DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 12, 6 September 1912, Page 5

DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

WILFORD ON HIS OWN

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, September 5.

At a social given at Petone to-night Gy Mr Wilford’s late election commit-

tee, Mr Milford made the following statement:—“The time has arrived when I must announce to my constituents that 1 have formally withdrawn from the present Opposition party in Parliament. This withdrawal was made before that party proceeded to the election of its executive. This course became imperative, as I realised that tlie views held hy a number of, that party are totally opposed to those which I have always held. Whilst the Seddon-Ward party were in power the general policy of the party expressed in the Government’s legislation called for mj hearty support. It is plain, however, that this did not mean my concurrence in the views of the extreme section of that party . Now that the party is in opposition I feel that the only way t > dissociate myself from tihe extreme vie,vs expressed by a number of the party is by taking the course I have indicated. lam now, as I have always been, a Liberal of moderate views, and an opposer of fads. I intend to reserve to myself full liberty to criticise all legislation introduced, and to support those measures which in my opinion are ‘for New Zealand.’ ” Wellington, September (3.

The meeting at Petone last night unanimously approved of Mr Wilford « action, and expressed every confidence in him as representative.

‘ ‘COM FAN AVADRINK. ’ ’

Dannevirke, September 5. The evils of the “shouting” system were referred to by Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., to-day in a case in widen ' J. P. Slinn, a lodge secretary, who ascribed the theft of monies to the fact that drink had undermined his moral fibre. The Magistrate said that he thought it a fitting opportunity to call attention to a much-needed reform of the Licensing Act, to meet the case of young men who were induced to leave the path of sobriety. He referred to the system of “shouting. The Legislature should make “shouts jug” illegal and impose penalties ppon alf concerned. When once had been proved a licensee, bar tender, or the person who “shouted” and those accepting his hospitality should ho made equally liable. Men went i, no a bar primarily to assuage their thirst, .and when they got there half-a-dozen acquaintances were frequently mot. The system of “shouting” all round was instituted and this was where the harm came in.

LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. Wellington, September 5. In his report to Parliament, the Public Trustee sets out an important innovation in the .Public Trust Office, which will be of considerable interest io ' local baefies'” '"desiring to borrow money from the Public Trust Office, in order to save local bodies expense, whenever a local body applies to the Public Trust Office for a loan under the Local Bodies Loans Act the solicitor to the Public Trust Office will direct and supervise all proceedings, and draft all resolutions, debentures, coupons, sinking fund deeds, and other documents required, and will instruct as to tho carrying out of the loan, and, finally, certify when all the proceedings are completed. The fee for this will be 2s 6d per £IOO on the amount of the loan, and the local body will thus he in a position to know from the

cutset what tho cost of raising it will be. Tho only other expense in addition to this will be the cost of advertising and the cost of printing. A NATIVE CENTENARIAN. HIS LOVE FOR THE OLD LAND. Fcilding, September 0. The death is reported at Onepuhi of Kcrati, a native, who is reported to lie over 100 years old. He was one of those shipped as prisoners for Chatham Island, and when the ship was outside Wellington and the manacles were taken off he jumped overboard, swam ashore, and escaped over to the Tararna ranges to Onepuhi. Ho hid there for some time. Up to the time of his death he was very robust and never ill.