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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16611, 8 December 1919, Page 2

Sir Joseph Ward has recently declared himself in favour of nationalisation, more particularly the nationalisation of tho mines and flour mills and the establishment of a State bank, and tho Lib.-Labs. have faithfully followed him in this new departure, 'lucre are, oujections to these schemes, but only one ot these will lio rciened to here, and that is tho great increase in tliq number of Government employees wluen would be necessitated by these changes. Arc Uio people of this country so impressed w iUj the ellieieucy of the posts and telegraphs and tho railways as to desire to see more businesses put under Government control I" Everyone recognises that the Government service tends to suppress i all initiative and that real ability has little scope in a Government department. The parent of a clover boy rarely desires him to enter tho Government service, because Jio rightly thinks that ho can do better work outside and secure belter rewards. Sir Joseph Ward is, moreover, anxious to remove the departments from tho control of the Commissioners and put them once more under the control of politicians. Those who remember the public service in tho palmy days of ‘'‘Liberalism” know that only those who were faithful followers of the party had any chance, of promotion and that the man who ventured to criticise was marked as unfit for the higher positions. There is a real danger that this state of affairs may be brought back if Sir Joseph Ward has his way, and every new department added increases the'possible evil effects to the country. Even at the best tho Public Service tends to produce mediocrity among its employees and at tho worst, under political control, it is not only inefficient, but also a menace to liberty.

While the borough by-laws were no doubt drafted with extreme care and not adopted without mature consideration experience has shown that in us instances they are unreasonable and harsh. For 1 instance there Is a by-iaw laying down that no residence shall be erected on a site which has a less frontage than forty lect to a public road or right-of-way. This by-law if as enacted with the best ot intention to prevent overcrowding and the eventual creation of slums. But if enforced to, tho letter it may become oppressive and even ridiculous in its effect. We have in mind a property over eight acres in extent which cannot havo a residence erected upon it without contravening that by-law. Another property had a frontage of loss than forty feet to a right-oi-way. Tho owner wished to build and in order to overcome the by-law ho extended the right-of-way into the section, thus obtaining the necessary frontage to meet the law. But it reduced tho area of tho section and actually made matters rather worse than they would have been. There is another by-law, supported, we believe, by statutory law, that no house shall be built without 8000 square feet of ground around it. This alone is sufficient to prevent overcrowding and has not tho objection attaching to the forty feet limitation that it prohibits building a single house on an acre, or ten acres _for that matter which has not quite the stipulated frontage. It may be urged that the Borough Council may agree to the suspension of the by-law where it is shown that it operates unreasonably and contrary to the public interest, but we may have a Borough Council which insists upon the strict literal observance of the law. Indeed that is what we havo now. Hence tho desirability of amending the law. Another law, statutory in this instance, which needs amending is that which insists upon streets in boroughs being not less than sixty-six feet wide. The

Governor-in-Council may suspend this where it is in the public interest to do so, but there are instances in Now Plymouth of an absurd insistence upon the law being strictly adhered to, where a width of forty feet, would b<} ample provided houses were not erected within thirty-three feet of the centre.

On the motion of Mr. Quilliam, probate of the will of the late Mr. Jamcs_ Wade has been granted by the Supreme" Court to Mr. Alfred Wade and Miss Selina Wade, executor and executrix respectively therein named.

In our leading article on Saturday the substitution of “week” for “day” gave quite a wrong meaning to what we meant to say. It was in reference to the claims of the Broken Hill miners, among which is a “minimum wage of £1 per day,” not per week. * The Otago Daily Times states: “We understand that it is the intention of the waterside workers not to work between Christinas Eve and New Year’s Day, and that the shipping interests concerned will shortly be notified to that effect.”

On Thursday morning last the residsuco of Mr. W. H. Perry, at his farm, Tututawa, was totally destroyed by fire, together with the contents. The house contained six rooms, but was only insured lor a very small amount. There are no means of ascertaining the origin of the fire, biit it is believed to have commenced in tho kitchen.

► The, recital given by tho Citizens’ Band at the Palladium, Ngnmotu, 'on Sunday afternoon, attracted a very large attendance and tho excellent programme submitted .by the band under the conductorship of bandmaster Al’Leod, was keenly appreciated. The programme included several new pieces, among thorn being the overture “Vanessea” (Etherington); march, “Joyce’s 71st Regiment’ (Boyer); and “Marche Aus Flambeaux” (Clarke). A very valuable addition has been made to the early history branch of the museum by the presentation by Mrs. Deacon of m number of original topographical sketches made by nor father, the late H. A. Carrington, Esq., in .•euuccuon with the survey of Now Plymouth in 1841. These sketches are in Mr. ,Carrington’s usual stylo of wonderful penmanship, of which he was a perfect master, his work being classed amongst tho best of its kind by all experts in the surveying and engineering profession. The anniversary services of the Baptist Sunday Sc,»>ol wore held on Sunday. The -puip.t and plationu were tastefully decorated witn flowers and ferns and with the. scholars arranged on tiie platform presented a very picturesque scene. The Rev. A. C. ciexvewright preached in the morning, Mr. H X. H. Crave in the afternoon, ana the Rev. J. Napier- Milne in the eveniu". Good congregations gathered at the three services. i'h-e singing of the scholars assisted by tho choir and orchestra, was very good. Great credit is duo to tho choirmaster Mr. H. G. Northern for training the children and thereby helping to make the day very successful.

In all parts of the borough to-day were to bo seen piled on the footpaths accumulations of tins and rubbish of all hinds put out by householders in response to the appeal of the liorough Council for a general' dean-up of their sections. That residents have entered into the spirit of the scheme is very evident for tho majority have put out something to bo carted away, and it is equally apnarent that previous “cleanup” days Have been beneficial inasmuch as tho'quantity of rubbish to be removed is not nearly so great as hitherto. Mr. Day, the borough inspector, who is responsible for the necessary organisation is well satisfied with the results and hopes to bo able to have the whole of the rubbish cleared away tills evening.

The Young People’s Anniversary meetings wore conducted by Staff-Cap-tain Bladin at tho Salvation Army Hall on Sundav. The meetings were well attended, at night the hall was packed. The Stall-Captain's addresses (ho gave six during tho day), were mostly for young people. He congratulated Ser-geant-Major Trim and staff for tho wonderful advance in this town v and hoped by next anniversary to see thorn in their new up-to-date young people’s hall. Commandant Rowlands arranged for the Staff-Captain to hold a service at the prison. He based his remarks on memory, took tho men back to mother’.® days; tho men seemed delighted. Tho free will offerings were over £l4. Brigadier Toomcr presents the prizes to the young people on Thursday night, when they expect a crowded hall. Tho new number of ‘’The Taranakion,” tho journal of the. Now Plymouth Bovs’ High School, has reached us. it fully maintains tho very high standard of excellence of its predecessors. The editorials and other articles are well written and the records of the school’s activities in tho playing ground are very complete. Tho school has achieved a wonderful reputation with its shooting and hero wo have full records of the important competitions in which part has been taken during tho winter term. A novelty is introduced in the shapes of some verses, signed “R.S.” and entitled “Tho Crime Sheet,” describing the daily punishment parade. An old boy contributes an appreciation of the late Mr. Henry Kitchingman, a former master at the school. Tho illustrations are numerous and well selected, ami the printing is as usual a credit to the'printer. Anyone who believes this town is not in need of a proper theatre should speak to some of “The Diggers” about it. They say that tho Empire Theatre (which was built for pictures) is the worst equipped building in which they have over played, and they may bo expected to nave appeared in some fairly rough places behind the lines in France and Belgium, where they came into existence. On Saturday night several of the members were considerably shocked on finding that they had to use an upstairs dressing room—a mere box to climb through a window and slide down a ladder I The two tiny dressing rooms on the same floor as the stage were made to accommodate four people each by means of squeezing. Even tho “lady” member could not have a separate room. ' The stage had to be extended before the performance could take place. An_ exit could bo made quickly, but at risk, simply by falling oven the edge at either side. In spite of these draw-backs tho real “Digger” spirit was in evidence and tho soldier entertainers carried on cheerfully and with such excellent talent that the regard of their audience was completely won. New Plymouth is apparently prepared to give “The Diggers” a warm reception, though it cannot provide them with a decent theatre. The public is awakening to the fact that Xmas is mighty close. The Melbourne, Ltd., report that enquiries for Christmas goods are brisk already, particularly in ladies’ and man’s handkerchiefs men’s ties, silk shirts, and boys’ handkerchiefs and ties. Housewives express wonderful loyalty to “No- Rubbing” Laundry Help in Is packets.—New Plymouth merchants.*

With this week’s issue of The Budget a small supplement will be circulated showing Mr. J. Blair Mason’s plan of the scheme of harbour - development at Moturoa, now in progress. From this Budget readers both in Taranaki and other parts of New Zealand will be able to follow the work at the harbour as it progresses.

"The go-slow policy is one which no decent workman that I ever knew' would carry on,” said Mr. R. Macartney, Reform candidate for Lyttelton, at Woolston last week. “What about the goslow farmer? Why doesn’t he grow more?” shouted a voice from the back of the hall. “I’ll tell you all about the go-slow farmer,” replied Mr. Macartney. “In the first place, he lot his best men go to the war—his horsemen. His sons went with them. _ The go-slow policy of the farmer consisted of his _ working harder himself than he ever did irf his life; that his wife worked harder, that his daughter worked harder, that all the children on his place w'orked harder. The result of his go-slow policy was that the country turned out more than it ever produced before. The result of the miners’ go-slow policy was to deprive the working man of his fire in the winter.”

It has been suggested, the Press says, that the fact that the majority of the Reform members have so far represented North Island seats am I ,the rapid progress that has been made by that,portion of tho Dominion in recent years constitute a case, of cause and effect. This argument, it is claimed, is strengthened by the further fact that Canterbury has been for many years a Liberal stronghold and that it has progressed far more slowly than the North Island—another instance, it is claimed, of cause and effect. In brief, the North is profressive, because it is Reform; Cauterury is comuaratively non-progressive, if not actually retrogressive, because it is Liberal, Or, to put it another way, the type of men who vote Reform are keen and energetic in advancing the welfare of their district and province; the typo who vote Libera! hare caught the Liberal habit of always dwelling on “the glorious past” and being_ satisfied with memories rather than inspired with confident hopes. Two feet from any part of New Plymouth will load you to Tho Regal Shoo Store, where you get full value for every shilling you spend. Being manufacturers we are able to offer you footwear at prices below the regular. Note the address ; Next door to Everybody’s Picture Theatre.*

Mashing done by 11 o’clock—Fairy Wonder Dry Soap hurries the washing up —it does all the work. No boiling, no rubbing, and clothes snowy white always. Fairy Wonder contains no harmful paraffin wax, that makes clothes yellow. Is lOd large packet, sufficient for 12 washings.*