The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1911. MODERATION IN CRITICISM.

Southland Times, Issue 16844, 21 September 1911, Page 4

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1911. MODERATION IN CRITICISM.

It is impossible to withhold sympathy from Sir Joseph Ward in his resentment against criticism which appears t6 him to be not only unfair to the Government but prejudicial to the Dominion’s financial reputation. Replying to a deputation which waited upon him in Wellington to urge the construction of the Napier-Gisborne railway from the Napier end Sir Joseph Ward traversed an article which appeared recently in the Wellington “Dominion” with reference to the Government’s methods of spending railway votes. In regard to this flatter the Government is obviously in a difficult position. It Is importuned by settlers in all parts of the colony who desire to enjoy railway facilities at the earliest possible moment. Others clamour for roads and bridges. The towns urge the necessity for new public buildings—post offices, railway stations and other costly structures. The Government is pressed to resume large estates and throw them open for settlement. From every point of the compass there come demands which involve the expenditure of large sums of money, and to satisfy all these demands it would be necessary to raise by a loan a sum between £12,000,000 and £15,000,000. No one can accuse Sir Joseph Ward of being afraid to borrow. The accusation most commonly made against him is that he borrows too extravagantly, but he is not prepared to go to the London market with an emission of securities for £12,000,000. The Public Works Fund is unusually large this year, hut even by exhausting all available ways and means the Government could only satisfy 25 per cent, of the claims for expenditure, and 75 per cent, must be refused or postponed. It is easy, of course, to make political capital out of these declined requests by exciting jealousy between one part of the Dominion and another, and by working on the feelings of disappointed applicants. Criticism of that kind is to be deprecated. It ought to be recognised that by far the larger number of requests for the expenditure of public money upon public works have to be refused, and that the most the Government can be expected to do is to make reasonable provision for the most urgent works. To make political capital for party purposes out of a plain statement of the' truth that there is not sufficient money available to meet all demands is unfair and unjustifiable. Neither is it permissible to misrepresent the position of the Dominion in respect to the public debt. The statement cannot be too often repeated that scrupulous care must be taken to show how large a portion of the public debt is reproductive, and indeed profitable. In respect to reproductive debt the Dominion is in precisely the same position as the merchant or the manufacturer who borrows money for the extension of his business and makes it produce a higher rate of interest than he pays the lender. The more money he can borrow and make profitable use of the better his position is, and it is a gross misrepresentation to assert baldly that New Zealand is groaning under a debt of £80,000,000. We hold very decided views with regard to the public debt and have expressed them at some length in this column. Our debt is too large because expenditure has been extravagant and because the cost of government has absorbed too much of the general revenue. Since the Government came into office the public revenue has increased enormously. Increasing 'wealth and trade have made taxes much more productive than they were ten years ago. Each man, woman and child in the Dominion now pays £9 Ss lid per annum to the Government, as against £7 14s 4d in 1901. But the Government is no better off because it has been unable to prevent the cost of government from rising pari passu with the increase in the revenue. For a period of 20 years we have paid

on an average only £400,000 per annum out of revenue for public works. For all the rest of our public works we have borrowed. At the same time- the cost of railways, roads and bridges has been excessive, and from both these causes the debt has increased abnormally. Criticism on these lines is legitimate and necessary, but criticism which ignores the fact that more than half the debt pays interest is unfair and injurious. Sir Joseph Ward is, perhaps, hypersensitive under criticism, and he is disposed to over-estimate its importance. He mentioned in the course of his reply to the Napier deputation that his reason for protesting against unfair criticism was not that he resented it personally, but that it was damaging to the country, and he added that the Wellington newspaper .to which he specially referred is distributed in financial quarters in London. Surely the facts which were given in the Budget with regard to the £5,000,000 loan and the position which New Zealand stocks hold in comparison with those of other borrowing countries should allay misgiving as to the credit of the country. AH the evidence as to New Zealand’s financial standing in London goes to show that the colony is held in high repute and commands the confidence of investors. In this instance Sir Joseph Ward has some ground for complaint, but he has allowed his feelings to carry him away. The worst aspect of the matter -is that it arises entirely from party bitterness and party rancour. The “Dominion” /

is purely a party paper, its articles betray bias and partisanship, and It strives mainly to discredit the Government in order that Mr Massey’s chances of turning Sir Joseph Ward out of office may be improved. These heated altercations, these undignified recriminations, all spring from the passions which the party system fosters, and which no party leader has ever been able to hold in check. In the heat of party strife prejudice, rancour, and even malice, are begotten. Benefit to the country there is none, and politics instead of being a worthy occupation for earnest and disinterested men become the sport of intriguers, wire-pullers and timeservers.

At a meeting of the directors of the Tishury Co-operative Dairy Factory Co. held on Tuesday evening, Mr W. A. Saunders was appointed secretary, vice Mr McCarter resigned. There were eleven applications for the position.

In his speech on the Budget on Tuesday, Sir William Steward said that the Budget proposal in regard to farmers' co-operative banks was very similar to one which had been advanced years ago by the late Mr Kirkbride, who was a member of the Opposition party.

A petition Is being circulated in town protesting against the Southland County Council’s action -In withdrawing the right to cycle on the Eastern footpath of the North Roadr and is meeting with good support, it being reported that already over four hundred signatures have been obtained. At the present time the road provides very much better cycling surface than the footpath does. Yet cyclists continue to use the footpath. They are doing so at the risk of a fine as the Council has already given the necessary notice withdrawing the privilege, > •

Some discussion took place at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board the other day- as to the design of school buildings. The question arose as the outcome of a letter from the Education Department offering a grant of £2OO for the erection of a country school. The Rev. A. Grant expressed the opinion that when a school committee submitted plans for a school they did not receive proper consideration. Several members expressed grave doubts as to what sort of building could be erected and furnished for £2OO, and it was decided to ask the Department to forward plans and specifications of a building that could be erected for that amount. The profits of the drapery trade were the subject of a bright little passage in the House on Tuesday evening. Mr Isitt stated that Mr Massey had said drapers made 100 per cent, profit on their goods. He did not know whether the Leader of the Opposition would adhere to that statement. Mr Hardy: “I do, and I am a draper.”—(Laughter.) Mr Isitt said that the member for Selwyn must be the exception that proved the rule. Most of the drapers of the country made an average net profit of 6 to 12 per cent, on their turnover. The moral was that big drapery firms were not such fit subjects for taxation as big landowners. Fifty sections at Taitville (suburb of Wellington), recently acquired by the Labour Department for the purpose of workers’ homes, are no\\ being suiveyed and subdivided. The survey is expected to be completed in about a fortnight, when the sections will be thrown open for selection. Already a fairly large number of workers have applifid for homes on this particular block. Twenty-two sections offered at Island Bay for the same object have all been taken up, and only one allotment remains for selection.

An historic London residence, Carnwath House, is to be sold by auction with the Broom House Estate, Fulham. In its garden the late Mr Gladstone nroposed to Mrs Gladstone, and in the days when Lady Shelley gave her “strawberry parties” on Saturday afternoons, it used to be said that more matrimonial matches had been made on the lawns of Carnwalh House than at any other house in England. An older tradition is attached to the ferry that used to ply from the river side of the estate. It is said that during the Civil War King Charles I. came over the ferry to reach the Surrey shore.

The most engrossing subject at Nightcaps at present tsays the Otautau Standard) is the forth-coming bazaar in aid of the building fund for the Coronation Hail which is to he erected on a section in Johnston road procured for that purpose at a cost of £BO. A fairly substantial sum lias already been raised, the Nightcaps Coni Company having donated £SO, while three . others in Messrs Jas. Ritchie. J. Griffin and Irwin came forward with £lO apiece, several amounts of £5 also being donated. It is hoped that a sufficient sum will be raised through the agency of the bazaar to clear the hall, a lender for which has been accepted at CGT'J, the successful contractor being Mr IX Sinclair. The estimate was £650. which allowed for a brick hall 10 feet by 35 feet. The bazaar is to run for the best part of a week, the' dates chosen being the 4th. sth, Glh and 7th October. The secretaries of the movement are Miss K. J. Clapp and Mr J. 13. Purdue, to whose energies the success so far attained is mostly due, and both deserve all honour foi their public spiritodness in the matter.

Mr Vernon Reed, member for Bay of Islands, who is at present in Auckland, teas interviewed by a repot regiiiding the statement that a petition is being circulated in his electorate requesting the Government to invite ,Mr Keed to a seal on the Treasury benches. Mr Keed said be had had no information of a petition being in circulation in the Ray of Islands electorate regarding lil in self and a Cabinet portfolio. Me had spent half an hour in conversation witli the Prime Minister on other matters, and had been In the House continuously until midday on Saturday, and lie had not heard any suggestion of the petition while in Wellington. He said, of course, lie had not been in the Opposition whips’ room. It came as a surprise to him when lie read the paragraph in the Auckland papers. Asked when he thought the session would end and the elections lake place. Mr Heed replied that the general impression was that the session would be brought to a close about the third week In October. The elections he did not think likely would be held before the first week. In December.

The visiting Justices, Messrs W. B. Ecandrett and F. G. Stone. held an enquiry a’ : . the gaol on Tuesday into the circumstances surrounding ’ the tire vluch recently occurred there. Tl:o finding nas that the occurrence was purely t eeidental ami that no Maine wu.- attachable to anyone. Albert Sims, charged with escaping from Ktieuil custody, was remanded, to be dealt with l>y the Magi., irate.

At the Police Court yesterday morning. beiore .Mr U. CruieUshank, S.M.. John Forrester, for permitting two c ovto wander at South Invercargill, was lined 5. - with 7 - costs; and for tailhig to register the birth of a child '.vilr.in the prescribed period a parent was lined 2, 6, without costs.

There is a motor cycle boom in Cot entry A 10ngland i. The ever-growing popularity ui these machines, remark-, the “Daily News," is shown by round figurecompiled from official sources. Two yeais ago there were 60,00" in actual use in the United Kingdom. 1..0 i year the number increased to SM.<>■ i' ■. and it is estimated that when the official returns for 1)10 tire published there will bo over lou.oOO on the register. Coventry and Birmingham together are now turning out about 1000 motor cycles a week. “We cannot supply them fast enough," said one firm, " and one firm in New Zealand offered to jhuy the whole of our output for next year."

The definition of "stock dealer" was tinder consideration at the Palmerston Supreme Court the other morning. His Honour asked a witness with some knowledge on the subject, what was properly meant by the term, and witness replied that a man who simply bought and sold stock was a stock-dealer. The buying and fattening of stock for subsequent cale did not come within the ordinal) adaptation of stock-dealing. It was more in the nature of the business of a farmer.

Those owning sections in Lindisfarne, ate reminded of the poll which takes place to-day, on the proposal to borrow ft; 000 for road, footpath, drainage and gis reticulation works in this coming suburb. The development of this area has been very rapid, and the construction and completion of the above proposed works will further assist In the progress of this di let and the Town tr' Invercargill as a whole. The polling booths are at the Town Hall, and at Mr Andrew- Lyon’s residence on the corner of Robert street and road, aad will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The result Mr Walker expects to announce at 7.30 p.m.

A meeting of the Balfour branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held in the hall on the 9th Inst., when e. matter of importance to farmers and eheep dealers was dealt with. A farmer member of the union had been before the court for alleged misrepresentation cf sheep sold six months previously , find judgment was given against him. lie asked the union to use its influence In getting the law amended so as to relieve the seller of sheep from responsibility in a reasonable time after sales. There was a good deal of discussion on the subject and It was resolved to hand the matter over to the Executive Committee with a recommendation to take fiuch steps as will lead to the law dealing with sheep sales being so amended as to relieve the seller from further responsibility after the purchaser has taken delivery.

The fact that both the late King and King George had given permission for the loyal toasts to be drunk In nonalcoholic beverages was referred to at the Rechabite Conference at Southport by the High Chief Ruler (Mr J. PhlllpBon. of Newcastle), says the “Westminster Gazette.” While in Australia recently, he' said, he had an interview -with Admiral King Hall, an enthusiastic ‘temperance advocate, who stated it was he who was instrumental in getting King Edward to make public his consent to the loyal toasts being drunk In wafer, and in getting King George to extend the permission to subjects overseas. Mr Philipson said It was fairly well known that Queen Mary was partial to total abstinence principles, and while in Australia he met a gentleman who had sailed with the present King, and was still in touch with the Royal Family, and this gentleman told him that all the King’s' children were being brought up as strict abstainers.

A note of warning waa sounded by the “Father of the House” on Tuesday afternoon for the benefit of Sir Joseph Ward and his party. Speaking in the debate on the Budget, Sir William Steward (Waitaki) said that the Budget, though good in itself, did not go far enough. Very shortly the Liberal party would have to submit clearly-defined proposals cf reform, or other people would take over the reins of control. Various electoral reforms were urgently required, as were also public works reform, carrying with it a large measure of devolution, which would transfer to large bodies in large areas control of public works. The House would then be cleared of the roads and bridges trouble. He did not say that all Government members would come back, but he believed (that their programme was sufficiently popular to bring them back with a majority that would enable them to hold the Government for another three years. But unless they introduced necessary reforms the tide would sweep over them, and there would be an end for The time being of the once great Liberal party.

The new Technical College building at Auckland, which' has been under construction since May, 1909, Is now within measurable distance of completion, and It is expected that it will be out of the builders’ hands by the end of the year. The building is 170 ft. long, 68ft. deep, and SOft. high. As originally planned, the college was to have consisted of five storeys, but owing to the lack of funds only three can be built at the present time. Although the contract is for only three floors, the concrete used amounts to about 54,000 ft. This is strengthened by over 200 miles of steel wire weighing 26 tons and 15 miles of steel bars weighing 78 tons. In the 145 piles driven are 14 2S running feet. The girders would extend more than 4000 running feet, and the joists up to 10,000 ft. The timber used in casing and moulding would, in I2in. by lin. superficial measurement, extend over 50 miles. The area of the glass used will be more than 10,000 square feet, or about a quarter of an acre.

A deputation representing residents of Waikari waited on the Otago Education Board yesterday to protest against the proposed establishment of a sanatorium for consumptives in the vicinity of the Waikari school. The deputation alleged that if the Institution was put near the school parents would remove their children. After the deputation had withdrawn, Mr J. Mitchell moved the following resolution:—“ That this Board endorses the protest that has been made by the school committee and residents against the erection of the proposed secondary hospital in ■ contiguity to the Waikari school, as being fraught with’ risk to the health of the children and prejudicial to the welfare of the public school. The Board expresses its emphatic opinion that the creation of such an institution contiguously to a public school is open to serious objection, and asks that the question may receive further consideration by the hospital authorities.'’ Mr D. T. Fleming seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously without discussion.—Press Association.

Thus the “Outlook’’:—Last Tuesday we were delighted to announce that the liev. Andrew Cameron—that prince of pen tie persuaders—had received from Mr G. F. Bullon. of Kaikoura, a checpio for f 1 000 towards the contemplated extension of Knox College. And now we have pleasure in announcing a promise for yet another £IOOO towards the same object, conveyed to Mr Cameron in the following letter from a gentleman who desires for the present to conceal his identity under the name of “A Former Friend Of the College’’;—l promise you the sum of one thousand pounds in six or seven months' time. I presume this will be in time for the erection of the additional buildings. I would like to see the work pushed on at once so that it may he available for the students without delay, and 1 have no doubt but you will soon get tl'.e amount required. Mr Cameron confidently hopes to be able to announce to the General Assembly in November juext that the entire sum has been subscribed, when he will ask sanction to proceed with the project, so that Knox College may be perfected according to the original plans. Mr Cameron has also received a cheery note from John Sidey, Es'l . Caversham, wishing the extension Fund all success, and enclosing a cheque for one hundred pounds. ■ Those donations. bring the sum promised up to £7ld'>.

For Coughs and Colds take Tonking’s Linseed Emulsion, easily taken, children like it. From all chemists and stores 1/6. 2/6, 4/6.

Mr O. E. Hugo, the well-known phrenologist. will lecture in the V.M.O.A. lecture hall on Tuesday evening next on "Faces ami expression." Admission will lie free: but there will be a collection. Outside apparel lias much to do with a man's appearance, but it is the underwear which lias the most to no with his comfort. There is no more comfortable underwear than the "Wolsey.” It is property shaped, the quality is good, and note this, it is absolutely unshrinkable. .Men who have been annoyed by their undershirts shrinking until they formed a bandage under their arms, will appreciate this. Thomson and Beattie have opened their new season’s "Wolsey." .Men's Singlets, 7/(5 to 10,. C; Men’s Pants, 8/6 to 11/6. BICYCLES—IOO to clear. Genuine 8.5.A., £ll 10s. Free gift of a set of tyres to any one who can prove there Is better value given hi Invercargill than we are offering. Call and inspect, judge, and you ’ will buy.—itussell and Co.. -Motor and Cycle Agents, Dee street. 2843 Interest for the moment is centred upon the charming display ot Millinery now showing at t’UICK & BLLLEID S. Distinctly novel and beautiful effects are developed in the models drawn from fashions favourite haunts. The Window Exhibit is the lirst outward display that has been made this Spring, and i.s characteristic of this firm's methods of doing business. The lloral decorations with the back ground of lattice work, surmounted with trailing roses, is in itself pleasing to the eye,'and the fact of tiie large concourse of people who constantly throng the pavement is indicative of the interest shown. Such window displays as these are not often to be seen in Invercargill. The new Showrooms In the rear of the building ate splendidly rearranged with the new Shipment of Millinery, Costumes, Blouses, Skirts, etc., that were only opened TO-DAY, and especially got together for Show on THURSDAY, FRIDAY, and SATURDAY this week. IOBSS I FORDS ! FORDS 1 WHO SAYS FORDS 7 Who wants immediate delivery of the very latest Model Ford? We will guarantee to save you many pounds on these Cars, and what is more give you delivery from Stock. For full particulars of Cars landing enquire from STONE’S MOTOR MART, Invercargill. 2503 Time will tell whether a man Is worthy or a machine economical enough to be practical. Some milking machines give themselves away at the start, others manage to blind the user for a month or two; but the RIDD MILKING MACHINE is as reliable after years of service as on the day it was bought. Scores of farmers can testify tp the Ridd’s excellence, this extract from a letter written by Mr D. Buchanan, of Tlakltahuna, being representative of many others: ‘After using the RIDD MILKING MACHINES for three seasons, I know you will be interested in my experience of their use. . . . The machines have done the work well throughout, and from the enclosed letter of the manager of the cheese factory to which I supply, you will see that the milk supplied has been the best they have received. Taking the plant right through I am thoroughly well pleased with it.” The WATT’S OIL ENGINE proves Itself to be as worthy of praise as the milker. For detailed information kindly apply J. G. WARD AND CO., LIMITED. SYNOPSIS NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. On Page I.— McDonald and Meek have properties, houses, etc., for sale. See Commonwealth Agency’s large list of properties for sale. On Page 3. Price list cycle enamelling, overhauling, cleaning, etc.—See Wilson, Fraser and Co.’s advt. On Page 4. Funeral of late Charles Archer tomorrow. Funeral of late Rose Kennard to-mor-row. Funeral of late Margaret McDonald to-morrow. On Page 6. Fuller’s Pictures to-night, at 8. Hayward’s Pictures to-night at 8. Catholic Club’s concert In Victoria Hall to-night. Lecture by Mr O. E. Hugo in Y.M.C.A. Rooms on Tuesday next. Thos. Xorcross, A.V.C.M-, has vacancies for pupils. Court Southern, No. 9298, meet tonight. Ex-Otago High School Boys annual dinner to-morrow night. Meeting of Southland Rugby Union to-night. Special meeting of Southland Coachbuilders’ Assofclatlon to-morgow night. Meeting of Walklwi River Board on Saturday afternoon. Special meeting of Southland Typographical Union on Saturday night. Special meeting of Committee of the Invercargill Cycling Club on Saturday evening. On Page B. J, A. Mitchell and Co. Entry for horse sale on Saturday.