THE PELORUS GUARDIAN FRIDAY NOVEMBER, 21 1890. Mr Philips' Speech.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 85, 21 November 1890, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN FRIDAY NOVEMBER, 21 1890. Mr Philips' Speech.

Mb. -Staffs' speach on Wednesday night gave us rather more satisfaction than we had anticipated from the perusal of his published address. He was evidently suffering from a severe cold, but notwithstanding this he created a favourable impression by the straightforward way in which he expressed his views on the political questions of the day. Mv Phillips isapparenfcly sincere in what he says, and honestly believes he is right in the view ho takes of the various questions upon which he expresses an opinion. This is saying a good deal for any man who aspires to be a representative of the people, but beyond this we cannot go. We hope to be able to deal with £he financial question in our next, and will therefore go on to the next subject—namely, the sale of the railways. We entirely disagree with Mr Phillips on this question, as public opinion and passing events show_ a tendency in the direction of nationalisation. That is to say, tljat fhe State should carry out the principle of national co-operation in all large undertakings which are for the benefit of the whole community. That it is not desirable for New Zealand to at present federate with Australia -we are one with Mr Phillips, but we cannot a<n?ee with the idea that labour should be cheaper when there are less taxes to pay. On the contrary, men who work for wapes, and have borne the taxation of the country have an equal right with those who own property to share in that increased prosperity which must necessarily follow before taxation can be reduced. We think the whole tendency of our social and statute laws should be in the direction of rising upwards in the matter of wages and social equality rather than downwards. Mr Phillips' idea that men who did not cultivate their land should be compelled to do so or forfeit it would be a step in the right direction if it was not too harshly carried out. On the education question Mr Phillips will find many sympathisers who believe in the system remaining as it is—namely, free, secular, and compulsory, without making any inroads to endanger it. His ideas on representation are rather crude, and would have been better left unsaid. The principle of giving preponderance to the country districts over that of towns was long since advocated in the United States, and afterwards in New Zealand and elsewhere, but that was before railways, electric telegraphs, and newspapers were spread over the country. However, that principle has been established in the present Representation Act, and we think it has been carried far enough, taking the above factors into consideration. His views on local government are quite in accord with our own so far as the general principle is concerned, but we cannot agree with him altogether on the question of life insurance as we thinkthat, it as with the railways, it is a national concern, but is not carried to that extent we should like to see it. As to a State bank or mint, although they may be very desirable institutions, it would not be practicable at the present time to establish either. We are not altogether satisfied that the land laws are liberal enough and would like to see a radical change in their administration. Taking the speech altogether we do not think Mr. Phillips has given that amount of thought and study to political questions which should entitle him to the confidence of the electors. He has not that comprehensive grasp or familiarity with details which would lead us to suppose he had followed the course of events beyond a limited circle, and however much we may admire Mr Philips personally wo cannot clq so politically. j

As the subject of the acquisition of large estates has been introduced into the present contest and as Sir George Grey lias been accused of being the cause of land monopoly we will give what the Hon. Colonel Russell said on the subject in his place in the Legislative Council in 1871, when he admitted the fact " that by Provincial Land Legislation a body of large landowners had been created." Who is more likely to be right, Colonel Russell, who was a public man when the Constitution Act was granted, or Mr Hursthouse, who was only a mere boy when that event took place. The sheep returns which have just come to hand give the total number of sheep in the colony for 1890 as 16,110,113 against 15,423,328 for 1880, or an increase for the year of nearly 700,000. This is a very satisfactory result for the year, and shows what a vast trade in frozen mutton could be done if a market could be found for all we could export. In the Marlborough district there are something over 600,000 sheep, and there is a decrease of about 4,000 on the previous year.

At every place on the other Bide MiMills has met with a good reception and received large promises of support. His speech at Wakefield was reported in full by the Mail and Colonist and from those papers we gather that he was subject to one hour and twenty minutes questioning, but he evidently went through the ordeal to the satisfaction of those present, as the statement by Mr Thomas that Mr Mills would be elected by a large majority was received with cheers. In conveying the vote of thanks to. iVfv Mills, which had been passed, the chairman, Mr Joshua Bird, congratulated him on the straightforward and plucky way in which he had spoken and answered questions, and in which his conduct had been that of a gentleman. Mr J. A. Millar, Secretary of the Maritime Council, ljas definitely decided to contest the Port Chalmers seat against Mr J. Mills. The latter is manager of the Union Company, and, as is well known, Mr Millar has been prominently before the public in tlje recent strike, the contest will be watched w|tU a gqqtj c]eai qf interest by the two parties. Further dates and places at which Mr Phillips will address the electors will be found in another column. He will speak at Cullensville on Saturday (to-morrow) night, at Okaramio on Monday, ap Qibsontqwn on Tuesday,, and at other places stated in the advertisement.

Tenders are invited by the Pelorus Road Board for forming 80 chains of jilje, Grove road, and sixteen chains on the Pelorus road. The specifications can be seen at the Guakdian office, Daniel's Hotel, and at Mr Couper's accommodation house. According to a statement coinpfled by the Evening Post there are 31 declared labour candidates, who are likewise Oppositionists, 46 who have declared against the Government, 47 Ministerialists, 30 doubtfuls, and 6 independents, or a total of 160. There are as many as nine seats for which there is only one candidate, the Waikato, Bryce; Buller, O'Connor; Inangalma, R. Reeves; Ellesmere, A. Saunders; Waitemata, W. J Steward; Clutha, T» MqKenzie; Waitaka, J, McKenzie; Wakatipu, T- Fergus; Awarua, J. G- Ward. Cowan's Comedy and .Burlesque Company are advertised to appear at Okaramio to - night, and at the Atheneum Theatre, Havelock, tomorrow night. Colonel Hume, accompanied by Major Webb, passed through Havelock on Tuesday on his way to Blenheim.

A book fiend in the Wairarapa district was set npon bv a number of men, and a sack was thrown over his head, his order book and other documents were then taken from him. Tar and feathers were found in the vicinity but were not used.

The death is announced of Dr Mclntyre, who will be remembered in conneetiqn with, the Plall poisoning case.

The adjourned. meeting of those interested in holding the annual regatta and sports will be held at the Commercial Hotel on Wednesday next at 8 o'clock.

The big estate evil is growing. It in stated that in 1886 there were two companies owning more than J 50,000 acres each; in 1889 there were seven. Sir Walter Buller has met with a loss which cannot be replaced, for, in the ship Assaye, which has been lost was shipped Sir Walter's very valuable New Zealand library—the accumulation of thirty years' careful salection. Besides this, there was his most interesting collection of natural history and ethnological specimens, As the outcome of the eloquence in the British House of Lords and House of Commons during the last session, Hansard consisted of 14,8000 pages. Seven hundred of these were devoted to the Navy,- 850 to India, 1,450 to 'Scotland, and 4.700', or nearly onethird, Qf the whole, to Ireland,

Mr O. E. Heiden has received the appointment of mining manager for; the Wakamarina Gorge Company's claim, and enters on his duties at once.

At the Chrisfcchurch Police Court a married woman applied for an order to 1 compel a grown-up son to contribute towards her support. The husband of the applicant said he could not support his wife and family as he was an invalid. Tne Magistrate: Yes, a good deal of an invalid, with fourteen children, and the youngest only five months old! The magistrate said his opinion was that the husband was more lazy than ill, and no order would be made. The wife said she would apply for a separation, a rather novel turn to the application. We do not remember seeing so many ladies in proportion to the size of the place present at election meetngs as has been the case at Haveilock. It is a good sign to see the ladies take so much interest in politics, and as the franchise will no doubt be granted to them before the next elections, they will be in a position to record their votes on the merits of the candidates, and possibly have a chance of sending one of their own sex to Parliament. Three thousand women in Greece have petitioned the King to allow their sex the same educational advantages as are enjoyed by his male subjects. They say:—"lf the progress of our country in civilisation remains behind the hopes and expectations of the Government, the cause is the backward development of Grecian womanhood. Fit us to rear you sons and we will show you how much we can do for v b u and Greeoe."