GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14522, 18 August 1911, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. In replying to a deputation from the Agricuiturai Conference, who asked for a Government grant towards plantbreeding experiments at Lincoln College, the Hon. T. Mackenzie said be was not in a position to «iy anything deunite, but be would place the matter before Cabinet. In the coure* of .his remarks the Minister Ba.d: "The breeding and selection of seeds is must important, and is going to take the ! place in ttt.s country that stock breeuV j ing did in the past century. Regarding the grassing of our bill country it is one of the greatest problems before j us. As to the estubLshiueut of an oxi perimental farm in the South Island, we are working up to .n point but aro not yot ready to go on .with it. W« require something beyond the abiLty in the service of the Government just I now to widen out on our experiments. There is no use in us.jig second-rate knowledge: you must have the very highest. Until that point is reached it would be premature to begin. Experimental farms in the south will be established. I am sure you can take I that for granted," COOK ISLANDS ADMINISTRATION. Sir Robert Stout's report on the charges against the administration of the Cook Islands was tabled in the House yesterday. The Chief Justice reported that so far as ho could learn only Dr Dawson, former medical officer, Dr Hoskiug, and Mr Reynolds, ox-Police Inspector, had nindo complaints, and the first two declined to make statements except on oath. There was no law in tlio Islands permitting oaths to bo administered even bv a Royal Commission. Mr Reynolds made a statement which ho afterwards withdrew. The Rev. Mr James complained that ho thought tho law as to white men living with Maoris should bo enforced. No charge was made against the Commissioner for not enforcing this law. The nativeß resented the idea that their local government had come to an end. It was dangerous to lay down a precedent that two or three dissatisfied citizens could on a purely local matter have the right to demand n Rnya! Commission to investigate their grievances. Ho was told by ono white settler that oven the appeal to tho New Zealand Government by Dr Dawson, Dr Hoskino; and Mr Reynolds had had a disquieting influence on the nativo mind. Tho charges exatninnd wore of minor importance.. Mr Reynolds was hostile to the Commissioner on account of tho companions he kept. Specific charges must fall to _ the ground so far as tho Commissioner was concerned. Thero was great troulilo through tho maTiufacturemarfc than tho sale of intoxicating liquor. Annnrcntlv R0 or 00 per rent, of tho wbitn residents favoured absolute- prohibition. The administration had oVno and ,iw doinc e«nd work (\ fuller report i? held nverV Tl v d'scu=sinn on tl'o r n nnrt by tho House ja fixed for Thursday.

'IN HONOUR BOUND. Members u;!i do uv!i to not.- ('artfully that tile Town i'laiuuu-- Hill is nut niriUy dropped at-d mav bo sumgged through later in tLo (Says .ths_ •■Doma.ion"). lit-ke trick has be-in worked in p:ut £esiio:ii>. It is merely a matter of inducing ;h-.».• Ministerialists who voted against ihi.Gcvernment to reverse their votes or absent themselves at some future uat'O. Tito public Will not that the following Miniatcriiil-sts .ire bound in honour neither ir. vc-m :0.the Government nor to !•-- ;.b.-out if the trick is tree! a£ain. M-i-st.* Aincid. Craij;i->, Gbvtr, (irahan., K.)f,ui. Jennings, Mvers, Kussoll, Sidvy,, itiJ Witty. A REMARKABLE SLANDER. When the Hotisf of Representatives mot yesterday afternoon, says a Press Association telegram, an allegation raado bv Hadden in connection with the Auckland pillaging; cases against the member for Auckland Central was denied by Mr Glover, who made a statement in tho House. A wicked and crnel slander, he said, had been ottered against him by one Hadden, that ho had offered to pay Hadden £l5O, and take all blame in the robbery charges at Auckland, and to find him a Government billet. Proceeding. Mr Glover said ho had been 19 years in Auckland, and cevdd say his reputation was clean. He emphatically denied tho statement imputed to liim as published in the daily papers. On that denial he staked his reputation and his whole life. Even his enemies (and every public man had enemies) would not believe him guilty of such wrongdoing. His friends would not even require his denial. (Hear, hear.) It was hard that a statement of such a damaging nature should be circulated throughout New Zealand without a statement in reply. In justice to himself and his family, he asked the Press Association to make puMio liis absolute denial, for a lie had a thousand legs, and unfortunately it was easy to think evil. (Applause.)