THE COLONIST. Published Daily- (Morning). Nelson, Wednesday, Feb 21, 1906. AN OVER-CREDULOUS OPPOSITION.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11559, 21 February 1906, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily- (Morning). Nelson, Wednesday, Feb 21, 1906. AN OVER-CREDULOUS OPPOSITION.

; A short time ngo Mr R. Moore, the I i defeated caiidtdfcfce {for Kaiapoi, was banquette*! at JRanoriora, and in the cour;-.e of his speech ho declared tbat ihe had refused to gain votes by i rri mining; affirmed that he had been j! told before tho election by a gentleman who was a prominent. Government supporter that jit he made a speech that "was J not too strong against tho Govern;ment"he would have a walk over, J and that ho was too jjood !to bo in such a. position in the Opposition. Any ordinary man would have concluded that ono speaking in that way ! was trying to make fun of him, but ! not so Mr Moore, who proceeded to say this .showed how the Government often won seat*. Proceeding, he ! stated, as an inst<mce of illicit Tam--1 manyism, "that a man in tno Gov- ! eminent service told him that just before tho election they received a notification that they were to recoivo an extra shilling a day ; and four days after tho election, they wero notified that the increase had been stopped. Tho man gave his name, and said it could be used." Mr Moore went on to say that h» questioned the man again, in the presence of another workman : they both repeated that they had made no mistake, and wore willing to allow their names to bo used. "That, ho assorted, was an instance of how the Government won elections, in some j cases at any rate. ' ' j Tho charge was made much of by cortain opponents of fche'.Government, and was quoted by Mr Lewis, M. II. R. But. now for the facts. Shortly after the statement wa made the Premier telegraphed to Mr Moore. referring thereto, and asking: "Would you kindly give me the name of the officer who promised tho extra shilling increase, and who it was refused it.' To this Mr Moore replied that three workmen on the Wai para - Cheviot railway works volunteered the information that they were to- receive Is per day for camping out, and about four days aftter tho election they were again notified that this additional pay was to be discontinued : that the departmental officer gave both notices. Thereupon the Resident Engineer at Springfield, Mr J. A. Wilson, was communicated with, and asked to enquire and explain, which he did, and replied that he had soon Mr Haksell, assistant engineer-in-charge, who states that no workmen on this railway were promised a shilling a day increase just before the elections, or any other increase of pay whatever. As th?y wero not promised an increase, it could not have been refused them afterwards. Mr Seddon intimated this reply to Mr Moore, and challenged him "to name your men, and to bring your evidence/in support of the unfounded charges you have made. ... If tho workmen havo been misinformed, and m turn have misinformed you, it would only be just on your part to withdraw the. allegation." To this Mr Moore said tho Premier should know the work of his difforent departments, and get the information from the proper oilicors who had to deal directly with tho rren. The 'officers employed in connection with work on the railway in the Hurunui district wore not ao many but his department should know who notified the men, and by whose instructions. He added: "I can undoubtedly get the mon to substantiate my statemeat, and can mention the officers who notified them, it is purely out of regard for the interests of these men that I do not do so. " The Pre-

VAiors repy to fhs w.s a vi^-' lij;i - >! ono, nnd concluded as follows:— *' To . screen those who fr&V6 -aVkWifcly mis- j led -y.S'ti, *iv lo allow public otlicers r ,'£? id' public men to labor under 1 ! chlumny, which it is in your power;. f to remove, doe's not- cqmmehfl_ itself ; to me, aha is *n!«f>fc. M Mr Moore ; ; thrvn Stated his assertions, and said:— "l say distinctly from the evidence flow, forthcoming I am still j supported in my Rangiora statement, ;| and fully justified in auxins, it by' j further corfobotf.'t'i'in. Mr Bed- : | don foUoVi'^A VntV L in a lengthy ; j i communication, 'in . ; tn6 cour3e;| I of: which he Said,, "T. again ■■« ;i ask von 'to assist 'm* to clear the ! mafe uV?. V"ou say • the man who I! ga.ve you the information gave his name, and said it could be used. . . , Haying made the charge, as an honorable man the onus of proof rests with you." il Subsequently Mr Moore forwarded ii to the Chtistefattrth "'^oSf ' a copy of n sttifciitoi-y declaration by one of tho Workmen, who declared a shilling a day for camping out was paid to men shortly before tho olnction, and discontinued shortly after, although no change a.? regards ctnip- \ ing out had taken pirrevs i Yesterday, gpo?.MnfT< Wt Ashburtoii,] whoro ha had ]ust arrived, t.he.j Premies- deferred to Mr Moore's] assertion, and explained that ho bad;] now clis6ovorod that the extra shilling; had been given tho men ±3 night allowance' when 'tticj were away from headquarters, and that was in accordance with the usual prtctice. AVtien the jmen returned to headquarters I tho allowanco ceased, liut such allow- i anco was still being paid to men j when they were r«way from headquarters on duty. Thus is the matter simply explained, and had Mr Moore given tho name of the officer it would have! been explained much earlier* That; gentleman, however, had no right to imply thai a Special payment had boon made at election time, and for political purposes, without absolute proof. To the Opposition "trifles light as air are confirmation strong; as Holy Writ," judging by the; avidity with, which they place credence in ii'.accttrate "statements.

' Polico Court. — Y«esterdny the young man David Norris was charged with breaking into the K Jam ft cto?v and stealing the v-^ j fom Mofc ;/_ eka, and was landed until Mttoday nes ,« Thfe accused refused .to stand • up in the doefc> and had. a miserable, dejected appearance aS. ho sat in j poutt. He will be medically examined a* to hiS sanity", Physical C.|Ua : ' ; c. — Yesterday .afternoon. r)r. Gr^nvrood and Mr F, A, Hornibrook. ; vvho have been preaching the gospel of i physical culture in Nelson during the past few days, give addresses on physical culture and general health to women only, in the Druids' Hall, when tin re was a very large attendance of the gentle sex, \h\ Greenwood spoke on similar lines to his j address on Monday evening, and emphaj sised the harm done to women by the I wearing of corsets. Mr Hornihrook also j spoke of the benefits to bo. derived by a | proper course o£ physical culture. Demonj s rations o£ the proper method of breathing were given, and Mr Hornihrook showed tho difference between v.-crking the muscles and exercising- them. Tho addresses were listened to with interest, and the speakers wfre warmly applauded at tho conclusion. Nelson Mental Hospital, —There will bo no dance at this institution to-morrow evening, as tho social room is being repairod, 4i Via Eastern. 1 ' — We havo received from tho Superintendent of the Eastern Extension Company, . at Cable JJfiy, a nuatly bound little memoranda book (upon .the cover ol' which is the injunction : - : Telegrams via Eastern "), containing n map of tho world, showing tho cable system ol' the Eastern Extension and Associated To'.egraph Companies, the tariff per wcrd to all parts of the world a calendar for the current year, with important events connected with the history of telegraphs, A-c.., and a number of blank pages for taking notes. Cricket. — The Junior Championship, Athletic A v. Kamura, was played in the | Botanical Reserve on Saturday afternoon, and resulted iv a win for tho. former team by ~)1 runs, the Athletics making :38 (Stewart 8), and 02 (Allnatt 21, Newman 17, Dyson 10, Barnett 1"2), and the Kanmras 38 (Johansen IS) and 38 (Johansen 11, Treweek 10). Bowling analysis, Athletics : Hesseltine, 4 for 2 and "> for 13; Dyson, 4 for 11 and 4 for 10 ; .Stewart, 1 for G, Cooper, 1 for 0 ; Newman, 1 for 10. Kanmras: Fairey, ;"» for 21 and 1 for 24 ; Johansen. 2 for 10 and (J for ;>4 ; Allen, 3 for 20. A Recent Squabble. — We learn that an enquiry was held on Monday evening before h Committee of the whole Council concerning tho dismissal of the driver of the road roller, and that after sitting four hours, during which the evidence of some 11 witnesses was taken, it was decided to uphold the action of the City Surveyor. Wo are also informed that it was decided that another of the Council's employees bo dismissed for fighting. Enquiry at the Council offices yesterday failed to elicit auy % information, except that a report* of the proceedings would be submitted to the Council on Friday evening. "T^rulTismr^A^speeial "meeting of the Shedwood Lodge of Druids will be held at Motupiko on Saturday evening next for the purpose of installing Bro S. Wadsworth as I). P. The ceremony of installation will be performed by D.V. Bro H. W. Oakley, and visiting brethren will be heartily welcomed. Roller Skating. — We understand that Messrs G. W. Atmore and Co. have secured a lease of the building in Bridge street at one time known as the Palace Skating Riolc and latterly occupied by Messrs Buxton and Co. as a. hop and grain store, and that it is tho intention of the present lessees to spare no expense in making the interior thoroughly ud to date for rinking purposes. The Rink will probably open before the end of next month. The Slate River Gold Dredging Company, having gone into liquidation, Mr G. H. Allan, auctioneer, has received instructions from Mr F. West, Liquidator, to sell by public auction all the late Company's property, which consists of the dredge and plant, two claims, and a new fire and burglar-proof sife. Tho dredge is a comparatively now one, having been purchased in Dunedin in 1904 for the Karamea Gold Dredging Company, the former owners being" the Golden Link Dredging Company, of Otago. The sale will take placo on the claim at Eoekville, Collingwood, at noon on Friday, Oth April, and the whole concern will he sold absolutely without reserve. Further particulars are available from the auctioneer or the liquidator. American School of Correspondence.—A notification appears in another column in which the Ainiour College of Engineering invite students for electricity, architecture, sanitary healing, plumbing engineering, theory and practice of trades, etc. Particulars may be obtainod from Mr VV. Corbeti, architect, Trafalgar street. Teachers' Superannuation Board — The election for the elective members of this Board is Jixed by the Act to take place ori March othAccording to article 9, the Board shall consist of the Minister for Education, the Solicitor-General, the Public Trustee, the InspectorGeneral oE Schools, the Secretary ;o tde Treasury, the Pre3ideut of {he N. Z.E.I, two persons to be elected from among their number by the contributors resident in the North Island and similarly two from the South Island. Mr Thoa. Hughes, Treasurer N. Z.E.1., is being nominated as a South Island member and Mr J. H. Harkness, of Keefron. is also mentioned as a likely candidate. Nominations close on February 22rd.

j-efsonai. — -..ii' X, L). ctewai-t has b%en by the Auckland Educfttifta. poanl as Junior .Inspector, to succeed Mr; , ■Jr E. K. Jlu'fjan, MA., who has reevsiveil ' : vi appointmeat-,a.s • Jnsj?r.<;tOr Under the Sorth Cantorbu*^ Koard.— The London 3oiTC ? . t ioß-Aent .of the "New Zealandstates :—Mis S I^n,v Q, gsaly of £ jveiaoiij i.< 3 inaStng j^Odcl progress nt the ; xt^rM Academy of Music, and finds her ■ work very congenial. At tho Inst annua' s examination nho gained a bronze medal for ( pianoforte playing, vwd vjas . highly com- S ' mendtitl for.,h>tvi*'.c)^ and singing". Last ! month £r.c \viis agfiin successful, passing' 1 further exaininations .imd gaining the, ' diploma of Licentj-ile of : the. Royal Academy ; of 3\lusic, Miss Seiily intends to continue her stndipp..jit . i lhe,lTtoyt\l...V^ t '' lE -? n y lor a further period, rvopfeatcl-y to returning to Now Zealand to take up teaching once move.