The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1923. THE TWO MR BOWMARS.

Southland Times, Issue 18932, 4 May 1923, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1923. THE TWO MR BOWMARS.

In another column, we publish this morning a statement signed by five well-known residents of Lumsden, giving a report of certain remarks made by Mr E. Bowmar in the course of a speech on Power Board matters in Lumsden on Monday, April 23, in furtherance of Mr Hinchey’s candidature. The statement we publish is an extract from a letter that contains other statements which are fa’.se and s’anderous, concerning other people, who, we understand, intend to deal with them in another way. For the moment, we are concerned with the attack made on, the. Southland Times by Mr Bowmar, about the meaning of which we say there can be no doubt. There is no room for two opinions concerning such a statement as:

The hostility of the Southland Times to Mr Hinchey and myself is explained by the fact that Mr William Macalister, who ir the Power Board solicitor, is also managing director of the Southland Times

The charge is carried farther with the allegation that after Mr Hinchey became chairman, Mr Macalister had less legal work to do than formerly. If the letter signed by Mr Griffiths and the four others of the audience is accepted as correct, then we have it that in these sentences Mr Bowmar invited his Lumsden audience to believe that the Southland Times had deliberately attacked the Board to serve the private ends of Mr Macalister and to put additional fees into his pocket. Mr Bowmar asked his hearers to believe that the editorial policy of this paper was a mockffy, and the editor a rascal ready to betray the readers of the Southland Times, who extend over the entire province. We do not intend to approach this matter by a circuitous route. We say in the first place to Mr Bowmar:

This statement you are reported to have made in Lumsden is a lie.

In 1919, when it was suggested that the editorial policy ofjhis paper was influenced by the interests of a gentleman who was then incorrectly stated to be a director, we declared emphatically that no director of the Southland Times had dictated to the editor what he should write or what his policy should be; that no director or shareholder had ever seen a leading article before it appeared in the columns of the paper; and that no director or shareholder had attempted or would be permitted to attempt to use his position to influence the editorial policy of the paper. These statements are true to-day, as they were in 1919. Our criticism of the Board’s policy

was dictated solely by what we believed to be the best interests of the community, and at every stage it was open to Mr Bowmar, or anyone else, to refute our statements, if he could. The vote in the towns in which he spoke showed the value that was put upon his utterances. There is, however, an aspect of this matter which concerns the public. The Southland Times is quite able to rely in refutation of this allegation, on the reputation it has built up during its long career, but we think it is our duty to direct attention to the manner in which these charges were made. Mr Bowmar, at the conference between the representatives of the Farmers’ Union and the Chamber of Commerce, sought the cloak of “committee” for an attack on Mr Rodger as soon as he discovered that reporters were at the meeting. When he spoke at Dipton a representative of the Southland Times was present, and Mr Bowmar made no reference to this or to the other matters contained in the letter signed by Mr Griffiths and others. A few nights later, when he knew that no reporter was in attendance, he treated his audience to a virulent attack on certain individuals, and on this paper. If Mr Bowmar wanted to avoid the accusation of cowardice, he could have made these charges at Dipton, when he knew the Southland Times was represented. Mr Bowmar evidently does not care to fight the battle in the open; he prefers to make his attack in places where his victims have no opportunity of meeting the ugly charges he levels. To our way of thinking, the people of Southland will regard as the most important element in this business, the unmanly fashion in which the attack was delivered. Mr Bowmar might have said those things about us to our face in Dipton; he preferred to make use of them at Lumsden, where he knew no reporters were present. We ask our readers to remember his behaviour in the Invercargill conference in connection with this affair. The report we have published suggests there are two Mr Bowmars in the field: one who was heard at Dipton, and another who spoke at Lumsden a few days later. If the report of his statement is accurate, and we think the signatures attached to it will be regarded as a sufficient guarantee, then the Southland County elector, when he enters the booth, is entitled to ask which Mr Bowmar he is to consider for Power Board or County Council: the ut’terer of mild, if weak, argument in the open at Diptoh, or the unheroic launcher of falsehood in the apparent security of an unreported meeting at Lumsden. One of them, we say, has not enough courage to be of any value in public life.

The school members of the Navy League in the Wellington district, according to the annual report, now stand at 3879.

The Town Council has. decided to alter the date of coming into operation of the Wednesday half-holiday from June 6 to June 13, on account of the King’s Birthday coming in the same week.

“Sweat and be saved” was the fine precept continually repeated to his pupils by “one of New Zealand’s greatest headmasters.”—The Ven. Archdeacon Jacob, speaking at Timaru Boys’ High School.

The Mayor (Mr Andrew Bain) has arranged to be in attendance at the Mayor’s room at the Town Hall between 3 and 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Department of Agriculture are holding a demonstration at Browns on Thursday next, when two addresses on “The forms and properties of Lime” and “The Practical application of Lime” will be given by Mr R. B. Tennett, N.D,D., instructor in Agriculture for Otago and Southland.

A Blenheim Press Association message states that William Arthur Thomas Hollis, charged with using an instrument with intent to procure abortion, and Thomas Viggare, charged with procuring Hollis to commit a crime, came before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. Both were remanded until May 8. Hollis was allowed bail in two sureties of £5OO, and Viggars in one surety of £4OO and himself in £lOO.

One evening recently a commercial traveller left his motor-car, together with his samples, standing outside in the street all night at New Plymouth, says the Taranaki Herald. Next morning the samples had disappeared. The thief would be considerably disappointed upon opening the cases, as all the boots, being samples, were for the same foot. The joke, howevel, was not only against the light-fingerefl gentleman. The owner of the goods visited the police station and laid his complaint regarding the disappearance of his goods. He took back with him a cordial written invitation to explain the reason for leaving a car out on a public road unattended at night.

Should the matriculation examination be dispensed with? This is one of the many subjects to be discussed at the annual meeting in Wellington next month of the Secon-. dary Schools Assistants’ Association. The view of the executive is expressed in these terms:—“Your executive looks forward hopefully to the early application of a system of accrediting in lieu of the matriculation examination. The number of candidates for this examination is now so huge, that the examiners cannot possibly do justice to the candidates in the marking of the examination papers. Moreover, the examination itself is more and more restricting the individuality of schools and the scope of instruction.” The members of the asociation will be asked to support the executive in this matter.

Little has been heard lately of the island of Aitutaki, the inhabitants of which were supplied with food by the captain of an American schooner, which arrived in Wellington last week. The Wairarapa Age recalls the fact that this little island made itself famous during the 'war by receiving a visit from the German raider von Luckner after his shin had been cast away in a neighbouring group. The natives wanted to lynch him, but the residents said they were not Germans. Aitutaki is a very isolated little spot with a population of something over 1000 natives, and only three whites, one of whom is the New Zeal^nd resident, another the missionary, and the third a trader. It was one of the earliest known islands in the Pacific, for Cook called there more than once, and wrote long accounts of it. It is also one of the few Pacific islands that are over-populated, and has been more than once threatened by famine.

The Dunedin Presbytery had before it on Tuesday a letter from the Southland Presbytery regarding an incident at Queenstown on Easter Sunday. The Presbytery took exception to the action of the regatta authorities, who finished the programme on the Sunday morning. The clerk wrote as follows: “I am instructed to forward to you the enclosed resolution originally drawn up by the three Christian bodies in Queenstown (Presbyterian, Anglican, and Salvation Army), and read by their ministers at both services on Easter Sunday. The Presbytery of Southland commended their action and adopted the motion as a resolution of' the Presbytery. It feels that as the fixture was carried out under the auspices of the Otago Rowing Club, the support of your Presbytery would add weight to the protest therein made.” The Rev Hector Mac Lean pointed out that it was unlikely that one club would be responsible for the regatta, and a general resolution was carried expressing the Presbytery’s regret that any organised club should carry out any I part of its programme on the Lord’s Dgy.

A Christchurch Press Association message, states that a recount of votes cast on the loan proposals in connection with the Municipal Concert Hall resulted in the proposal being declared carried by 5394 votes to 5294. There were no fewer than 1418 informal votes. It is proposed to raise a special loan of £35,000 to build a municipal concert hall in Manchester street.

A belief in the future of the Thames goldfields was expressed by the Hon. A. M. Myers 8t the Thames Old Boys’ reunion at Auckland. Mr Myers said he believed that more gold would yet come out of the Thames than had ever been got, but owing to the exigencies of the times the gold-bearing area had not been exploited in recent years. He hoped to be able to associate himself with the movement for the development of the field by assisting in the formation of a company in London with th? object of giving the area more thorough test than it had so far received (states the New Zealand Herald). This statement was received with appreciation and enthusiasm by those present.

“Sometimes I think people who live in New Plymouth do not realise how beautiful their town is, with its fine parks, its streets broken by pretty gullies, its fine homes, and old Egmont at the back of it all,” remarked Mr W. H. Robertshaw, at the Savage Club. “I have lived in all parts of New Zealand from Auckland to Invercargill, and my honest opinion is that New Plymouth is the most delightful town to live in of them all. Comparatively few know the magnificent view which can be obtained at the golf links near the beach, where you can look along the beach to the Sugar Loaves, seeing the town and the harbour, looking inland across to Mount Egmont, and on clear days, in the other direction right across the province, Mount Ruapehu. Some day, when my time comes to retire from active work, I ask nothing better than to come back to New Plymouth to live.”—Taranaki Daily News.

“War is inevitable, and must always be so,” declared Lieut-Colonel R. St. J. Beere, D. 5.0., at the Eastbourne Anzac celebration, says the Post. Continuing, he said that the Great War would not be the final war, for there were nations with great populations, who were seeking fresh lands for their rapidly-increasing surplus people. Germany had been compelled to fight in order that she might find room for the expansion, and had victory followed her armies New Zealand would not have been in the satisfactory position it was to-day. Japan was one of the most thickly-populated lands in the world and was already looking round for. a place on which to put her surplus population. “We must be prepared,” he said when concluding this part of his speech, “and when the time comes must prove that we are better men than our enemies, if we wish to retain the land we now hold as part of the Empire.”

At a meeting of the New Zealand Moderate League the following resolutions were carried for submission to the Government: “That in view of repeated polls taken over many years, and under varied conditions, all of which have decided definitely against Prohibition, it is manifestly the duty of the Government and Parliament to reform the licensing system in such a manner as will secure (1) Promotion of ternperance throughout the Dominion; (2) Supply to the public of pure and wholesome liquors; (3) improvements in accommodation and service to public; (4) prevention of trafficking in licenses; (5) abolition of the tied-house system and that such be made the subject of immediate legislative action, pending submission and adoption of a reasonable measure of State Control and that this conference protests (9) on behalf of all true temperance reformers against the undemocratic proposal of the Prohibition Party to eliminate the third issue, thereby disfranchising those electors who, while opposed to Prohibition, have in the third issue the means of expressing their demand for licensing reform at the ballot box.

A committee meeting of the Masterton branch of the N.Z.E.I. was held on Saturday, at which matters relevant to the oath of allegiance were discussed (relates the Wairarapa Daily Times). The following resolution was passed unanimously:—“That, in view of the Minister’s published statement that there is an implied reservation in the oath of’ allegiance required of teachers pursuant to the Education Amendment Act 1 , 1922, the executive of the N.Z.E.I. be asked to take immediate steps to request the Minister to secure such an amendment to the Act as would enable those who so desire to make explicit the implied reservation.” It was decided to follow the custom of previous years and arrange for a series of addresses on educational subjects on Saturdays during the winter months. On the motion of Mr J. K. Edie (Carterton), seconded by Miss D. lorns (Masterton), the following resolution was passed —“That all changes of staff should take place at some fixed period, e.g., at the end of the term.” It was also resolved to ask the'N.Z.E.I. executive again to press with the Education Board the matter of basing the staffing of schools on the average roll instead of the average attendance.

An ingenious device, patented by Mr W. Gurkett, taxi-driver, for indicating the direction a car is proceeding at night when approaching a crossing or intersection of a street, was shown before the committee of the Nelson Automobile Association this week (says the Mail). The device is fixed to the bonnet of the car in the same place as the maecottcs are and consists of a cylinder at the end of which is an electric bulb. This is controlled by a switch operated by the driver. When approaching a corner the driver signals the direction he is going by switching the cylinder to the right or left as the case may be, and at the same time turning on the light. A beam of light shoots out and the driver of the car approaching or following at once sees the’ direction the other car is going. The demonstration was most satisfactory, particularly when meeting another car. The small light at the front was switched on, pointing in a direct line, and when turning to the right or left the arms swung across and the most inexperienced driver would thus be able to see the direction the other car intended to proceed. Another advantage is that in case of engine trouble, the light can be directed to enable the motorist to inspect the engine. The attachment may also be fixed to the back of the car, and this will enable cars overtaking to sec the way the other car intends to turn. As the device will be placed on the market after several minor ‘ improvements have been effected, at a reasonable price, it should be in demand by motorists.

“There is really only one question to be settled about the Dunedin Exhibition of 1925,” said a prominent business man to a Star reporter. “We may take it for granted that the exhibition will be held it such a big and such a sure proposition, that we cannot afford to let it go—and the finance, though calling for thought and sagacity, is bound to be planned ail right, for it is Otago’s strong point. The paramount question is as to the site. If we make a mistake about that,’ the whole scheme may be weakened, perhaps ruined. I am not speaking in ignorance. I had to do with two exhibitions in Glasgow, and am quite certain that it is one of the first consequence to have the exhibitions on a central site. If that is agreed upon, the site is already fixed. There is no location in or about Dunedin that can compare with the Oval. Put the exhibition there, and the people will go to it whenever they have nothing else to do. They would be able to get there for a penny or two from anywhere about the city, and with covered ways to the doors the visitors could safely attend in any weather. A special train service could be provided without much extra cost. Fix the exhibition at Lake Logan, and the crowd will go only occasionally, and when they can make sure of fine weather. The objection to the Oval, I understand, is that we must not erect permanent buildings on it. But why should we have permanent buildings? If we put up temporary structures so contrived as to come to pieces afterwards, a large part of the cost would be returned from the proceeds of the sales afterwards.”

The Progress League has telegraphed the Internal Affairs Department (says a Christchurch Press Association message) asking it to authorise and bear the expense, not exceeding £3O, of a recount of the city election on the English method of counting, which gives the final results of a Proportional Representation poll within eight hours. It is claimed that the expenditure will be fully justified, in view of the probable adoption of Proportional Representation elsewhere.

A special bargain sale of blankets for double beds, pure colonial wool, white or grey, 71b weight, sale price 35/- at SMITH’S.—(Ad vt.).

With a view to assisting the funds for the improvement of the South Invercargill Domain, the Hibernian Band will give a concert at the grounds on Sunday afternoon next. The grounds are situated at the terminus of the South Invercargill tram, and the public will be well rewarded by a visit, as the Band is playing excellently, and a very fine programme is to be played.—(Advt.).

Some rare bargains in pure Linen Damask cloths in Seconds are on offer at Thomson Beattie’s. The last lot offered were all sold in a few days, so those wishing something special at low prices should see these early. Size 45 x 45, at 13/6, 54 x 54 at 15/6 and 17/6, 72 x 72 at 19/6 to 29/6, 2yds x 2syds at 25/6 and 32/6, 2yds x 3yds at 39/6. Heavy Linen Serviettes at 32/6 dozen. All in beautiful designs and high class qualities.— (Advt.).

Meccano, the great engineering hobby for boys, has come to be recognised in thousands of homes as a necessary, essential and highly desirable part of a boy’s training. It keeps him keen, alert and intensely interested, quickens his thinking capacities and teaches him considerable manual dexterity. Parents and relatives interested in the welfare of boys will do well to study carefully the possibilities that meccano provides. Hyndman’s, Dee Street, are meccano controllers for Invercargill. ATTRACTIVE OFFERINGS. In Boys’ and Youths’ Clothing and wearing apparel of every description. We have just opened extensive stocks, secured at most favourable prices for cash, enabling us to offer these wonderful values. We cannot impress upon you to strongly the advantage in shopping early, as these splendid values are impossible to duplicate. Youths’ long Trouser Sports’ Suits in finest quality tweeds and worsteds, 55/- to 72/6. Boys’ and Youths’ Sports’ Suits, with Shorts, newest assortment of shades, and quality guaranteed, 29/6, 35/- to 50/-. Boys’ and Youths’ Overcoats, new shipments just opened, direct from the manufacturers, 25/6, 29/6, 35/- to 55/-. Boys’ Raincoats, 19/6, 30/- to 60/-. Boys’ Tweed Knickers, 7/6, 8/6, 10/6 to 12/6. Boys’ Football Jerseys, all sizes and School colours, special price, 9/6. Football Knickers, 3/11, Belts 1/-. Boys’ all wool Jerseys, in grey, navy, heath, er, brown and saxe shades, 7/6, 8/6 to 13/6. Golf Hose, School colours. 3/6 to 4/11. In Boys’ Shirts, we have the largest selection in Southland, of strong clean serviceable materials, prices 3/11 to 7/6. Boys’ Pyjamas, 8/6 and 9/6. Splendid assortment of Boys’ and Youths’ Braces, Ties, Handkerchiefs, Tie Pins, etc., at H. and J. SMITH, Ltd., Progressive Stores, Tay and Kelvin streets, Invercargill, and Main street, Gore.— (Advt).

Free trial:—Have a free trial now of absolutely the best dental cream in New Zealand. Don’t forget each purchaser of a 51b packet of Rava Tea, or 20/- worth of goods, can have a full sized tube of Dento cieam (usual price 1/6) “free gratis and for nothing” at Baxter’s. — (Advt.).

At McNeil and Clark’s economy campaign there is showing some wonderful values in boys’ tweed overcoats. They are just landed direct from England by the s.s. Dorset and in fitting and make are just the thing for Southland, while the prices are lower than has been the case for years. See these goods at McNeil and Clarks’.— "(Adyt).

MASSEUR PRAISES Q-TOL. A well known Masseur of Government Sanatorium experience constantly uses Q-tol in conjunction with his electrical treatment. Excellent for tired muscles. 2/-.—(advt).

“Better than bullion—good health?’— Markley.

During winter, don’t run the risk of catching colds, coughs, or influenza—use Baxter’s Lung Preserver. “Baxter’s” has rich, warming, dependable properties. Never fails to give speedy relief, even in most chronic bronchial, chest and throat troubles. In addition, Baxter’s Lung Preserver is a fine tonic. Enriches the blood—fortifies the system against prevailing ailments. Always keep “Baxter’s” handy; 2/6 large bottle, at chemists and stores. (advt.) THE BUSINESS THAT PROSPERS. Is one wherein everything is conducted with maximum efficiency and minimum expense. Our Furniture Removal Staff is composed of expert packers who work expeditiously saving your time and money. Try us and see the difference.—THE NEW ZEALAND EXPRESS CO.. LTD.—(advt).