THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, MAT 18, 1927. THE PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20101, 18 May 1927, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, MAT 18, 1927. THE PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH.

Necessaeily the Prime Minister devoted a great deal of attention, in his speech at Dargavillo on Monday night, to the utterances with which the Leader of the Opposition has, during the past few weeks, been entertaining his admirers in many parts of the Dominion. It is possible that Mr Coates paid too much attention to some of Mr Holland’s statements, even though these may have been and, as Mr Coates was able to show, actually were misleading and erroneous in important respects. To an audience, however, that will have been composed to a largo extent of country settlers, a detailed criticism of the land policy, so-called, which the Labour Party adopted at its annual conference last mouth, will not have been superfluous. The use of the term “policy” in relation to the series of declarations to which the Labour Party has now committed itself after its consideration of the land question involves, in reality, a travesty of the expression. Notwithstanding that members of the Labour Party themselves were driven to a denial of the implications that were plainly contained in it, the policy which the party has now discarded had at least the merit of being coherent. It was more or less skilfully directed to the attainment of the Socialistic aims of the party. Consequently, whenever the title of any land, wherever held, in town or country, had to bo transferred, this policy, now relegated to the limbo of things that are to bo forgotten, provided that the State must become the new owner. This provision was consistent with the objective of the party. But it frightened a great many members of the classes which the Labour Party professes to represent. Thus it was that something else had to bo substituted for this policy. t\hat that something else should be has puzzled for years the brains of the Labour Party’s “amateur experts,” as Mr Coates calls them. The result of their patient wrestling with the problem is seen in the amusing production that is now offered to the public with tiio proud announcement that it constitutes the party’s “now land policy.” Mr Coates identifies various clauses of this production, justly enough, with the leasehold policy of the Liberal Party twenty-five years ago. It might serve, in fact, for the policy of any political party of the present day in so far as it relates to the leasehold occupation of laud. But it also expresses “full recognition of the owner’s interest in all land, including tenure and right of sale, transfer, and bequest.” The right, therefore, of private ownership of land is explicitly acknowledged. This is, however, in plain and direct conflict with the objective of the Labour Party, and as long as this objective remains what it is—the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange—the party is merely trifling with the community when it pretends that it will be content with anything short of the entire destruction of the system of private ownership. Mr

Coates finds the explanation of the party’s juggling with the land question m its desire to catch votes, and this would seem to be the explanation, also, of tho concern which Mr Holland has lately evinced in the operations of the Dairy Produce Control Board. Tho Leader of the Opposition has so warmly espoused the cause of tho section of the Board that is wedded to the principle of complete control as to lay himself clearly open to the taunt which war directed against him by the Prime Minister. The sources of Mr Holland’s information are obvious, and he could not more faithfully echo the statements that are made by certain members of the Board if he and his party were, in fact, the subsidised agents of the interests which these members specially represent. Tho whole matter is less of political than of commercial moment, although the mistaken legislation on the subject, for which Mr Coates must accept Jus share of responsibility, lias unfortunately brought the operations of the Dairy Control Board within the sphere of politics. If the Prime Minister’s suggestion that tho name of tho Board should be changed in a future enactment conveys a hint of a determination on tho part of the Government to retrace the false steps it has taken, it should bo received with relief by every person who respects the principle that a man has a right to do as he likes with his own produce.

LABOUR AND THE GUILLOTINE. The Trades Union Bill was introduced in tho House of Commons on April 4, and now, six weeks later, tho Government has taken steps to employ tho guillotine in order to facilitate the passage of tho measure. The guillotine represents in parliamentary prooedute a device under which a time limit is' imposed in respect of the considerations of a clause or set of clauses or under which a curtailment of the duration of discussion may otherwise be effected. Mr Baldwin has resorted to this expedient in the case of tho Trades Union Bill for the obvious j reason that the Labour Party has been bent upon obstructing tho measure to the limit of its ability. If last week’s rate of progress were continued, and no new business transacted, they might have hoped, said tho Prime Minister, to *pass the first clause by the beginning of August. Undoubtedly there has been deliberate obstruction in pursuance of the declaration made by the Labour leaders, oven before they knew what the provisions of the Bill were, that it would bo fought clause by clajuso and line by lino, Tho Labour members may not have been prepared for tho application of the guillotine at the present stage, of the discussion of the Bill, though they must have quite well understood what the eventual result of their tactics would be. Their solemn retirement, as a party from tho House followed a speech by Mr Clynes in which he vehemently claimed that the Government had gravely abused its power, and that the effect of its action would be to reduce parliamentary business to a mockery. Mr Clynes said nothing about the -possible reduction of parliamentary business to a mockery by obstructive tactics such as would render progress impossible, and it is surely not to be suggested that there are traditional rights under which an Opposition in Parliament, comprising, perhaps, but a small minority of the members, is entitled to hold up indefinitely any legislation that is being brought down. The application of the guillotine is no doubt an effective expedient to ensure that this does not happen. Being a drastic remedy, it is of course desirable that it should be employed with discretion. The employment of the guillotine or other methods of applying the closure to debates may be carried to the point of abuse, as has been illustrated in the Legislature of New South Wales, where tho “gag” has been utilised to push Bills through Parliament to such an extent, not least ruthlessly by Labour Governments, that parliamentary business in that State has been reduced veritably to the farce and mockery deplored by Mr Clynes. In the case of the Trades Union Bill the Labour Party at Home has only itself to thank for what has happened, but it is just questionable whether, in introducing the guillotine at a somewhat earlier stage than might have been expected, the Government has not played a little into Labour’s hands, thus giving it an opportunity’, which it has not been slow to seize, to make capital out of the situation.

“INCREASED PRODUCTION.” The Prime Minister’s speech at Dargaville on Monday night was closed on a sound and practical note. The termination of the period of difficulty and embarrassment through which the country is passing will not be hastened by railings at the Government or by a refusal or neglect on the part of any section in the community to perform its part in effecting an improvement in the economic position. What Mr Coates said with reference to the cause of the adverse conditions that admiti tedly exist is incontrovertible. Those conditions are the outcome of economic disturbances which, as he says, are world-wide in their extent. The purchasing power of the markets in which the staple products of the Dominion are offered for sale has beeu seriously diminished. The necessary effect of this is a curtailment of the funds that are available for circulation iu this country. The indications of the prevalence of a financial stringency are provided on every hand. The increases in flic bank rates are a disturbing sign of the tightness of money. Evidence of an entirely different but reliable nature is that which is afforded iu the consistent drop in the totalisator returns at the race meetings iu both islands. The majority of the persons who attend those meetings recognise that the amount they can afford to risk speculatively is not so great as it was in more favourable times. It is possible that the shrinkage which has been observed m the importation of motor ears may also bo attributed iu part to a recognition of a need for economy and for a postponement of the indulgence of a desire for luxuries. Economies are desirable and necessary, but with them should be associated, as Mr Ccatcs insists, an increased effort with the view of bringing about a larger production of the goods which the country needs. Individual enterprise and energy are less commonly cxihibited in New Zealand than in the days of the pioneer settlers. The prosperity which

the Douuniou has enjoyed has tended, perhaps, to weaken the fibre of the community. Industry, self-reliance, and thrift were three of the great virtues that were prominently exercised in the building-up of this nation. A spell of temporary adversity may not bo without its compensations if it brings with it the realisation of the fact that it is upon the efforts of the people themselves that the capacity of the country for overcoming conditions of embarrassment largely depends.

Bequests to Presbyterian institutions in Auckland are included in the will of Mrs Margaret Fotheringham,aged 80, who died or Sunday. The sum of £IOO (reports our special correspondent) is set aside for the provision of a cot in the Princess Mary Children’s ward at the Auckland Hospital. The residue of the estate, amounting to £IOOO, is to go to the Leslie Presbyterian Orphanage at Remucra.

The engineer-manager of the Otago Electric Power Board (Mr J. C. Collins], in reporting on tho year’s activities at tho board’s annual meeting yesterday, stated that the amount of money available for construction purposes was distinctly limited, and that consequently tho construction gangs were being reduced to a minimum. He pointed out that this would have the result of delaying supply to many outside consumers, but there was no other accepted course open to the board at present. Mr Collins gave an assurance, > however, that this slowjng down of construction was in the best interests of the ratepayers, and that all consumers would be receiving power within the year. That electric power is growing in popularity in the country districts, is indicated by the fact that the Otago Electro Power Board is now supplying a total of 2428 consumers, whereas, 12 months ago, the number was 1138.

The returns of infectious diseases at th* Dunedin and Fever Hospitals are as follow Diphtheria—admitted 1. discharged 2, remaining 3; scarlet fever—admitted 1, discharged 1, remaining 3; poliomyelitis — remaining 1. Total remaining 7. The Port Chalmers dry docks during their many years of practical usefulness have accommodated many classes of seagoing craft, but the first of a new type of vessel —the oil tanker Otokia, which is carrying bulk oil to New Zealand under charter to Corry and Co., of London, was docked yesterday. The vessel, which is quite up-to-date, was built two years ago at Hessle, near Hull, and was engined with twin Sulzen motors, which impart a speed of 10 knots when the ship is fully loaded. Her full load of bulk oil comprises 9300 tons, and with the full supply of bunker 011 on board for the motors, the total is a little under 11,000 tons. The Otokia is in command of Captain G. B. Corby, a well-known master in the Union Steam Ship Company’s service. Ho took charge of the barque Gladbrook, when that vessel was refitted at Port Chalmers in 1918. To-night, the Otokia, tvhich is being cleaned and painted is expected to leave Port Chalmers for San Pedro, in California, »whe|e she will load bulk oil for New Zealand.

Several incidents of note occurred during tho recent voyage of tho New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner Rotorua from London •to Wellington. A male thirdclass passenger was found with a severe wound in his throat, stated to be selfinflicted, before the ship arrived at Panama. He was transferred to the hospital there. On April 12 a greaser named Frederick Zillian, aged 60 years, was found dead in the refrigerating room. Death was due to heart failure. Deceased appeared to be in health when last seen alive. The body was consigned to the deep on April 13 with the customary rites.

Only a little thing perhaps, but just one of those little inconsiderable nothings that make Dunedin, after all, one of the beauty spots of the Dominion. At about 6 o’clock last evening those who would, could- have revelled in a prospect infinitely more alluring than some of those that have moved our national bards to burst into song. Darksome night had just flung her mantle over the city, and a great pale moon as rising slowly above the trees in the Queen’s Gardens, throwing "into bold relief an attractive silhouette of the Early Settlers’ Hall and Art Gallery. But in spite of Nature’s glory, there was a sight which outdid the moonlight in beauty. The city’s war memorial, a colonnade of loveliness, pierced the rapidly deepening gloom, bathed in the white of flooded light, softly brilliant in the midst of soft brilliance, its striking simplicity of design and beautiful chastity rivalling in splendour the soothing charm of early winter moonlight And how many noticed it? Truly, we think too often that no good thing can come out of Nazareth.

Mr G. Lawrence Taylor (Auckland), in his presidential address yesterday at the New Zealand Dental Association’s Conference (reports our special correspondent in Wellington), said that it had been proved that toxic poisoning, due to abscessed teeth was in many cases a fruitful cause of rheumatism, neuritis, asthma, and functional disturbances of the stomach, kidneys, and bladder. Experience has taught many of us to suffer more or less gladly the host of little anomalies and peculiarities that are daily apparent in the public service, the members of which, as a rule, get more kicks than ha’pence. We have learnt to be quite philosophical about a great many things, while our easy-going tolerance leads us to miss altogether a great many more. But there is a Gilbertian touch- about the unusual dual office held by a public servant in Dunedin. This is Mr J. R. Marks, chairman of the District Highways Council and representative of the Main Highways Board. That he feels to some extent his rather anomalous position was demonstrated at the last meeting of the District Council, when he made the trite remark that ho was between two fires in respect of a certain public work. As chairman of the local council 'ho found himself obliged to make sundry recommendations to the board. But on the other hand, ns a member of the board, ho was compelled to sit in judgment on his own recommendations, and. in this particular case, bring in an adverse report on them. Such a condition of things brings to mind the case of Poobah, in “The Mikado,” whose offices and portfolios in the Emperor’s Government arc legion, and who on one occasion is moved to explain bis action in a certain matter by saying that, as Paymastergeneral, he might feci disposed to make sundry payment which as Auditor-general ho would cetainly refuse to sanction.

The lot of the horse is not a happy one now that the majority of the highways, and a good many of the by-ways, are cither concreted or bituminiscd (remarks the Auckland Star). The advent of the lorry ana the tractor is gradually relegating him to the farm. It is not' so much on the bitnminised flats that he cannot hold his own as an the gradients, where his shoes slip lamentably on the smooth surfaces. This was demonstrated one morning recently, when two horses wore unable to pull a heavy load up the Shortland street hill. A powerful lorry had to be commissioned to assist them on their way, the incident being watched with a good deal of interest. In some Taranaki districts, famed for their good roads, the horse is still extensively used to cart milk to the factories, and county councils in some instances maintain roadways on grades, incidental to the bituminiscd surfaces, in order to make the burdens of the animals lighter. “There is very great looseness in the way depositions are used, and I think it is generally the fault of counsel for not objecting to the methods adopted,’’ remarked Mr Justice Stringer in the Auckland Supreme Court on Friday last (states the New Zealand Herald), when the question arose during a trial whether evidence taken in the Police Court could bo submitted to a jury if not repeated in the higher court. “Depositions ere only taken in the Police Court for the purpose of showing there is a prima facio case sufficient to justify a prisoner being sent for trial,’’ his Honor continued. “In practice the whole details of a case are not gone into, and it constantly happens that a great deal does not appear hi the depositions that is said in the Supremo Court. The only value of depositions in the Supreme Court, in my opinion, is in cases in which there is a flat contradiction of evidence, and then a man’s previous statements can be put before him.” . J

There is a rumour abroad that student life at the University is showing marked signs of vitaliiy—that, in fact, some students are finding time between classes to start a better University paper. *lll6 infant is expected this week, and promises to be Loth lusty and intractable. His parents regard him ns something of a joke, but some doubt is felt as to whether his noisiness will not bo a trial to the neighbours.

The relatives of the late chief Ihaaka Whaanga, whose death occurred at Nukaha last week, received a visit during his presence in Gisborne in connection with the jubilee celebrations, from the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, who stated that he bad heard with deep regret of tho passing of the old chieftain, a close personal friend of the late Mr Massey (says the Poverty Bay Herald). The Minister spent a little time with tha funeral guests, and commented with keen appreciation upon the fact that the family of Ihaaka Whaanga had always been loyal to the Crown and to the Government, and gave a lead to other Natives in the district by their great influence. The fact that the father of (he recently-deceased chief had been presented with a gold-mounted sword by Queen Victoria, for his services in the pacification of the unruly tribes in. the pioneering days, was mentioned with pride by the relatives, who also stated that several medals for bravery had been awarded to Ihaaka.

Though Wellington householders are probably not aware of it their lighting is costing them a little less to-day, unit for unit, than it did this time last year, for from May 21 accounts left with householders by the meter readers will charge up lighting at the net rate of 5d per unit, instead of the former 6d, and those readings go back over, as a rule, two months’ supply (states the Evening Post). Heating rates will remain as at present. Tha saving on each account may not be great, but every little helps. But for the Very sound financial position of the electricity department the concession could not be given, for all those little bits mount up to a very large sum which the department will not in future receive. The city and steam plants, by the way, are still helping Mangahao along, and once or twice recently have been called upon to supply their maximum output. The Evans Bay power station is not now often referred to as Wellington’s “white elephant.” Even if it is so styled occasionally, it is a “white elephant” that is likely to be working hard all this winter and next spring and summer. Admittedly driving at night in brilliantly illuminated streets is more dangerous than in thoroughfares that are poorly lit. The reason (says the Auckland Star) is that lights playing upon lights cast shadows, and generally pky havoc with the motorist’* vision. The trouble is minimised apparently, by the use of dimmers only in brightly-lighted thoroughfares, such as Queen street, according to a witness in tho Supremo Court last week. Ho indicated that it was almost the universal practice in Auckland to make use tho dimmers in the most busy areas. He said that two bright lights—the overhead street lamps and head-lamps of a car —seemed to make visibility worse. An interesting account of the nitrate and iodine industries of Chile was given to the Auckland Chemical Society the other evening by Mr C. C. Smithy a graduate of London University, who for the oast five years has been engaged on research work for Chilean nitrate companies (states tho New Zealand Herald). Mr Smith said the nitrate industry was seriously affected by competition of the cheaper synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, and was possibly doomed to extinction. However, production could be cheapened by the employment of more scientific methods m place of the inefficient processes largely in use. The price of nitrates could also be reduced by the reduction or removal of the heavy export duty. This duty was approximately £2 10s a ton. An account was given of tho occurrence of the deposits and of theories of their origin. _ The most probable theory was that the nitrate owed its origin to nitric acid produced by the frequent electrio storms in the Andes. This acid in tho rain water combined with the alkalis of tho rocks, and the water on reaching tho low levels of the arid regions evaporated, leaving the nitrate deposits. Besides the sodium nitrate numerous other salts were present, including potassium nitrate and iodate. From the latter 90 per cent, .of the world’s supply of iodine was obtained by chemical processes. To those whp contemplate the economic situation from one point of view, tho effects of the tariff are finally shelved on to the primary producer (states tha Auckland Star). To discount this opinion, it was stated at a gathering of Auckland manufacturers the other day that the Australian Tariff Board, after investigating the effect of tho tariff upon the price of agricultural machinery to the farmers, reported some months ago that the tariff was not detrimental to the best interests of tho primary producer, that it imposed no burden whatever on him, and that Australian-made implements were generally cheaper in Australia than imported articles of a similar typo in New Zealand.

To-morrow will be a red-letter day at the Princess Theatre, when, on the occasion of Clem Dawe’s birthday, two special gala performances will be given. An extra matinee will commence. at 2.30 to-morrow afternoon to enable his. ardent admirers among the children to wish him many happy returns. They will all receive, an autographed photograph of this popular comedian, as will also those present at the evening performance. The Railway Department announces cheap fares to Invercargill in connection with the Southland Winter Show on Tuesday. Wednesday, and Thursday of next week.

The Otago Women’s Club will celebrate its thirteenth birthday by a party at the club on Juno 16.

In the report of Monday's Police Court proceedings it was stated in error that James Walquist was assaulted by John Walker. The name of the assaulted man was John Walquist. Depend upon Williamsons Alarm Clcfcka these dark mornings. They will call you promptly. All guaranteed.—3l Princes street. —Advt. Eyes are precious. At first sign of weakness go to the qualified and experienced (20 years) optometrist, W. V, Sturme?, D. 5.0.1., G.A.0.V., Octagon, Dunedin. Most up-to-date equipment, including electrically lit testing charts.— Advt. 1 Eczema. Varicose Ulcers, and all skin irritation successfully treated by Hoffman’s Skin Treatment. Write particulars Hoffman’s Pharmacy, 17 Princes street, chemists and optometrists (next Begg’s); Dunedin. —Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Baglcy. dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond am. Rattray streets ('nex'. Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. —Advt. Diamond Engagement Rings.—Before purchasing compare our values; large selection just landed; superior quality.— Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin. —Advt.