PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1892. THE LABOR PARTY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6541, 7 December 1892, Page 2

PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1892. THE LABOR PARTY.

We have received a pamphlet entitlod " The Labor Party in New Zealand." It is a reprint of an article, written by " Norwood Young," Wellington, which appeared in the National Ravi-sw for July last. " What the Labor Party (in England) may achieve " waa the original heading. The author (who writes under an assumed name) points out what he considers tha beat course for the party to pursue to secure political power. As ha strives to make ib clear th;tb he does not sympathise with the aims of the party, it is nofc easy to see why he has come forward to give them advice bo further their cause. He warns Trade Unionists and kindred associations not to follow the example of their fellow-workers in New South Wales, but to take what has been accomplished in New Zealand as a guide. Ho says that tho position taken by tho Trades Unionists towards the other sections, or parties, in Parliament, is a matter of immense importance. In New South Wabs where, as in New Zealand, the Trades Unionists hold the balance of power— they have cried "a plague on both your Houses," and yet have become split up into two distinct sections of two great parties. " The cause of this collapse," to quete the author, "is instructive. The collapse has been duo to tho jealousies which have always become accentuated in a party which has no accredited leader, and to the inability of the parky to hold together on the fiscal issue, which is the cause of a defined party division in New South Wales. If they were united and well led, they would turn Free Tradtirs and Protectionists in turn, and so obtain control over Parliament. They are ruining their influence by allowing their forces feo separate and become merged in the two party streams." The plain meaning of this is that the Labor party should care nothing about gro:\t political principles, such as Free Trade and Protection, but should unite their forces for the ascendancy of a class in the Legislature.

The Trades Unions in New Zealand have managed matters differently. " Norwood Younsx " thinks that the attitude to be assumed in Great Britain by the two old parties on the ono hand and the L:ibor party on tho other is clearly marked out. by colonial experience. The Liberals and Conservatives must each endeavor to get Labor candidate 11 ! to coma forward nn Liberals or as Conservatives. On the other hand, the Labor candidates should stand aloof from both parties ; should got into Parliament by refusing to " accept the ticket " of either side, for in such case there would necessarily be three candidates ; and theu they would be nble to compel one of the two parties, in Parliament, to acGedo to their demands. If after establishing a distinct party in Par liament they still fail, it will be due to the unwillingness of ,i body of Parliamentary nneiees to appoint a lender, and then follow the leader loyally " In New Zealand, the author proceeds to say, the party has a leader with a seat in the Cabinet ; it seems to be the sinunchest section of the Government supporters ; and, as a reward, it rules the Government of the country. The Hon. W. P. Reeves is the leader referred to.

The- iffintleman who has undertaken to enlighten tho British public on the state of New Zealand politics makes a mistake in setting down I\lr Reeves as the accredited leader of the Labor party. Mr Ball.mcc or I\fr Ins equally as good t\ clnim. Mr Reeves is political chiuf of the Libor Bureau, but that fact does not establish him either as the recognised or actunl leader of tho. Libor section of the House. We believe that both the Premier and Minister of Public Works are more in touch with tho party, and enjoy its confidence to a fuller extent than the Minister for Labor. English people will regard with some amusement tho advice «iven to the Home Labor party to put a third candidate in the fir-Id. That was done in se^oral constituencies in Great Britain .it the last general election, and in every case the independent Labor enndidate got badly beaten. The author penned his article before tho British elections. He is probably much wiser after the event.

The author thus discourses on tho composition of the House of Representatives : — The four Maori members excluded from the calculation, there are seventy seats in tJic House of Representatives — tho Lower TTouse. Afe the general election of December, 1890, immediately after the collapse of the great strike, thirty-four candidates obtained the open support of the Trades Unions ; of these, twenty-one were elected nnd thirteen were defeated. The social position of the candidates varied from that of the rich and fashionable man whose education had been finished in England to that of a bootmaker earning his daily wage-. The gentlemen, or educated men, number fifteen (there are four Labor members in this group : Mr Reeves, fi member of the Cabinet ; Mr Perceval, the now AgentGuneral ; Mr Rees, the Chairman of Committees ; and Sir George Grey) ; the true labor class, that of tho working; mechanics, amount to only five (two bootmakers, a tailor, a brassfounder, and a carpenter) ; the remaining fifty (among whom are twelve Labor members) have begun life in every conceivable position except that of the capitalist who can well afford education— they have been, or still are, polioemen, diggers, lawyers, storekeepers, journalists, shepherds, merchants, drovers, mechanics, shopkeepers, hawkers, blacksmiths, and lamplighters. The term "Labor member" which is applied to four gentlemen, to five mechanics, and to twelve men whose antecedents put them on a par with the majority of the House, obviously refers — not to the social position of a member, bub — to the character of the electoral support which has brought him to the front j it designates the nominee of Trades Unionism. Qf the twenty-one successful Trades-Unionist nominees, only twelve were new to Parliament. The other nine had found their way to the House before the idea of intervening in political contests had occurred to the' directors of trade organisations. Twelve were the children of Trades Unionism ; nine, though puppofted by the Unions were no^.

created by them ; only five were peculiarly represqptntive of the ordinary wageearner. Thus the significance of the Trades Union successes is much modified.

Some p«opl» ontertain the idea that there has been a great chango in recent times in the composition of the House of Representatives, and that formerly representatives of pastoral interests predominated. That is a mistaken motion. Fifteen or sixteen years njjo, we heard a, in«rabi»r exclaim in Parliament that the country was rul d by the squatter*. A ropresentafeive »f a pastoral district got up and said : " There or only three or four of us hero," and then quietly nur veyed the Chamber, to find the members who could be numburtd as friends of the pastoral interest. The answer was complete, for it w»s at once Been that directly and indirectly the greatest indastry of the colony was numerically raosb inadequately represented in Parliaments.

An addition is beinij made to the Masonic Hotel, and Mr Harding last crening was granted leave to erect a scaffolding over the footpath.

Registry office certificates have been granted by tha Borough Council to Mesdames East, Chrisp, and Erskine.

The Mutual Improvement Society concluded their sessions for the present year on Monday evening with a pleasant little

Mr Albert Karaitiana was married this morning at Te Arai to Miss A. Todd, of Napier. Caaon Webb conducted the wedding service.

The Tolago Bay Hotel, which was destroyed by fire this morning, was quite recently sold, through the instrumentality of Mr Akroyd, to Mr Hill of Lyttelton, who was to have taken possession on January 16th.

Carnarvon street, though pretty, is one of the parts of the town which do not reflect credit on Gisborno on account of the rough unformed state of the road. The Borough Council at last are going to do something to improve it, having instructed the Overseer at the meeting last night to report on the matter.

The Bank of Australasia's Gisborne branch was opened this morning under the management of Mr T. L. Symes. It will be seen by advertisement that this old established banking institution has a paid-up capital of £1,600,000, reserve fund of £800,000, and reserve liability of proprietors £1,600,000.

The executive of the Caledonian Society met last night and finally passed the programme for the forthcoming sports. Eighty pounds was allotted in prize money, to which will be added trophies, bringing the value of the prizes to about £11)0. The Society is rapidly increasing its membership, seven new members being elected and seventeen nominations received last night.

Much expedition was used in turning a lawyer's office into a Bank and in starting the business of the Bank of Australasia in Gisborne. It was only late on Monday afternoon that the gentleman who came here to inaugurate the Bank's business secured the premises recently occupied by Messrs Rees & Day. Carpenters were at once set to work, and by the opening hour this morning the place was neatly fitted up. After some polishing is done the office will be very comfortable, and serve well for the purpose required.

The Weather. — Weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. to-day: — Wind botweeu north ami east and south-east at all places. Barometer fall everywhere ; sea heavy on eastern coast between Lyttelton and East Cape Telegrams to expect strong southerly winds have been cent to all places on the eastern coast between Kaikoura and East Cape. Synopsis of last 24 hours : Very little movement of the barometer generally, but it has fallen a little generally. The weather has continued fine in most parts of the colony. — li. A. Edwin,

The final heat of the Gisborne Rowing Club trial fours was rowed last evening between crews stroked by Green and tSandlant. Saudlanfc got slightly the best of the start and led past Day's jetty, but Green spurted and came up on even terms again. At the HospiUl Sandlant led by half a length and spurted to increase his lead, but Green's men also spurted and the boats remained the same distance apart until reaching the footbridge where Sandlant spurted again and passed the bridge a length ahead. Green's men tried several spurts, but could not lessen Sandlant's lead, who eventually Avon by a length and a-half. Miller and" Ratcliffe row their race off at 6 to-morrow evening. The Secretary is now receiving entries for fresh fours.

The second round of the Gisborne Bowling Club's competition for*Dr limes' bowls took place yesterday afternoon. An exciting contest took place between teams skipped by Messrs J. Coleman and D. Johnston, a tie resulting at the 21st end. Another end was played and Coleman got one ball in, thus winning the game. The other contest resulted in a hollow win for Mr F. U . Skeet's team. Below are the scores : — W. Parker, A. L. Muir, W. O. Skeet, John Coleman (skip), IS ; Mann, C. D. Wilson, Dr Inncs, D. Johnson (skip), 17 ; >S. McLernon, A. Karaitiana, F. J. Lea, F. \T. Skeet (skip), 27; Collins, H. M. Porter, D. Dougherty, A. R. Muir (skip), 9. Skeet's and Coleman's teams meet for the final.

The third heat of the Gisborne Swimming Club's practice competition was swum off at the Carnarvon street jetty last evening, the distance being 1/50 yards. The jetty was crowded with spectators, whilst a good number occupied points of vantage in boats on the river, and considerable enthusiasm was shown. Six starters went to the post, viz., Murphy (scratch), Thomson and T. Hay (14sec), Taylor (ISoec), and Pitt and Hicks (20sec). Mr Fraser, who acted as .starter, got the competitors well away. Pitt took the lead immediately, followed by Hicks and Taylor. Thomson, who headed Hay from the start, weufc in pursuit of the leaders, and swimming a grand stroke soon obtained second position. Murphy was hopelessly out of it, having to concede too long starts. Rome excitement prevailed as the two leaders neared the winning post, with Pitt slightly in advance, and in response to loud cheers from the spectators both swam all they knew, Thomson just getting up and making a dead heat of it on the post. Hay was third, several yards away. Thomson has 7V points to his credit, Murphy 3, Pitt 2^, Morrison 2, and Hicks, Madigan, and T. Hay 1 each.

Reforriug to a cable message regarding the inauguration at Port Said by Messrs Mcllwraith, McEacharn and Co., Ltd., of an Australian frozen meat and fruit depot — nawi which, by the bye, is about three or four months old — Fairplay, of the 10th of Sept. says : — "Few people would credit the difficulties that have been encountered in starting this new trade; and the chief trouble has, perhaps, consisted in the prejudice locally entertained against it. In the first place Asiatics object to handling any meat not killed under their own supervision. Then the Greek butchers combined at once to oppose an attack on their monopoly, and some of these worthies at one time went so far as to threaten to kill persons engaged in the trade." The writer goes on to say that the difficulties were overcome mainly owing to the energy of Messrs Wills and Co. ; also that it has been proved that imported meat will keep at least a week longer than any meat killed in the district.

The Borough Council meeting lasted less than an hour last evening, and the buainesa was of very little interest or importance. There were present Mayor Townley, and Councillors Harding, Akfoyd, Taylor, Hepburn, Dunlop, Joyce, Somervell, Lewis, and Whinray, The Overseer (Mr Wilkinson) reported that three men had been employed tarring footpaths in different streets of the borough and cutting docks in the Recreation Reserve ; also in doing private tarrhig work, for which the Council would have about £15 refunded. The poundkeeper reported that he had doctored a horse which was impounded, and that the owner in redeeming the horse refused to recognise any claim beyond the usual poundage fees. The Council decided to write to the owner of the horse demanding payment of the expense which the poundkeeper had been put to. Tenders were received for a supply of dog collars from: George Maher £5 8s 4d, J. Poswillo £o 8s Gd, and Adeane and Primrose £5 15s. The tender of Maher waa accepted. Accounts were passed for payment and the meeting adjourned,

The meeting of creditors of W. G. G. Watson, called for this afternoon, lapsed for want of a quorum.

At considerable expense Messrs Nelson Bros, have effected improvements to the Taruheru footbridge, putting in protective piles to prevent damage to the structure by collisions. The Councillors luat night spoke very warmly in approval of the work.

Giving evidence before the Royal Commission on Labor, the Chairman of the London Conciliation Board stated that 60 Unions were now affiliated to the Board, which was extending its field of operations, and should have power to summon witnesses. Public opinion, he said, was the best means of enforcing the awards.

The I'atutahi Road Board has passed the following resolution :— " That in consequence of the greab damage done to the roads of the district through the cartage of heavy loads of stone from the {quarry during the wet weather, whereby the road formation has been deslroy«d and rendered unsaf« for traffic, and in order to protect the ratepayers from excessive expense incurred by reason of such <lamig«, th« Board shall prohibit the removal of stone or gravel from any part of the reserve during the months of April, May, and June in each year, sommencing in 1593."

Anotherbig insolvency has to be chronicled in Melbourne. Notice has been filed in the Insolvency Court, on behalf of Mr Raynes W. Dickson, solicitor, of an application for the registration of a compooition which that gentleman proposec to make with his creditors. The liabilities, which have been brought about chiefly by dealings in real estate, are stated at £246,000, and the assets are valued at £154,000. The composition offered is 3s in the pound.

One of the toughest fishing yarns we have seen is published in the Clutha County Gazetta : " Garden met with a peculiar experience whilst fishing last week. Whilst whipping the Kuriwao he felt his hook get fast to something at his back. One looking round lie found he had hooked one of Mr Wallace's cows by the tail. He played bhe tail for a few minutes, but the cow went asvay and took Mr Garden's hooka with her. Not' a bad fishing ' tail,' is it. But this puts the cap on it : As 1 was passing the paddock a couple of lioura after, I saw the cow with a four pound trout hanging to her tail. She had been in the creek for a drink and the fish had taken the fly."

At the Blenheim criminal session Mr Justice Richmond (says the ' Express ') alluded to the necessity for reforms in the procedure of the Supreme Court, and more particularly in the framing of indictments, for it was time they got rid of the yerbiage which now characterises them. As for giving new definitions to such crimes as larceny or murder, such as the new criminal code would do, he considered it hazardous in a new country, and would like to see it tried at Home, rather than be under the necessity of going to school again foe aome months, perhaps years, before they knew where they were. There were matters in which a colony was a proper field for experiment, but this was not one of them.

The following is one of Lord Houghton's stories, quoted in the book recently published by Mr Clifford Harrison, the reciter : — " It was at the time when the name of Buonaparte was a terror and execration to Europe. At an annual dinner of a certain society of authors in London, Campbell rose and said he had to propose a toast. Glasses were filled, and he gave them "Napoleon." Some considerable surprise and demur were exhibited. ' Doubtless, gentlemen,' said the proposer, ' you are somewhat astonished at the toast I have given you. But, as authors, I feel that the name of Napoleon should be held in honor and accorded 'the gratitude of remembrance, for let us never forget that he once shot a publisher.' The toast was drunk with enthusiasm."

A monument has been erected in Wanganu to the memory of the soldiers who fell in the Maori wars. It takes the form of a lion carved out of Mount Somers stone, by Mr G. .Sheriff, a well-known local artist. The figure was carved out of two blocks of stone, each weighing about two tens. The lion is mounted on a heav}', tomb-shaped mass of WaiUawa bluestone, surrounded at the top by a massive cornice ornamented with a beautifully chiselled design representing a continuous wreath of bay leaves. Six marble tablets for the inscriptions are let into the sides of this portion of the monument, one on the north side, one on the south, and two each on the east and west. On these tablets are inscribed the names of the soldiers whose memory it is desired to preserve, together with a record of the object of the monument. The cost was defrayed by a shilling subscription, by donations from local residents, a grant from the Wanganui Borough Council, and a Government subsidy of £10 J. The total cost is £300.

Tiie additional particulars which have been received concerning the wreck of the Bokhara show that the mail steamer literally drove broadside upon the rocks at Sand Island, off Formosa. All the Bokhara's boats were washed away before the vessel struck. The fires were out fully two hours before the steamer was carried to her doom ashore, and she sank almost immediately, drowning 125 persons. Captain Sams and his officers displayed great calmness and courage up to the last. When the ship struck those who wero on deck were swept off by the seas which bounded over the fast breaking-up steamer, and it was those who were in this way washed off that were saved, the seas carrying some of them high up on the rocks into places of safety. Those who were below went down with the ship, no portion of which was visible next morning, with the exception of some floating spars. From the statements made by the few survivors it is certain that the loss of the Bokhara was due to the unfortunate smashing in of the engine room skylight by the heavy seas that swept the steamer's decks, and in that way flooded the engine room and stoke hole and washed •ut the fires, leaving the vessel completely unmanageable.

The new mayor of Christclmrch is thus sised up by " Bohemian " in the Press, who, writing of the three candidates cays : — But the most striking among the three is a young man by the name of George — Eden George — a man with an individuality, this — and some dash. You have only to look at his famous signature to see that. That fox's bush below the E. tells of a desire to expend something, if only ink, in making a flourish. A bold and original genius. Who but a genius would have had the audacity to offer to the Synod £100 for the privilege of advertising on the north roof of the Cathedral. But one must not take Mr George too seriously. I half suspect he regards himself as only a little joke. In his ebullieut juvenility he flirts with public life like a ballet-dancer with a parson. He made his first essay because he was ambitious. He got beaten. He made his next because he was obstinate. He got laughed at. He now tearfully implores the public to make him Mayor that lie may not look ridiculous. I feur Mr George would never have succeeded in business did he not " develop " his vieM's iv the studio better than on the platform. If he gives no better "proofs" to the ratopaj'ers of his ability than he has hitherto, I fear they will give him a decided " negative," and afford him no opportunity of conducting municipal business in " camera. 1 ' His ideas will want " touching wp" before ho is " mounted " on the civic throne. But his perseverance deserves recognition. He has plenty of brains if he would only be serious ; his energy and push are irrepressible ; his liberality no one will question ; and if he is a little fantastic, that is perhaps only saying he is an enthusiast. I fear I shall have to give him my vote vo-lens no-lens.

In the new House of Commons there are 110 Liberals in favor of women's suffrage, 112 Conservatives. 11 Liberal Unionists, and 19 Nationalists. Thus there is a grand total of 252 in favor of female franchise. There are 167 Liberals in favor of disestablishment of the Church all round, 30 others in favor of Scotch disestablishment only, and 0 others of Welsh disestablishment ; but 44 others have declared their willingness to support disestablishment in Scotland and Wales without going so far as regards the English Church. Account has yet to be taken of the Liberal Unionists, as in their case there is apt to be a descrepancy between promises and votes. Since 18S6 most of the Liberals who then stood out for Local Option have been converted to the Direct Veto. In the new House are 2G3 Liberals favoring the Direct Veto, 16 Liberal Unionists, and 14 Conservatives, giving a grand total of 293 as against 173 supporters of Direct Veto and 111 of Local Option in ISB6. Of the J4 Conservatives 10 are Irish,.

A somewhat novel band contest was ar« ranged to take place in the Centennial Hall, Sydney, recently, the competing bands being entirely composed of blind musicians.

Dr Barnardo has been fined £25 for contempt of court in publishing an article cemmenting on a case which is pending. The case hai reference to alleged neglect on the part of the doctor to dispose of the custody of a boy on a Canadian farm.

The Cycle Record states that visitors to the Chicago Exhibition will see several hundred electrical tricycles capable of holding two persons each. It will only be necessary to take a seat, press a button, and the bat tery which carries a charge lasting fourteen hours, will do the rest, save steering.

The newest kind of craft on the Thames is an electric canoe. Woodhouse and Rawson have built one that attained an average speed of more than six miles an hour when tried. It is mahogany, 18ft long by 3ft 9in beam, with a draft of about a foot. The canoe is fitted with half-horse-power motor, and will carry four persons.

The fortification of Heligoland is being carried out with all expedition. Four hundred men are now employed on the work, und the fortifications will be on a far greater scale than was anticipated. The Daily News' Berlin correspondent hears that the plan was prepared by the late Count von Moltke, and that this was his last work.

The Princess of Wales, whose success with the camera is now of long standing, has made photography quite fashionable. The Crown Princess of Sweden and Norway has taken to it during her tour iv E^ypt The Queen of the Belgians is a devotee of the "kodak"; Ladj Londonderry has an interesting collection of "snap-shots" takeu by herself at garden parties during the past season ; and Bereral other ladie3 are taking lessons in the art, in which they may now excel without staining their fingers.

The costs of the defendants other than Grimley in the great Queensland law cast have novr been taxed. The bill of co&ts between party and party previous to the hearing of the appeal to the Full Court amounted to £20,310, the costs of appeal to the Full Court were returned as £3304, and on the plaintiff company's appeal to go direct to the Privy Council £218, making the total coat to these defendants £23,832. From this amount about £5800 has been taxed off, and probably the cost of both parties will amount to about £40,000.

The Wanganui Chronicle of Wednesday last says :— Prior to the departure of Mr Alfred Smith for Gisborue yesterday, he was met by a number of representative business people at the Rutland Hotel, who assembled to wish him bon voyaye, and success in 'his new sphere. Dr Connolly was voted to the chair. In stating the object of the meeting the chairman expressed the high feelings of regard entertained for Mr Smith, who, he said, was an old Wanganui boy, who had grown up in their midst. A tribute was also paid to Mr Smith's business ability and social qualities. Dr Connolly then asked Mr Smith's acceptance of a souvenir of the friends he was about to leave in Wauganui. The subscribers having had very short notice had not been able to select any article to hand to Mr Smith, but something would be chosen and forwarded to Gisborne. After hi 3 health had been toasted Mr Smith suitably responded, and the party broke up. Mr Smith, who was accompanied to the station by many friends, left by the afternoon train.

A fine bull was being shipped on board the steamer Paeroa at Auckland when it leapt overboard. Two of the crew launched the steamer's boat and want in pursuit, coming up with the animal at the entrance to the Auckland Graving Dock. A line was passed over its head, but the men could do nothing, as the bull made a desperate struggle. Captain A. Martin, of the schooner Gisborue, and two of his men put off in a boat belonging to the schooner Waiapu, to the assistance of the Paeroa's boat, and made fast to the bull, and the two boats started to tow the animal back to the steamer. As the bull kept plunging and fighting to gefc clear, it was not only a difficult matter, bufc attended with a certain amount of danger, to keep its head above water. Erentually they succeeded in getting alongside the Paeroa, but the bull, when hoisted on board, was found to be dead, having evidently exhausted itself in the desperate struggle for freedom.

An able article on the Presidential election

appears in the Melbourne Argus, written by Mr A. R. Calhoun, an American politican and journalist, who is now in Melbourne. In it he states : " A Democratic President and a Democratic Congress is a matter in which the sheep ranchers or squatters of Australasia must be intensely interested. It means immediately a free market for their wool in a kindred nation of 70,000,000 of people. The increased market means a higher price. As the areas of textile manufacture are in Southern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and the New England States, and as water is the cheapest method of transportation, wool ships and the mutton ships which are sure to follow will leave Australia or New Zealand direct for our Atlantic ports. In the commerce of the world monay is used only to adjust balances ; the returning ships are sure not to come back in ballast. American manufactured products, particularly if these colonies adopt a liberal system of reciprocity, will make up the returning cargo s, adjust the balances of exchange, and tend to bind with a tie of commercial interest, the strongest of all, the children of a common mother, separated only by the placid waters of the most navigable of oceans. Free wool means much to 70,003,003 Americans, but in proportion, it me:ms more to 4.0CJ,000 of Australians. But the commerce that free wool will induce between the United States and Australasia must be far greater, and so more value to both thau «yen the trade in wool.