THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1927. DISCORD AT MOSCOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 10

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1927. DISCORD AT MOSCOW.

Possibly the leaders of Soviet Russia would not be happy unless they could quarrel among themselves. It is now reported by cable that the official Bolshevist party has expelled Trotsky, Zinoviefi, Bakovsky, Kameneff, and Eadek—individuals who have all achieved considerable prominence in Soviet, and Communist Internationale circles—and nearly a hundred others. The suspension of these recalcitrant Communists was reported some weeks ago, this being, no doubt, a preliminary step in the course of discipline. Some of the outcasts, having made a declaration of entire submission to the Communist Party’s demands, are to be readmitted, so it is reported,.if during a probationary period of six months their activities are sufficiently indicative of good behaviour. Trotsky, the most interesting figure still, perhaps, among the representatives of the 801-' shevist revolution, both by virtue of his early association with Lenin in the leadership of the movement which triumphed in 1917 and by reason of his uncompromising stand against the present Soviet policy, has been at loggerheads with the dominant authorities at Moscow for a considerable time past. Largely through his exertions the Soviet Government has had to contend with a by no means negligible political Opposition. Trotsky, Zinoviefi, and others have refused to bo silenced, and the Stalin Dictatorship has fallen back on the exercise of forcible methods, designing, no doubt, to strike a severe blow at the Opposition through its leaders. “At the end, it is true,” wrote the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph recently, “the Opposition numbered many thousands, if not perhaps tens of thousands of members, and how many are their clandestine adherents it is difficult to estimate. All the discontented sympathised with them, as it were, in principle. Nevertheless, they remained in an unquestionable minority, though by their energy they drove the party management to concessions.” So, early in the tenth yeaf of the Bolshevist revolution, the Government of Soviet Russia presents anything but a picture of that harmony which is generally accepted as one of the outward signs of stability. The methods to which it has to resort to exercise control within its own house will not convey to its admirers much assurance of progress towards the great goal of world revolution on Communistic lines. According to a report in the Moscow journal, Pravda, of a speech delivered by him before the Central Committee of the Bolshevist Party, Trotsky recently denounced Ids opponents in such terms as these;

" The more ‘victories’ the directing group obtains the weaker it becomes. We can complete nur predictions of Jnlv last year by the following conclusion:—The present victory of Stalin within the party is the precursor of

his political downfall. That is inevitable. And, seeing what the otaumst regime actually is, the downfall will come quickly. Thus the principal task of the Opposition is to see that the consequences of the unfortunate policy of the present directors is as little hurtful as possible to the party and to its connection with the masses.” Trotsky has been ejected from the party, and other consequences may folloiv. For, when revolutionaries fall out among themselves, almost anything may happen.

PENAL REFORM. Twenty years ago two important reforms of the judicial system of England and Wales were brought about in the establishment of the Court of Criminal Appeal and the introduction of the Probation of Offenders Act. On an average the Court of Criminal Appeal has quashed convictions or altered sentences in between fifty and sixty cases annually, and it is said that its revisionary activity is rather increasing than otherwise, and that the proportion of successful appeals is becoming higher. It was the observation of Mr Justice Darling when the court was instituted that “ an invariable tariff of sentences is not possible, but with time it is to be expected that the revision of sentences by this court will tend to harmonise the views of those who pass them, and so ensure that varying punishments are not awarded for the same amount of guiltiness.” Apparently, that expectation has not been realised to any very appreciable extent in practice and it is suggested that a reason for this may be that some judges, recorders, and chairmen of sessions are frankly out of sympathy with the lengths to which the lenient treatment of offenders has gone. A good deal of surprise is sometimes expressed in New Zealand at the different views taken by different judges of the gravity of offences as shown by the treatment meted out to convicted offenders. The standardisation of sentences is impracticable, for each case has to be considered in the light of its own special attendant circumstances; but public opinion would be better satisfied if something approaching a harmonisation of the views of judges could be effected. Experience does not seem to suggest that the appellate tribunal, with its revisionary powers, has contributed in any very material way to the attainment of such a result in England and Wales. The growing extent to which the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act are being utilised in the Old Country is illustrated in the fact that the cases in which probation has been applied have increased tenfold in twenty years, or from 8000 to 80,000. The probation system is working satisfactorily both at Home and in New Zealand. Imprisonment is almost inevitably productive of deterioration in the individual. The prevention of such a result is a social advantage and an economic precaution. The offender who is admitted to probation is given a chance to prove that he has in him the makings of a good citizen, and, as » rule, he profits by the clemency that is extended to him it is reported that in England and Wales only about 7 per cent, of those who receive the mercies of the probation system have to appear for judgment. The proportion would appear to be very much the same in New Zealand where the system has been in operation for forty years. At the commencement of the year 1926-27 there were 1205 persons on probation in this country; 764 were admitted to probation during the year, making a total of 1969, and of this number only 146 failed to comply with the probationary requirements.

A 10 per cent, penalty on unpaid rates in the city of Dunedin was imposed on all the amounts outstanding at 4- o’clock yesterday afternoon. The impending penaay caused late payers to come along freely to the Town Hall yesterday to meet their liabilities, and a large amount of money was passed over the counters. Mr H H. Henderson, the city treasurer, states that the amount of unpaid rates on Tuesday night was £58,000 out of a total rate revenue of £258,000. He estimates that the amount received over the counters yesterday and the money to come in by mail to-day will total in round figures about £58,000, leaving some £IO,OOO, which will have to pay the penalty of 10 per cent. It is satisfactory to learn that the outstanding amount is approximately only a few hundred poundg larger than that of last year.

A good deal of damage and inconvenience is caused to the Green Island Borough Council by reason of some motorists interfering with the ropes and barriers erected by the council while the road is being reconstructed. The council intends to take action against any unauthorised person found interfering with the barriers.

There was a clean sheet at the Police Court yesterday. An inquiry which has been held in connection with complaints made by several of the inmates of the inebriates island at Roto Roa terminated yesterday (says our Auckland correspondent). The inquiry was presided over by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., who was assisted by Messrs J. H. Lux ford and A. J. Stallworthy, members of the Visiting Committee to the island, which is controlled by the Salvation Army. A number of complaints was recently made by voluntary inmates of the island, in eluding a man who, until some year s ago, was superintendent of police in India. As a result of these complaints the Ministei of Justice appointed the above-named gentlemen to investigate the whole matter *• The inquiry lasted for many days, and we heard voluminous evidence,” said Mr Hunt. “ 1 have made several recommendations in my report which is to be forwarded to the Minister. Wo did not even have power to place witnesses on oath There was nothing sensational in the complaints made.”

Although the holiday exodus of travellers and the customary influx of visitors have not yet begun in real earnest, railway passenger traffic during the past two days has been fairly heavy. Tuesday s through express from Christchurch consisted of 13 cars, and brought 600 passengers from the north. This train was delayed at Ashburton on account of an axle-box orheating and, in consequence, it did not roach Dunedin until 5.25 p.m. The morn ing express for Invercargill yesterday took 250 passengers, and the 8.40 and 11.54 trains for the north had quotas of 250 and 420 passengers respectively. To-morrow and the following day, the traffic department will be hard put to it to cope with (he volume of outward-bound traffic. Five expresses will run to Christchurch and four to Invercargill on both days, and although 16 extra cars have been allotted among the nine trains, in addition to those already set aside for reservation purposes, every available scat has been booked Extra cars, however, will be attached f o all trains, for the benefit of those unable to book, but in the case of second-class carriages, the department will be unable to put on anything but the old-fashioned bench seated cars on account of a shortage of the type with chair seats. T. nfonunately it is impo-Able to use the rolling stock in commis-iou on the suburban lines, is few of the carriages would stand up to anything like the speed attained by the expresses.

Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs that (he hat, coat, and umbrella which were left on the ferry steamer Makora last Thursday are believed to' have belonged to Miss Edith Hammond, of Birkenhead, who is reported to be missing from her home. Sho lived alone there and recently she had been very depressed following ou an attack of influnza.

The Hampden Borough Council has passed a by-law regarding motor traffic in the borough. The speed allowed is 18 miles an hour, and is limited to six miles an hour *» corners.

At the first annual meeting of shareholders of the Golden Terrace Extended Gold Dredging Company, Ltd., held at Invercargill last evening (says a Press Association telegram) the decision of the directors to purchase a dredge at a cost of approximately £37,000 was confirmed. The dredge is to work in the Lower Shotover, about five miles from Queenstown. It is expected to be in operation in nine or 10 months time.

The proposal has been made (says our own correspondent) that the old museum buildings in Wanganui, which will shortly be vacated for the new, should be handed over to the Maoris for the establishment of a model pa with the co-operation of the City Council, the museum trustees, and the Maori people. Many are beginning to feel that while the museum authorities must keep abreast of the times and maintain their general collection upon the most efficient basis possible, the paramount duty is to exhaust every effort to preserve local historical associations. Numbers of the Maoris have come to the same conclusion and a desire has been expressed that facilities should be made available for Maori carvers to practice their skill within the precincts of the museum. The way is therefore opening up for the establishment of this historical spot of a small model pa which should prove of great interest in days to come. It is hoped to have a conference between the parties interested early in the New Year.

Owing to the small number of junior medical men available for the coming year (says a. Press Association telegram from Christchurch), the North Canterbury Hospital Board has decided to make inquiries in Melbourne and Sydney with a view to filling probable vacancies on the staff.

Motorists to Roxburgh during the coming holiday season will be pleased to learn that the Roxburgh Borough Council has established a motorists’ camp. In previous years motoring parties have been forced to camp at places along the roadside. The present site, which is part of the recreation reserve, and has been all fenced off, is within 400yds of the Post Office, and is about six acres in extent. The camp is surrounded by trees and is furnished with a water supply, fireplaces, and all conveniences. As it is the first season in which the innovation has been introduced, the sub-committee of the council in charge of tlje arrangements is open to receive suggestions from visitors in regard to providing further facilities for the comfort of motorists. In order to defray expenses a small charge of Is fid per car or 7s 6d per week will be made. As Roxburgh is just about 100 miles from Dunedin, end the coming fruit season promises to be a good one, this camp should prove popular with motorists.

A double sale was held at the Burnside yards yesterday owing to the fact that there will be no sale next Wednesday. The yardings were up to the average, and there was a good demand for all classes of fat cattle, sheep, and lambs suitable for the Christmas trade. Prices for sheep were firmer than those obtained at the previous sale, but prices for lambs were unchanged. The fat cattle entry comprised 183 head, of moderate quality, including a few pens of prime bullocks, a number of heifers, Mid plain cows and steers. The prices realised for all prime ox beef showed little change, but cows were sold at a reduction of from 20s to 35s per head. Extra prime ox beef sold on a basis of AOs, plain and light heifers 37s fid, and cows and light heifers 22s fid to 27s fid per 1001 b. There was an entry of 1700 sheep. All were shorn, with the exception of about 200 head. The proportion of ewes was fairly large, and there were a few penning* of prime wethers and also a numoer of extra heavy wethers. The opening sales showed a firm market, which improved as the sale progressed, best wethers being sold at an advance of Is to 2s per head. Prime ewes were also firmer in price, but values for medium quality sheep were unchanged. Extra heavy shorq wethers sold from AOs to Als 9d; prime. 36s to 58s; extra heavy wethers in the wool made from 46s to 50s; prime, 33s to Ala fid; extra heavy shorn ewes sold from 31s 9d to 35s fid; prime, 27s 9d to 28s fid. The prices realised for prime shorn wethers were on a basis of prime shorn ewes sd, prime wethers in the wool ?id, and prime ewes in the wool fid per lb. The lamb entry totalled 280. This was a larger yarding than usual, and was of a mixed description, including a number of pennings of well-grown lambs, which lacked finish. There was also a fair proportion of useful prime sorts, and a few extra heavy lambs. Export buyers operated, but the butchers secured the bulk of the offering. Euxtra heavy lambs sold from 55s fid to 36s 9d; prime, 32s bd to 35s 9d; and medium from 27s fid to 295. Prime lamb sold on a basis of Is, and unfinished sorts 9jd per lb. About 230 head of store cattle were penned. These consisted principally of cows amd young cattle, but the entry also included about 30 head of two and three-year-old steers. There was a good demand. Steers in gobd condition sold up to £8 15s, and good two-year-old animals to £6 15s. The pig entry consisted of 115 fats and 57 stores. The demand was slack, but prices showed little if any change. Prime baconers sold on a basis of fid, and prime porkers 7id per lb.

While members of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society at a recent meeting were not able to make definite statements regarding instances of the poaching of swans eggs round Lake Wairarapa, it was the general opinion that such poaching gees on. Mr Brassill said that it was well known that people left Wellington in cars every Sunday and collected a number of swans’ eggs. Needless to say, they were not shooters. Mr Tait said he had been informed that over 100 nests bad been robbed, and, while he could not vouch for the truth of this, he believed that tba practice certainly existed. It would not bo long before the swans disappeared unless definite steps were taken. Mr 'Tripe said (hat he had heard that “ a good thing ’’ was being mad e by some poachers through the sals of swans’ eggs to bakers. The Chairman (Mr If. J. C. Whiffen) said that similar complaints were made years ago, when the robbery certainly was on. It was pointed out that it was too lain to secure any convictions this season, but it was determined to watch the lake closely at nesting lime next season.

While American tourists have discontinued their visits to New Zealand, tempera rily at least, there is one consolation, that in future the Dominion may expect greater numbers of visitors from the Old Country. A pioneer party of English tourists, consisting of .Mr and Mrs S. H. James, Mr and Mrs C. Holmes, and Mr and Mrs E. Paul, arrived in Auckland by the Maunganui on Tuesday morning, and the indications are that this time next year a party comprising 20 or 5c people will undertake a tour that is to be arranged by the well-known tourist firm of Pickfords. Mr James, who represents this firm, indicated that he had come to the Dominion for the purpose of making inquiries regarding facilities for sending special parties out from Home regularly. Pickfords had started a New Zealand department in London last year to look after the wants of the Dominion, and it was in charge of a New Zealand woman, Misi Ames. Mis s Ames was in touch with iha New Zealand office at Home, and arrangements were working satisfactorily up to tha present He was undertaking the present tour in order to make arrangements to bring English people out in future, and ho hoped that the first tour would begin this time next year, “ ] think it will be a simple manor to get parries of English tourists out here every year if the itinerary is properly advertised and arranged, - ' added Mr James. “It will be no use, however, bringing English people here for a day or so and rushing liiera off again. Thai, was the trouble with the American tours, as visitors staying in Nmv Zealand port:- for only a few hour, were rushed away without knowing anything about New Zealand itself.”

Accidents in, the cricket field are, fortunately, of rare occurrence, and seldom indeed do three happen in the same afternoon, and in three separate matches on the name enclosure. This 's what occurred at Eden Park on Saturday (says the Auckland Star) and the coincidence was rendered even more marked by the fact that aach victim was a club captain. Fielding on a rough patch, C. Snedden, the Grafton skipper, received a severe blow from the ball, but after retiring for some time he was able to resume. H. Duncan, captain of the Parnell team, split a finger while taking a catch, and H. Gillespie, Eden’s leader, suffered a dislocation of one thumb while trying to hold a hard off-drive. Duncan had to be taken to hospital, and Gillespie’s mishap may mean that he will not be available for the representative match against Otago during the holidays. A major operation on an Australian parrot was performed in an Auckland hotel (states a correspondent of the Lyttelton Times). On Monday evening Joey was put under an anaesthetic for the operation. For IX months he had suffered from a fibrous growth akin to cancer, which had grown to such a size that it hung below his perch. His owner, Mr D. Cairns, called in Mis? P. Howard Dawson, veterinary physician, and she decided that the bird’s state was so critical that an operation must b e performed immediately. Accordingly Joev was laid out on the table and given an amesthctic. which had to be administered very carefully. From 8.15 p.m. to 8.45 p.m. Miss Dawson worked swiftly, making two incisions and removing a growth the size of a pigeon’s egg’. As the last stitch was put in Joey opened his eyes and asked where he -was. Five minutes later h e was climbing about his cage and chattering merrily. He was in perfect health and spirits on Tuesday. This is the first big operation with an anaesthetic that Miss Dawson has ever performed on a bird, and she has never heard of it being done before. On Monday last the cross, which 30 years ago was blown down from the Amberley Church steeple, was replaced. This (says the Lyttelton Times) will gladden the heart of Archbishop Julius, who, during the whole of his period, whenever visiting the church, has never failed to inquire when the cross would be restored. On his last visit m October he asked the question, and, when assured that the matter was in hand, said: ” I will believe it when I see it.” The vicar promptly replied, “ Will you come again and preach when wo have it ready for you to see? ” The answer was in the affirmative, and the vicar will now claim fulfilment of this promise at an early date. “ Limited protection to the extent of assisting any industry during its infancy that can within a reasonable time carry on without external support, and thus tribute to the national wealth, is agreed so by most farmers,” states Mr W. Grounds, phairman of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Export Board in tho Dairy Produce Exporter, “ but any industry that needs continued assistance from the community to enable it to balance its accounts is a parasite, and source of national loss, and should not be tolerated, least of all by farmers, who in the final settlement have to foot the bill. Of local causes of the present unrest and instability this is immeasurably the greatest. We havb too many drones and parasites in the hive, which have increased the cost of living and cost of production enormously.” A suggested change in tho control of the Wellington Hospital is made in the following notice of motion by Mr A. J. M’Curdy, to be moved at the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board to-day “ That the Wellington Hospital Board, being representative of constituent districts and trustee for the ratepayers and inhabitants thereof, is not prepared to place the inmates of its institutions or it s stipendiary staffs under the control of individuals holding honorary positions upon the hospital staff. That in order to relieve the medical superintendent of non-clinical work, the house steward, the engineer, and the laundry manager shall in future report in relation to the work and requirements of their respective , departments to the Hospital Committee through the board’s secretary > and that officer shall forthwith supply copies of such ‘ reports ’ to the medical superintendent for his information and comments thereon. That a special committee to meet, in conjunction with the medical superintendent, the honorary medical staff in conference at least quarterly, be set up. Such committee to consist of the chairman of the board, the chairman of the Hospital Committee, and the mover, The committee to report the result of such conferences to the Finance, Property, and Policy Committee at the ensuing meeting of that committee.”

We have to acknowledge with thanks calendars for 1928 from Messrs Crust and Crust, A. J. Allen, Ltd., Stone, Son, and Co., Ltd., John P. Walls LMosglel), Taratu Coal Mines Company, the A.M.P. Society, the National Mutual Life Assurance, and W Brockman (Macandrew’s Bay). The Wembley Club is arranging two special Christmas dances for Saturday and Monday nights. The new “ Dorothy Wedding King is the popular shape. It’s comfortable, too. At Williamsons, next the* Bristol.—Advt. Fishing season now in full swing. Barth Electrical Supplies, Ltd., 90 Princes street, are sole proprietors Wilkie’s Fishing Tackle. Send for illus-. trated catalogue of our large and varied stock. —Advt.

For anything electrical consult the Stewart Electrical Co., 171 Rattray street. Installations at kwest prices. Large assortment of up-to-date fixtures. Cut crystal chandeliers a specialty.—Advt. When buying a bottle of perfume secure the latest Viville Futiche and Vogue. We have them in all sizes. Dozens of bath salts to choose from.—H. L. Sprosen, Ltd., chemist, Octagon, Dunedin. —Advt.

Rheumatics, Neuritis. —Arthur Malcolm, the rheumatic expert (for over 38 years), now consulting daily at 377 Leith street. See advt. on another page.—Advt. Many years' experience, plus "the most up-to-date equipment scientific optometry ca. suggest, entitles W. V. Stnrmer, G.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1., Octagon, Dunedin, to guarantee complete satisfaction in all eye troubles. Advt.

A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, 8,. k of Australasia, corner oi Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12 ; 359.—Advt Xmas Jewellery.—Compare our values. Just landed, large selection Diamond Rings; Reliable Watches, Jewellery, and Silverware.—Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.