THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY. DECEMBER 4, 1928. THE FEDERAL' ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20582, 4 December 1928, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY. DECEMBER 4, 1928. THE FEDERAL' ELECTION.

The completed returns of the polling for the election of members of the Commonwealth House of Representatives show that the Ministry lias been confirmed • in office , with a majority which, though reduced, is still comfortable. In the previous Parliament there were 24 members of the Labour Party in the House and the Ministerial party consisted of 51 members. Eight seats were captured by the Labour Party at the election, and its strength has thus been brought to 32 in a House of 75. The remaining 43 members include 29 Nationalists, 13 members of the Country Party, and one independent member whose vote is likely to be given generally in favour of the Government. The weakness, such as it is, in,the position of the Ministerialists consists in the fact that they form a combination of two parties whose interests may not coincide in all respects. Provided, however, that nothing occurs to disturb the compact into which these parties entered, the renewed lease of power that has been granted to the Government should not be terminated during the three years which constitute the term of the Parliament. Like the Reform Government in New Zealand, the Nationalist Government in Australia had to accept the responsibility at the general election of all the mistakes that were committed in the process of postwar reconstruction, and it had also to meet the desire for a change that is liable to be expressed whenever any. one party has enjoyed a long experience of office. But, as in New Zealand, so also in Australia the electors were not prepared to go to the* length of temporarily entrusting the . control of the country’s destinies to the Labour Party. The defeat of that party on this occasion, as on every occasion since 1916 in Australia, is ascribed by the Argus to a widespread distrust of the party on fundamental questions. Obviously, it is a defeat that is brought about largely by the very section of the community to.which the party addresses its appeals. 'As is observed by the Argus, the so-called “capitalistic class” could not of itself defeat the Labour Party, now or at any other, time. Many thousands of people to whom appeals are made, to their self interest, to their class consciousness, distrust Labour, The sincerity of the party is questioned; the ability to do the things that theparty promises to do is doubted. It is there that the Labour Party fails. It has failed also in Australia to dissociate itself from those positively vicious elements which, a menace to good order, regard no progress as possible unless it be through chaos. Prom these elements we fortunately enjoy freedom in New Zealand, but the Labour Party’s objective in the Dominion could be achieved only at the cost of the destruction of the existing commercial and social fabric, and the great good sense of the majority of the industrial classes is manifested in their rejection of appeals that are directed to that end.

but it may well be that the quiet worthiness of conduct and demeanour which he displayed throughout a long life would have well satisfied the father in whose regard virtue and service always ranked higher than brilliant attainments. His Christian name commemorated one of the most famous friendships recorded in history or. literature, —a . friendship . “ richly shrined ” for all time in' the pages of “In Memoriam.” Thirty years ago Andrew Lang mused at N Arthur Hallam’s grave—,

“ Here hath he, who stirred the sleep l less love

Slept through these sixty years; , Here is the grave that has been wept above

With more than mortal tears.” “ Hallam’s dirge throughout the years must keep its monotone of pain.” There is a beautiful picture, reproduced in the poet’s biography, of the two fair Tennyson boys. Lionel, 1 the younger, died in early manhood while his father was still living. •* To question why the sons before the fathers die, not mine, and I miay meet Tiim soon.” Hallam Tennyson lived to be the filial stay and comfort of the grand old poet’s age and the faithful recorder of his career. Seldom has a piece of biographical work been performed at once so tastefully, so reverently, and so luminously. True, it did not satisfy sensational quidnuncs of the type which the poet himself had scornfully denounced long ago.

For now the Poet cannot die, Nor leave bis music as of old, But round him ere he scarce be colijl, '•■Begin the scandal and the cry: “ Proclaim the faults he would not show; ’ Break lock dnd seal; betray the trust;* Keep nothing sacred; ’tis but, just The many-headed beast should know.” He gave the people of his best: - . . His worst he kept, his best he gave, My Shakespeare’s curse on clown and knave Who will not let his ashes rest! '

The wise and gracious reticence of “ Alfred Lord Tennyson—A Memoir ” is fittingly associated with genuine distinction of literary . style. Hallam, Lord Tennyson, was appointed governor of South Australia in 1899, and subsequently served a term -as Governor-General of the Australian Commonwealth; He competently filled a rather colourless position, but his niche of fame will be in connection with his celebrated father and the records of the domestic circle at. Freshwater and Haslemere. His eldest son, who succeeds to the title, captained the English representative cricketers in the Test matches with Australia in 1921, when he was declared to be “ beyond doubt the most famous .Tennyson who ever lived!”

The Gravea-Talbot track which leads from the head of Lake Wakatipu to Milford Sound by way of the Hollyford was made fit for travel in 191£ through the efforts of the Public Works Department and the Tourist Department, and now the necessity for further work has become apparent. With the object of ascertaining what will have to be done to put the track in order for the incoming tourist season, Mr T. G. Beck (assistant engineer on the Dunedin staff of the Public Works Department) and a party of .five will leave this morning on a tour of inspection. The trip is a somewhat hazardous one, up to a short time, ago a guide being considered necessary, and-parties were always roped together-for the trip over Graves Ridge. The department considersit a duty to be first over the track this season, and Mr Beck’s party will fulfil that duty. •Mr James, of Nelson, accompanied by Guide- Frank Alack, • of Waiho Gorge, opened the climbing season by making the round trip via Copeland Pass to the Hermitage, and then to Malte Brun hut. They climbed Eli de Beaumont, 10,200 feet, and" then traversed the Minaret Peaks and De la Beche, 10,058 feet, returning via Graham’s Saddle,- and Franz Josef Glacier to Waiho to-day. The time occupied was one week, and glorious weather was experienced.

The Post Office advises that the following vessels with mails, for Dunedin are now due on the New Zealand coast; — Manuka, from Melbourne for Wellington, 101 bags and 14 parcel receptacles^. let* ters due at Dunedin on December 4; Rotorua, from London for Auckland, 12 bags, due Dunedin December 5; Tahiti, from Sydney for Wellington, 46 bags and 17 parcel receptacles, letters due at Dunedin on December 4; Marama, from Sydney for Wellington, eight bags and 12 parcel receptacles, letters due at Dunedin on December 5; Niagara, from Vancouver for Auckland; 225 bags, letters due at Dunedin 5; Maunganui, from Sydney for Auckland, six bags and 16 parcel receptacles, letters due at Dunedin on December 7. The total number of bags of letters and papers is 499, and there are 73 parcel, receptacles. In addition, seve-. ral hundred packages of parcels are expected by the Rotorua. The papers in each case will be to hand a day later than the letters. Advice is also received that four bags of letter mail ex the Sierra from.Jiji are expected at Dunedin on Wednesday evening. The work of Sir James Parr as -High Commissioner is warmly praised by Mr S. Irwin-Crookes, a member of the City Council, who has returned to Auckland from a trip abroad (says our special correspondent). He said that Sir James had reorganised the office, which was now much more useful than it used to be. The High Commissioner was doing very good work in advertising New Zealand butter and cheese. Magnificent displays were to be'‘seen in office windows- in. the Strand, and crowds always gathered round to watch the working models which were to be seen there.

Nine bankruptcies -were notified in the latest issue of the New Zealand Gazette. Eight of the number were in the North Island.' * The City of New York, which sailed on Sunday for the Antarctic, will probably be the last of the real old-time sailing vessels to visit Otago Harbour. Apart from her auxiliary steam plant and special expedition appointments, she is a good all-round example of how the best sailing ships were rigged 100 years ago. In those days the primary requisites of reliability had not begun to give way to the requirements of expediency. The old lever windless, for instance, passessed the maximum of power with the minimum of fittings liable to get out of order. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the members of the Lyall Bay and Maranui Surf Clubs gave, assistance yesterday afternoon to two women and a man who found themselves outside the line of breakers and unable to get ashore. Later, when the Maranui surf boat* was cruising beyond the breakers, the crew observed a swimmer unable 40 get back to the shore. He was picked up and landed safely. The surf was only moderate, but there was a slight backwash.

A Press Association telegram from Palmerston North states, that burglars entered the tobacconist’s shop of Mr J. Christie in Rangitikei street on Sunday night and removed bodily a safe weighing two hundredweight, containing a largo sum of money. They also stole a large quantity of goods. Ingress was gained by smashing a panel from the door and removing the bolt. .

At last night’s meeting of the St. Hilda Borough Council it was reported that the water consumption for the fortnight ended yesterday was 5,241,000 gallons at a cost of £l3! Os 6d, compared with £122 Is 6d for the previous two weeks. The meeting was presided over by the Mayor (Mr R. ■ W, Hall), and'there were also present CrsJ. Fleming,. H. H. Leary, T. D.B. Roy, F. Q, Gillam, G. Stratton, J. Beattie, E. Longworth, and R. Telfer.

. In paying a tribute to his Cabinet colleagues, the Prime Minister' (Mr J. G. Coates) stated at a Reform gathering at Wellington, that they had always considered the financial stability of, the country and - the well-being of the people. Requests for assistance had . been made in over-increasing numbers, and. although it would have been easier to raise money by loan and grant them all, and while such a course might; have brought popularity, Cabinet had decided "that it was better to refuse many, because all loan money would only add to the burden for posterity,. unless used on reproductive work. The. policy was framed to borrow only where the ■■ money could be'used to earn something and in time make New Zealand a~ self-relia’nt and prosperous country. Temporary good times might follow ex-, tensive borrowing, but it would, cause New Zealand; investors ■to send . their money abroad, where higher interest was offering. The Reform Party, stood for sound, safe, and clean administration—■legislation first and always for the country’s good—and - no. attempt to seek popularity by promises which could uot he made good had ever been made. The fact that New Zealand’s financial standing was the highest of any British dominion was the -strongest possible testimony to good government. All the work of the Reform Government would stand against criticism. 7

“ The eulogies of the work done by the early pioneers are. often expressed with an. attitude'of finality as if the need for further endeavour were unnecessary,” ■ said Mr G. Sara*' president of the British Manufacturers' Association of New Zealand at the annual meeting.in Wellington ouFriday night, “ but, believe me, until every citizen of New recognises the absolute necessity of individual pioneeer work in /the form of sacrifice, both in time and money,,on behalf of the the rate of progress in this country .will .be mighty slow. , In this matter,' in; many instances, a peculiar form of apathy- prevails amongst, the public, and the lack/of interest when making the purchases is. a typical example. The wholesale buyer is prejudiced in favour. of British goods, but the* individual - .'purchaser doesV not express. any particular interest. in' "the country of origin of the-•.. article purchased. " One wonders why,.for r ,if : any - such person had money invested-in a business run by a relative there would be no hesitation in invariably supporting that concern, and the same principle applies to Great Britain, to whom we are irretrievably linked in finance and commerce.”

The quarterly meeting cf the tity Licensing Committee, which was to have been hfld yesterday, lapsed for want of business. The South Committee, the, meeting of which was fixed for tomorrow, will not be held for a similar reason, '

The return,of infectious diseases in the Dunedin; and Fever Hospitals, for - the week is as follows:—Scarlet fever:'Admitted 1, discharged, 5;, remaining, 19. Erysipelas: Admitted 2; remaining, 2 V No doubt articles of value at times find their way to the rubbish heaps. It is not so long ago, indeed,‘that a small-quan-tity of radium went astray in this manner in Dunedin, and it cost some money am, a considerable amount of trouble before it was recovered. While it is mostly more or less worthless flotsam and jetsam that is tipped into rubbish heaps, it is remarkable the number of pennies anJ other fcoins;-of air periods. Which are din-, covered ; these places. A Daily Times, reporter was shown -.yesterday a itiutiber of coins'which a diligent Searcher had found in rubbish heaps. One bore the inscription “ The Olden Times, Dei Gratia,” and its date was 1588. Two pennies were of the years 1773 and 1779; another coin—a 'French one—was ,qf the year 105 G, and there was a Napoleon 111 coin of 1853. Time had obliterated the dates and inscriptions of a number of. the. ether , coins recovered by this ardent col lector.

The gathering and gale of goats have become a profitable sideline with at least one backblocks settler in 'Taranaki (says an exchange). During the '.past few -months he has, collected from abandoned sections and others in the country between the. back of Uruti. and 'Wh.angamotnona some 2600 of the animals, and despatched them to various parts of the Wairarapa and other districts. ‘ They have averaged the enterprising settler about 12s a- bead, so the return has been well worth while. The goats were rounded up by packs of specially-trained dogs, and are the - descendants of small flocks that were introduced to the back country a few years ago for the purpose of eating off the poisonous tutu.: Goats thrive on tutu, which, however," is fatal to sheep and cattle. ■

With a view to encouraging students to take an interest in skilled craftsmanship and recognising special skill, the' Seddon Memorial Technical College Board of Managers this year offered Seddon Memorial gold medals "to students who are also apprentices for work of a specially meritorious nature. Three^students— H. Hayman (fitting and ■'turning), "S. Elliott (sheet metal); and R. Gibson (cabinetmaking)—offered samples of their work under the • competition, and (says the Auckland Star) the judges, members of the Apprenticeship .Committees in the industries concerned, in each case considered the work of so meritorious a character -as to- justify the awarding of medals. The judges were instructed to award medals only in cases where they considered the craftsmanship to be of a very high order, and represented skill that is quite unusual among apprentices. It is hoped that the making of tke awards by men of standing in the various trades will prove not only valuable recommendations to the boys’ securing them but also act as a stimulus to all boys to make an effort to improve their craftsmanship.