Comments on Passing Events.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2034, 23 February 1887, Page 2

Comments on Passing Events.

Wellington, Feb 21,dH Competition. SH There never was a time, perhaps, there was keener competition in trade at present. It has arrived at the stage a firm of wholesale merchants have their warehouse as a retail consequence is that all the drapers in are making the proverbial “ reductions.” All branches of trade and business people are marking in " plain figures,” so that there can possible mistake ” as to the are being made. So far Wellington pretty free from what may be terms! mercial depression, bat whether thtajßß competition in every branch of trade NCM any evil lam not prepared to say. Seeing however, that we have had as many twenty-five vessels alongside the one time, and that the Manawatu KailwajS causing a good deal of extra trade with MS West Coast, there should be an increase ratqfl than a diminution in trade, and WqM lington should rapidly increase in populationJ Is Honesty the Best Policy ? ] It is very often that the truth of the oMj saying “ that honesty is the best policy ” B questioned, and when an honest man i*j down in bis luck be is often inclined to think! that the fruits of honesty are a delusion and) a snare. Especially is this the case when he' hears that one of the speeler fraternity made' over £7O on the Hutt course the other day by; the purse trick, and be comes home a few" pounds short through putting his money on! that honest means of investment, the totalL sator. The cabman of this town have con® in for some severe rebukes ou account of excessive charges, and in some instances in the R.M. Court for not strictly adhering to the principle of the above adage. I beU|H the cabmen have in their mind’s eye their class who, after twelve .vicars' of haaßJ dealing with the public, could not affocjHß buy another horse to replace the old*! which bad done good service. Thißß another case in which the truth of the aMB adage is brought in question, but I will laitf my friends who occupy the pulpit to taha this mutter in hand as a text and prove that ” honesty is the best policy.” As far as cabmen arc concerned there is no doubt that in many cases they deserve the name they have got for over charging, and I know of one man who was “ hud ” by a cabman some ten years ago and he haa never rode in a cab since. If every one adopted this plan, a “ fare” to a cabman would be like angel’s visits. Temperance. The publican party iiave had it pretty well their ownjway during the recent elections for licensing committees, having been very energetic in bringing voteis to the poll. However, temperance is making sure and steady progress, whether the licensing committees are advocates of the publicans' interests or not. 1 cun state this as a fact that in one particular trade where, twenty years’ ago, one man claimed to be a teetotaler there are ten at tbe present time. This happy result is not only confined to one trade, but the improvement is general throughout society, and it requires no oppressive laws, as some advocates of temperance are desirous of having, for still greater improvements to take place in the temperance habits of the people. The variety of amusements which are now indulged in have a good deal to do with this satisfactory state of things—the theatre, tbe reading rooms, the gymnasium, cricket, football, boating, volunteering, music iu the shape of brass bauds, Ac., have all done good service iu the temperance cause.

The Release of Prisoners. Her Majesty’s Jubilee year would seem to be an event when many foolish as well as sensible things are either done or proposed to be done. There is one thing, the wisdom as woll as justice of which is open to question—namely, the releasing of so many prisoners from the gaols at one time. We hear of 25,000 prisoners being released in India. This would be a very large number to us, but then this number is no doubt thought insignificant as compared to the millions of people who inhabit that country. Be this as it may, wisdom demands that we should not be earned away by enthusiasm, and release more than is good for the welfare of society ; and justice demands that we should not make fish of one and flesh of another. This happy event only occurs once, perhaps, in several centuries, and if it is good to be so exception ally lenient on ibis occasion, thou both justice and wisdom demands that this leniency should be extended at shorter intervals, say, every five years, that all may be tieated alike. The Fuiendlx Societies’ Sroms. I have noticed two or three posters containing tiie programme ol the Amalgam mated Friendly Societies’ Spurts shout Wm| liugtou and also that they have atlraolH some attention and provoked favourawP comment. It was only the other uight that I saw as many as four men at one time vending the programme and commenting favourably on its merits as they aid so. From this fact 1 should imagine you will he fairly well patronised by townspeople on St Pal rick’s Day. The Te Abo Sr;\r. Mr C. J. Johnston, the present uiomber for Te Aro, is about to virit England, and has resigned his sent in Parliament before taking Lis departure. One of the defeated candidates at the last general election, Mr F H. Fraser, and who polled within a few votes of the present member, has announce 1 In intention of contesting ’.the seat. Mr Fiascr has been a good local politician for many years, but whether he Las thought out the gr, ,i political questions of the day beyond the tomperauce question, of which he is an enthusiastic advocate, it is hard to say. It might be assumed from the fact of his temperance principles that he would be a supporter of the present Government, At all events he will be well supported, as there i« no doubt he is a popular man; but, like most ol the Wellington members, both past and present, be is not likely to prove more than a third-rate politician, it if also understood that Mr W. T. L. Travers will contest the seat. There is no question that Mr Travers is a clever lawyer and a very learned man ; but, though he has been in the House many a time and oft, he has not been what may be termed a successful politician. It is believed he will also support the present Government. There are several other pro. bable candidates mentioned, but their chances of success alongside these two are not very encouraging. , Colohul.