The Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1896.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5582, 4 June 1896, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1896.

To-night, in pursuance of the plan of campaign adopted by the National Conservative Association, Captain Russell is to address a public meeting in the Opera House, and it is understood that he will bo followed at an early date by Sir Robert Stout. It is a part of the silly policy of the local Conservatives to make those arrangements seem unpremeditated. Captain Russell " happens " to pass through Christchurch, and is persuaded, almost against his will, to halt for a brief period on his return and open the flood-gates of speech. Sir Robert is to "happen" to pass through also, probably via, the We3t Coast, and also to yield to the blandishments of the National Conservative Association. These little tricks deceive nobody, and the intended addresses might just as well have been announced long ago. We have not the least desire to offer any objection: to Captain Russell, or Sir Robert Stout, or any other champion whom the National Conservative Association may select, coming to Christchurch and addressing the people, although such an objection might be logically set up if the Conservative cry of "interference" were to be taken into consideration. But we dp sincerely hope that these gentlemen will have something new, and something of interest and importance, to tell us. Captain Russell has appeared on a number of platforms lately, but he has delivered only one address. At Invercargill, for example, "his address was identical in effect with those delivered in northern cities," and so there has been a now Conservative development — one-man-one-address. If tho address in question contained anything of real practical value, its repetition would not matter much, and indeed might be highly desirable ; but, unfortunately, Captain Russell has got into aparticularly narrow groove, and there seems to bo very little hope of his emerging therefrom. He has told us, ad nauseam, of the innumerable sins of omis sion and commission on the part of the Government, individually and collectively, that have been cleverly detected by him. He has told us that confidence has gone, and will never come back till the Conservatives are once more in office. He has told us that capital has taken unto itself wings andflown away, and can onlybe whistled back by Captain Russell, who is prepared to act as the National Sijjlmr — for a consideration. He has told us that things generally are not what they seem, and that there is no hope, no self-reliance, no nothing. But he has never yet told lis that which wo aro yearning to know,- and that is, in plain, unvarnished terms, What is the Conservative policy. Captain Russell has by constant practice become an adept in the utterance of political jeremiads. Will he be good enough to tell us, just for a change, what better things he and his party have to offer. There is a story told concerning the late James Gammack that has the merit of being true. The sturdy pioneer from Banffshire was not only capable of forming ideas for himself, tufc was also possessed of great tenacity of purpose, as those who came in contact with him speedily discovered. He was one of the "Canterbury pilgrims. That was a small band, but there came a day when the people had increased greatly, and had to bo numbered ; and the census enumerator was Sir John ,Hall. Mr Gammack's paper was duly filled up,, and under the heading Religion there appeared the definition " Gammackite." They were not, in those days, so familiar with the multiplicity of sects as we are now, and probably the term ''Gammackite" sounded— or rather looked — irreverent. .At anyrate the census enumerator expostulated with Mr Gammack, who, however, remained obdurate. Such stiff -nockedness could not bo tolerated, and the offender against the proprieties was haled beforo tho Coiirt and promptly fined £o, which was as promptly paid. Since then/nothing in particular has transpired about the " Gammackite " religion, but its founder has now crossed the dark river, and has left behind him a record wheref rom we are enabled to gather an exceedingly good idea of his beliefs. Would that there were more " Gammacldtes," for it is obviously a faith that "hopeth all. things, believeth all things," and that with regard to creed is absolutely cosmopolitan. Mr Gammack gave and bequeathed to the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Wesleyan and Presbyterian Churches nearest to his place of residence, -£100 each— a rare instance of broad-minded, large-hearted benevolence. Recognising the value of education, and theimportance of helping on bright-brained young people, he has secured to the North Canterbury Board of Education the sum of .£2OO a year, for the founding of four special scholarships ; so that as the years go by, many will have reason to hold his

memory in thankful regard. But Mr. Gammack's chief concern was for the education of the people by means of the Public Library, and with tnis purpose in view he so • directed his affairs that in the end the circulating department of the Christchurch Public: Library will be backed up with a special fund estimated at no less than .£25,000. This comes as a curious commentary upon the action of two or three members of the Canterbury College Board of Governorsonly two or three, however — who, at the last meeting, apparently wanted to cut the Public Library adrift. If the Board pf Governors— and we have no doubt that it will — makes a wise use of the Crammack bequest, the Public Library will speedily become an institution to be proud of, and the people will have a never-ending proof of the practical value of the "Gammackite" religion. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court have come to an end, and have left a record with regard to the proportion of juvenile criminals. At Christchurch two of the prisoners were only sixteen years of age, four were barely twenty, and two others had not attained their majority. At Dunedin a seventeen-year-old prisoner had to answer two charges of obtaining . goods by false pretences ; two, aged eighteen and nineteen, were charged with housebreaking and theft, and one of seventeen with breaking into a warehouse ; while another, quite a young man, had broken into a shop. This is a most deplorable state of things, the more deplorable because it is in. a large measure due to the lack pf healthy home influences and judicious parental control. We have many times directed attention to the sorry sights that may be seen in the streets of this city, night after night, all the year round. Young people of both sexes loaf and loiter, mixing freely together, and as freely indulging in pollutive conversation. Young people are allowed to be out as they will, and to gO wherever their inclination or seductive temptation may lead them. Parents have a tremendous responsibility in this regard, and numbers of them deliberately neglect their highest duty. With such a seedsowing, what manner of harvest is to be looked for ?