The Star. Monday, December 2, 1895. To-Day.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5428, 2 December 1895, Page 2

The Star. Monday, December 2, 1895. To-Day.

: • — ■ . Bbyond all the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council did a right and proper thing in convening a conference of representatives of Liberal Asso> ciationa with tbe view of determining upon some course oP united action. The time was opportune and the occasion important, in view of the fact that there may be a bye-election at an early date, and the presence of a considerable number of representatives at tbe preliminary meeting on Saturday evening was evidence that there had been a general recognition of the desirability for unification. The Trades and Labour Council did well, too, in the manner of opening the proceedings. Its representative simply stated what was the object in view, leaving' the mode of ■ procedure in the hands of the meeting. It was unfortunate, however, that a little later on a desire should have .ibeen evinced' to exclude any representatives who might' desire to be present. It would be simply an absurdity to set up a Liberal Council that did not include such of the Tradeß TJntons as are left free by tbeir rules to take part in general political matters, and on the other hand it wouldbe highly impolitic to 'exclude any outside organisation that was ready to enter the alliance. The meoting seems to have agreed that all present should take part in the pro* ,ceediags, and uiraighfcway to have fallen to pieces over the question of establishing a central council, on the ground that some sort of council was already in existence. j Here there was an utter absence of the give-and-take policy, and of the needed • determination to secure that strength' which absolute unity alone ban give. It is of course a good thing, so far as it goes, to have any sort of Council, inasmuqb as some at least of the societies are brought into touch ; but what we are desirous of urging, and urging as strongly as possible, is that' all should federate for the purpose of conference; that every sooiety, large or email, should be represented in tbe Central? Council, and that this Council should arrange meetings: whereat the various questions might be dispassionately discussed, and an earnest endeavour be made for concerted action in any electoral movement. If this were done, nothing that .the ' Conservatives might do could have any effect in determining the issue of a contest; but failing such course of - action there is tho grave danger ' that we have pointed out jon previous occasions, of the virtual disfranohisetnent of the great majority of the electors. Saturday night's meeting • was a failure, but that fact, far from being accepted aB the end of the matter, sliould only prove a stimulus to further' effort in the same wall-meant -direction.: Wo trust thafc renewed effort will be speedily made. - . ; ThS man-trap case has; ended.. Batisfactorily, since it has vindicated the Bacrednea's of human life. The facts were that a settler named Darrah,.who had missed some of his belongings, placed a loaded gun in position, and by an arrangement of wires and strings, ensured that whoever entered the house should be shot. It was a Maori who entered, in broad daylight, and he was killed by the trap that had been set. There could in such a case be no poseible ! . justification of Darfah's act. It could not | I be pretended, nor eras it sought to be pretended, that his life was in danger, or that he was even in bodily fear. Apparently he thought that he had devised an exceedingly ingenious scheme, and he carried that scheme into execution with an j utterly reckless disregard of the conee- j ! quences. The comment of Judge Conolly J that he looked on the crime as very nearly i approaching murder will be generally , endorsed, and the public will feel that a sentence of two years' imprisonment with hard labour is none too much to serve aa a . solemn warning against so iniquitous a j procedure. ' ' |

== . _ I !. Land Salu.— On Friday last Mr F. j Jameson sold at Leeston, on behalf of the trustees of the late John Smithson, 160 acres of land near Leeston (crops given in) at £24, 5s per acre cash. Beothers' Pbide Picnic— An adjourned meeting of passengere by the ship Brothers | Pride, was held at Mr H. B. Kirk's office j on Saturday afternoon. Thero were twelve persons present, Mr Kirk presiding. The Chairman reported that arrangements had ( been made, with the Tramway Company, tickets had been printed, and satisfactory arrangements had been made as to the ground at New Brighton, where there was ; a eooa supply o« water. It waa decided to i leave Edwards, Bennett's and Co/a corner ( by special tram, at 10 a.m., on Monday, j Deo. 9. The action of the committee m ' fixing the price of tickets at la 6d, children j twelve years and under half p^ice, waa conlirmed. After arranging Bome.otaer ., matters .the meeting was adjourned ,tiu | next Saturday at 2 p.m. >