yesterday ruled to be out of order. As the, terms of this amendment positively shocked a fen- of tho time-serving members who, while they proclaim, a. whole-hearted support for tho leasehold system, are less concerned to back their professions by their rotes than tlioy are to avoid doing anything calculated to embarrass tho Government, tho Speaker's decision on tho point will hare afforded a certain amount of relief in tho House. Another amendment, however, expressing in more carefully-chosen languago the proposal which Mr Taylor had submitted, was moved by Mr Russell, and, tho Houso proceeding at once to a division, was defeated: by fifty votes to seventeen. Absent members being allowed for, tho total strength of tho leasehold party in the House, now that Mr Millar and Mr Fowkls liavo deserted it, is stated, upon a favourablo estimate, to bo twonty-six, or not quite ono-third of tho members. In 'these circumstances surely it is quite idlo for any member to assort, as Mr Laurenson did yesterday, thai a large majority of tho electors iaro opposed to any alienation of tho Crowji lands. It is a reasonable conclusion, when the disparity between the strength of tho leasehold and tho optional tenuro sections of tho Houso is so great, that tho bulk of tho electors are prepared to support tho disposal of tho freehold 011 equitable conditions to tho Crown tenantry. That a referendum, if 0110 wore taken, might prove that a majority of the olectors are opposed to tho land policy outlined in the Budget is, on tho other hand, quite likely. Bub that would oidy ibo because it would bo exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to frame an issue that would elicit a reliable expression of popular opinion. Tho leaseholders would voto against tho proposals because they nro opposed to them in principle. Tho freeholders would probably vote in lairgo numbers against them because they regard tho details of tho proposals as unsatisfactory. In these circumstances a referendum on the subject would bo misleading and inconclusive. It cannot, therefore, bo regretted that the House summarily rejected Mr Russell's amendment.

Thcro is a good deal of feeling at tho Addington Workshops just now In regard to furthor dismissals which have taken place (says the Lyttelton Times) and which aro (lending. It is stated thai in tho'smiths' shop tho number of journeymen has been reduced from 45 to 17, and that lately 11 havo been rent out of tho litters' shop. Questions which havo been asked tho Minister of Railways iu Parliament by Messrs Witty and Taylor aro the outcome of some of tho feeling that prevails. In answer to Mr Taylor, the Minister stated that a .number of blacksmiths had been retired from tlio workshops owing to tho falling off ill tho quantity of blucksmithing work. There were, however, at present 26 blacksmiths employed' at tho workshops, and these were eulticiont to meet immediate requirements. Thcro wero no grounds for supposing that t'ho retiring of blacksmiths indicated tho closing of tho railway workshops at Addington. In reply to Mr Witty, tlio Minister said tlhat 32 casuals had been paid oft at Addington out of a Finlf of 188 casuals, Somo further reduction might be 'iiado in tlio number, but a considerable casual staft' would still remain in tho employ of tho department at the workshops. Although this reduction of hands was being made, ample men would bo employed to enable tho 'oiling stock programnio to bo satisfactorily carried out. Thcro was no present intention of putting off tho whole of tho casual iiands at Addington. •

'ljie mall which was despatched from Duncdin via, Brindisi on Octobor 7 arrived in London on tho night of the 12tli inst.

Cr Keast announced at last night's meeting of tho City Council that tho King Kdwan l street.. track would be completed on Friday night, and the tramway manager hoped to havo tho through trame running jn Saturday morning, or at latest on Monday. Tho Mayor tlion added n personal testimony in regard to tho calibre of tho men w'iio wero doing tho work. I-Io had had an opportunity' that morning at 5 o'clock, ho 6aid, of seeing tho men at work, and ho had bcon particularly struck with their vigour, and thought them an excellent body of mcai. Some slight visible surprise was expressod on tho faocs of couneilloro at tho hour mentioned by his Worship, and to allay this Mr Walker added in an asido t'hat ho " was not going homo at that time." This was greeted with a littlo laughter, Tho explanation is I hat Mr Walker attended tho gun-firing of tho Duncdin NavaJs at tho Ocean Beach Mattery at tho hour mentioned. Further, an to tho King I'xlward street work, Cr Wilson said ho would like to oomplimont tho chairman of tlio Tramway Committco on t'/ie expedition with which tho wwk had been done. JIo had thought it-was a. little slow at (inst, but this had boen more than oumpenKitcd for later on. Cr Fiddis asked thu Mayor whether ho would be in favour of giving tho men a bonUb. His Worship said ho had felt at 5 o'clock that morning as i( thev deserved it.

When tho adoption of tho Finance Committee's report was beforo I'ho Hospital Trustees yesterday Mr J. M. Gallaway (•aid {hat ho lia<l twice attended the meeting of tho,Finance Committee to I'md no <mo else there. Ap there apparently had boon lio meeting of tho committee, ]io failed to sec how thcro could Iks a report. Tho Nvrctary on being referred to stated thero had been olio meeting hold. "Oh," said Mr Callaway, " thcro should 'have been three mcotings, should'there not;" The report was adopted.

In reply to a question by. Mr G. M. Thomson, tho Minister of Railways stated in the House of Representatives yesterday that imported coal was charged class N rates on the New Zealand railways. New Zealand bituminous coal was charged at class P rates for distances up to 75 miles, ar.tl for distajicoe over 75 miles at rates varying from 9s 4d per ton to 17s 6d per ton, according to tho distanoo. Tho rate for New Zealand bituminous coal fvom Dunedin to Bumsido was 2s 6d per ton. This rat.: ww applicable to all New Zealand bituminous coal fcr tho same distance, and tho Minister regretted that ho could not sco 'iiis way to chargo bituminous coals at a lower rate.

A suggestion that clothing unclaimed lor a period of four months aftor discharge or decease of a patient should becorio tho property of the Hospital, and that a by-law to that cll'ect should bo incorporated, also that all clothing now in -tile Hospital which had keen unclaimed (or a period of 12 mouths be disinfected and handed over to tho Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society's agent, was discussed by tne Hospital Trustees yesterday. It was resolved-that-all clothing now in the

Hospital whioh has been unclaimed for six months bo disinfected and handed over to local charities. It was considered rather late in the life of the presentboard to frame new by-laws.

Very frequently in (he City Council Cr Fiddis rises and makes reflections upon the very poor quality of tho gas being supplied to consumeis. Ho did t'nis last night, specifically remarking, in connection with the recommendation of tho Gas Committee to commence the discreet nso of tho water gas plant, that surely the gas was bail enough already without the addition of water gas to it. This brought a sharp and strong reply from Or White, tins chairman of the committee. He could not understand, he said, why councillors were continually referring to t'ne quality of the gas. He was one of those unfortunate individuals who had to do a good deal of his work at night, and ho could certainly say that tho gas supplied at present compared more than favourably with that given by previous managers. 110 considered, he said in conclusion, that the Gas Comjniiteo had only <lone the right and proper thing in putting tho water gas plant into commission "to bo used discreetly."

Twenty-three applications for the position of lady assistant for tho children's department of tho Public Library have been rcceivod by tho City Council. The Library Committco has been instructed to select six names and fonvaid them to tho council. The sanitary condition, or otherwise, of one of tho wards caused a littlo discussion at t'he meeting of tho Hospital Trustees. Tho report tot forth that cortaii) arrangements did not meet with tlio approval of t'iio mcdical authority. Mr Gallaway, quoting this, declared that in the interests of health the ward ir point should bo closed till the sanitary arrangements wero suoli as would meet with the approval oE the mcdical officer. He moved to this effect. Tho chairman (Mr S. Solomon) said ho could not agree with Mr Callaway. It was not. a matter of life and death. Tho report did not suggest that the sanitary arrangements in this wiard were bad, but simply that they did not meet with approval. Thero were many things which were not bad, or even ■indifferent, that did not meet with approval. Fifteen patients occupied this ward. Mr Gallaway contonded that this

was all tho more reason it should bo closed till other arrangements could he madvi. His motion, however, lapsed for want of a seconder. In reply to Mr Sidey, the Minister of Railways stated yesterday that t'iie question of minimising tho smoke trou'ola at tho Dunedin cngi-no sheds had been untlsr consideration, and experiments were being tried with a view to improvement. Tho matter was, howcrer, ono of some difficult)'. A stationary boiler was already installed in tho shed, and tho locomotive boilers were filled with hot water. Instructions had also been issued for the fires to bo lighted with Ivaitangata coal, so as to reduco the smoke difficulty as much as possiblo while steam was being raised in the engine boilcr6.

At last night's meeting of the City Council it was formally decided tliafc the registration feo of dogs for tlio year commencing January 1, 1910, shall be 10s for each dog. A proposal which was facetiously greeted by councillors was made by Cr White. This was that, in view of the number of mongrels about the streets, it might do eomet'hing to thinning their numbers if the council were to chargo 5s for well-bred animals and 10s for those " with no pedigroe." This action, he thought, would do something to encourage (ho keeping of good animals, and- thus indirectly benefit tho dog and poultry show held hero evory year. Councillors, however, showed no disposition to take t'ho suggestion seriously.

Quail are report-id to be in such abundant numbers in some parts of tile l'iako and Waikuto districts (says an Auckland message) that farmers are expressing their intention to lay poison for them if a close season is declared for them next year. Reports of the abundance of these birds have travelled to Hawko's Bay, Canterbury, and Otago, and tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society has received inquiries as to tho cost of trapping some birds and sending them along to other provinces.

Tile question of legality in the matter of tho overdraft was again before t'rie Hospital Trustees yesterday. A trustee said that if there was to be any difficulty in tho matter, let tho Hospital transfer its account. Other banks would bo glad enough to get it. Mr Gallaway was of opinion that the bank had always treated them very fairly. Thu question was purely one of legality, or illegality. Messrs Loudon and Tapper were appointed to wait on tho chairman of the Hospital Board and upon tho bank in order to bring the matter to adjustment.

The mont'nly meeting of the committee of tho Y.W.C.A. was held yesterday afternoon. Tho plan for the enlargement of the building were approved. Tho question of finance was discussed, and the public will be informed of the decision shortly. Miss M'Gcorge was granted the use of the hall for Girls Scout meetings.

'Hie Young Women's Society of Knox Church closed its 1909 season on Tuesday evening with a full muster of members. It was a special orphanage gift evening, and t'no Presbyterian Children's Homes will benefit considerably front tile contributions of tho society. The president, in welcoming the Rev. li. 35. Daries and Mrs Davics, gavo an outline of tho society's history. It was formed' in 1836, and had thus just completed tho twenty; third year of its existence. After Hie lapso of years lliero wero still two of the original ollicc-bearcrs of the society on t'iio executive. Its aim was not merely social: it desired to make strangers feel at 'homo in the church. It maintained two orphans in tho Presbyterian Home at Madras, and was responsible for the clothing of two children in tho loca.l orphanage. Tbe Revs. 1?. E. Davics and E. A. Axelscn addressed the society, and several members contributed uuuical items.

At. the meeting of the Mornington School Coinmitee on Monday evening there wove present—Messrs Andrew Napier (acting chairman), Hope, Ford, Slater, and Sawell. Tno Iload Master reported the attendance for the previous four weeks as 417, 412, 427, 420 respectively, and tho average for tho quarter 420. The number on tho toll is;— Boys, 250; girls, 200;— total, 450. Tho attendance banner had been won Iwieo by Standard 11, with 100 per cent and 99.3 per cent., and twice by Standard VI, with 99.4 and 99.8 — a remarkable attendance. It was decided that tho school be closed for the summer holidays froiu Friday, 17th December, until Monday, 31st January, 1910. It was also decided to issue tho usual collecting cards to provide funds for tho annual prizes.

Tho montnly meeting of the Maori Hill School Committee was held on Tuesday evening. Mr S. N. Brown presiding. The Head Master reported that the roll number was 298, the average for the current quarter being 272. It was resolved that the school break up for tlio Christmas vacation on Friday, December 17, and reopen on Monday, February 7. Mr II Wright wrote inviting tho members of the committee to attend tho closing for the year of the Bible class conducted by him. It was resolved that as many members of tho eommittco as possible attend,- and the committee expressed appreciation of Mr Wright's efforts, tmd the hope that he would be able to continue the class next year. Tho chairman reported that a' cir-

cular had been issued to parents and friends asking for subscriptions to the prize and rifle range funds.

Our Wellington correspondent informs us that Dr Newman (Mayor of Wellington) and Mrs Newman gave a dinner party last night-, at which the principal guests were his Excellency the Govornor and Mr W F. Massoy, Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Clement L. Wragge told his audience lost :vening that between now and 1914 New Zealand, in common with the rest of tho Southern Hemisphere, must look for more earthquakes,, and droughts, and more frequent volcanjo eruptions. He said that tho solar disturbances during the past decade had been moro than usually severe, but the position Was such that the Northern. Hemisphere had been more readily affected'. As a consequence, tho Northern Hemisphere had suffered the San Francisco, tho West Indies, and Medina earthquakes, as well as a great number of minor disasters. Now tho altering position of the earth in the solar system was bringing the southern part more directly within the influence of the "sun-spots," and certain results were foreshadowed. Mr Wragge assured his hearers that he had no intention of alarming them in any way. He did not definitely say that, there would be any earthquakes of magnitude, or things of that doscription: ho simply stater? a. scientific fact, that the south part of tho earth was entering a probable danger zone. Incidentally, and in order to clinch ' his argument, ho referred to the recent earthquake in Wei lington, and the drought from which the Argentine Republic is at present suffering. After a conference lasting two days, the working carters of Duncdin and their employers have drawn up a satisfactory agreement, which will 1» submitted to the Arbitration Court by tho Conciliation Commissioner, and will form the basis of an industrial award "governing working conditions. At the closo of the conference yesterday tho representatives of both employers and workers paid a titaerved compliment to Mr Triggs, the commissioner, who had presided over the conference, and who, said the speakers, had shown that the Government had been fortunate in selecting him for the position. lie had acted in a thoroughly fair and impartial mannor, and had done much to confirm the opinion that t'hey had formal —that the most satisfactory method of settling industrial disputes was by medium of conciliation.

The present exhibition by the Otago Art Society in tho Art Gallery is, from the point of view of both the number and quality of the pictures hung, a really fine one, and that the daily attendance is increasing serves to show that the public is appreciating its real merit. The latest sale recorded is that of one of Mr W. A. Bollard's pictures entitled " A Grey Day at Milford," which realised four guineas.

Tho chairman and secretary of the I'ort Chalmers Marine Labourers' Industrial Union of Workore waited upon Mr Win. Scott on Tuesday afternoon at his office and presents him with a case of silvermounted' pipes as a- slight token of the union's appreciation of his services in con' nection with tho recent agreement, and also as a memento of his last conference between employers ant l workore previous to his appointment to tho Arbitration Court. They also presented Miss O'Shca with a suitable gift for her oourtesy and the work she had gratuitously dono for them. Mr Scott stated that this, his last conference, brought tlio total number he has been privileged to preside over up lo 298, which, ho claims, is a record.

The Telegraph Department reports that Bombay advises that the Odessa-Teheran line is totally interrupted, mid that London is acccpting work for the Continent.

Our Greymouth correspondent states that the Chamber of Commerce thero is protesting against tho proposed primage dutv.

The active canyass undertaken by tho committee of tho Otago A. and P. Society for new members has so far resulted in about 200 additional names being placed on t'lic list. It is the intention of thd committer to continue its efForte until the close of the year.

Dr Ogston (District Health Officer) has returned from a visit lo tho Owaka district, whore there was an outbreak of scarlet [over. In some iitetencts it was made apparent that t'he spread of tho disease liad been due to caretassness, and Dr Ogswn insisted upon isolation being strictly observed in all present and future eases,

That Now Zealand onco was part of tho great continent of Lemuria is a belief held by Mr Clement Wragge. Lemuria, lio explained, wm the uains given to t.lio continent wliio'n, in long bygone ages, had occupied that portion of the oarth now known as the Pacitio Ocean. It had been, hundreds of thousands of years ago, literally ground away by an encroachment of ice, but he believed that' New Zealand, in common with Ea.iter Island, (shared the honour of having onco been known as Lemuria. He had no doubt at all about the extreme age of Easter Island, or of t'no race of beings who once lived there. Tho very ancient carvings found there had been declared by scicntiels to have been tho work of pre-historic man-so-called missing links who lived some 300,000 or 400,000 years ago, and were probably contemporaneous with th(3 race tho existence of which had Iwen established by tho discovery in Franco of a skull t'hafc had belonged to a creature that was half man and lialf ape.

Tho young man Jamos Finnerty, who fell from a- traincar in George street on Saturday night, and was removed to tho Hospital in an unconscious ooiidition, yesterday showed it eliango for tho better and exhibited slight signs of recovering consciousness. .

An Auckland message states that Mrs Emily Nicol, who was reported' to have disappeared, was in the city yesterday.

A Christchuich telegram states that Thomas Creagher, tho prisoner who escaped from lianincr' Camp on October 3 and who was arrested on Tuesday, appeared before Mr Bailey, S.M., yesterday charged with boillg an incorrigible rogue and vagabond. Ho was sentenoed to nine months, cumulative with the scntenoe lie is now undergoing, which is five years for housebreaking-

The committee of the Dunedin Horticultural Society lias decided, on account of the early season, to hold the rose show on Friday, December 10. Judges were appointed and tho various sub-committees set up.

At the monthly meeting of tho StrathTaieri School Committee the Ilead Master reported an average attendance of 129,3 for the month, of October, out of a roll number of 147. The school had been examined by Inspectors Goyen and Richardson. It was decided to hold tho annua! school picnic at the plantation on Mr John KHioti's property, which ha 6 been placid at the disposal of the committee. All other details were fully discussed, and, given line weather, there is every prospect of a successful outing.

The Evening Post reports thai at S o'clock oir Friday morning * lifebuoy, with a line attached. wis seen from the Ulimaroa, at a spot about 16 miles to the north of Cape Campbell. The vessel passed about half a mile from the buoy—too far off to distinguish any milks that may have been on it. It is not considered probable that the buoy was from tho missing Duco, as any floating objects that may Im.ve come from that vessel would have been carried to tho south-east. A strong current was setting in that direction when the Ulimaroa passed.

The D.I.C. having secured tho contract for the uniforms far tho Otago branch of live Baden-Powell Scouts are now prepared to execute without delay all orders for Kout outfits,-Advt,

Novelties in jewellery and silverware for the Xmas season are now being opened up at Messrs G. and T. Young's showrooms, 88 Princes street. Tbe public are cordially invited to pay a visit of inspection.—x\drt.*

Blood forms about a thirteenth of the total weight of the body. If your blßod is impure good health is impossible. " Sillfarillu" tablets will cleanse .and purify your blood and skin. Marvellously successful. Is box; all chemists.—Advt.

Ladies I—Yoit should wear our famous beat-"em-all kid gloves at 2s Cd pair; without doubt the best value on the market; everv pair guaranteed; in shades of brown niis beaver. Only procurable at Jlollisons Ltd.— Advt.

Who is I'eteb Dick?— The most reliable Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite Coffee P»lace, Moray place, Duuedin. Charges strictly moderate,—Advt.