The Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15, 1911. NOTES OF THE DAY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XV, Issue 4089, 15 November 1911, Page 4

The Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15, 1911. NOTES OF THE DAY.

It may be, of course, that the Press Association has sent only the sensational points of the The Church address delivered by and Labour, the Dean of St. Paul’s on democracy, but as it has reached the press of New Zealand the address contains only destructive criticism of the most unsatisfactory type. The rev. gentleman expressed the opinion that democracy was the “silliest of fetishes,” made slighting reference to Trades Unionism, and said he was unable to join the chorus urging the Church’s co-operation in the Labour movement. There is certainly an element of truth in the Dean’s suggestion that the tendency of trades unionism may be fo pamper a nation. There is little use, however, denouncing the manner in which workers the world over are endeavouring to better their position unless an alternative method is suggested. Presumably trades unionism in New Zealand is held up as a horrible example to the workers of the Old Country, who have recently been endeavouring to obtain a living wage. Though trades unionism has had some undesirable effects on our industrial and national life we are not aware that it has had such disastrous results as the Dean evidently imagines, and if he so abhors the Labour movement, it is strange that he does not suggest an alternative way of ameliorating the lot of the workers of Great Britain. It surely cannot be that he thinks they should be content to remain under present conditions. Merely destructive criticism of this kind is not helpful, and only helps to alienate the masses more from the Church.

Electors should bear in mind the fact that the electoral rolls will be finally closed within a few Get on days, and that those the 8011, whose names are not enrolled by the time the writs are issued will not have the opportunity of voting. The only safe course for those who have not seen their names on the main roll to follow is to inspect it, and if their names are not included, to fill in the necessary form at once. We would strongly urge all adults to make sure by personal inspection that their names are on the roll, and not trust to electoral censuses, canvassers, or any other means. Mistakes will happen, and at every election there are numbers of duly-qualified electors who are disfranchised because they assumed they were on the roll when they were not. It is one of the primary duties of citizenship that every adult should have his name placed on the roll, and should record his vote as his intelligence may direct. If the people do not take the trouble to find out the men who are best qualified to serve in Parliament and vote for them they must expect to be badly governed. Voters who expect to be absent from the district on election day should take the precaution of immediately obtaining an absent voter’s permit.

Warner and his men who have come out in quest of the ashes of English cricket have done well Cricket in the first prelimin-

Supremacy. ary contest against South Australia, and the moral effect should be good. The Englishmen have been hailed as an exceptionally sound batting team, and their performance in registering three individual centuries in their first innings seems to warrant the criticism, even when it is remembered that the change bowlers of South Australia are not brilliant. The way in which the Englishmen succeeded in rattling their opponents’ sticks also suggests that their bowling may be better than was imagined. It has all along been admitted that they have plenty of variety, and if it proves that the quality is as good as the variety, the Australians, brilliant as they are, may have great difficulty in retaining the ashes. Even when it is remembered that the Englishmen usually do well in their opening matches their start this time may be considered hopeful.

The Auckland City Council has decided to make an experiment with Taranaki oil to lay the dust, which causes great inconvenience in Auckland during the summer months. The creeks in the Stratford district have boon jiolluted by carcases >f dead cattle, fifty being found on mo farm lately. It was stated that, lie milk cows woVe drinking the jm>l- - water.

The wet weather which has been experienced has caused shearing operations in the Wairnrumi to be suspended for a few days. In the vicinity of Martinliorough, some of the sheds have only boon able to work half time since they started shearing. A notice appears in last week’s Gazete advising public libraries that tlie £4OOO voted by Parliament by way of subsidy will lie distributed at the beginning of next year. Forms of application are being forwarded to known public libraries, and may be obtained at flic office of file Education Board.