NEWS AND VIEWS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 7 August 1922, Page 5

NEWS AND VIEWS.

FROM THE CAPITAL CITY LICENSING.— (From our own Correspondent). Wellington, August 5 Though the report of the Parliamentary Committee on the licensing question is not to- be followed by legislation this session, it is being made the subject of eager discussion among people who take more than a casual interest in the destiny of the liquor trade. Apparently the Committee has succeeded in displeasing the extremists on both sides. The Prohibitionists object strongly to the proposal to prolong the existence of the Trade for four years after a majority of the electors have voted for its extinction, and the Moderates protest loudly against the suggested additions to the licensees’ obligations. Perhaps the Prohibitionists are a little more sincere in their displeasure than are the Moderates in theirs, since the extension of four years’ grace to the Trade would mean that first they would have to fight a licensing poll and then, three years later, to fight a general election. As it is, licensing legislation is bound to enter very largely into the approaching election campaign and to divert a certain amount of attention from the other great issues at stake. The opinion that the two polls should not be held at the same time continues to grow. PARTIES. Mr Holland’s “revelations” do not appear to have seriously estranged the Liberal and Labor parties, Mr Wilford’s following still likes to be known as the Liberal-Labor Party and the other sections of the Opposition are not actively averse to its enjoyment of the titte. There are rumors about, indeed, to the effect that the prospects of an “understanding” between the various groups sitting to the left of the Speaker have been in no way impaired by what happened at the Labor Conference in Auckland little while ago. The stolry runs that some of Massey’s followers in their eagerness to prove an “unholy alliance” between the Liberals and the “Red Feds” betrayed the fact that this was the one development in the readjustment of the parties they feared, and so set the various Labor forces unaeeocia.ted 1 with the Social-Democrats thinking. No- one during the discussion of Mr Holland's “revelations” ventured to say there was any inheirent impropriety in an “understanding” between two or more sections of a progressive party when their main objective in effect was the same. ELECTORAL REFORM.

A warm sympathiser with the progressive side of polities, unconnected with any party organisation, discussing this subject, held strongly that the first duty of the members of the Liberal and Labor Partise was to devote all their energies towards securing such a measure of electoral reform as would make Parliament really representative of the people qualified to vote. He would not mind a great deal whether their object was proportional representation or preferential voting. He would prefer the former, with its broader basis, but for the present he would' be content with the latter. . Person illy ho would give his vote to Mr Massey unhesitatingly if it would help in bringing about preferential voting and would leave the Parliament' truly representative of the majority to give the country proportional representation. His view, therefore, was that all the progressive forces should get together for the sole purpose of bringing about electoral reform and so making New Zealand a democratic country in actual fact, and not merely in the inflated language of party romance. This enthusiast, it may be well to repeat, is unattached and speaks for himself alone. LOANS WITHOUT POLLS. It has been suggested during the session that the provision requiring local bodies to take a poll of ratepayers before raising loan monev should be temporarily waived to allow of money That the suggetion is being seriously considered by the Department of Internal Affairs is evident by the fact that the being provided for epocial relief works. Executive of the Municipal and Counties Associations is to interview its officers this week. It is Understood that some of the Executive at least are not favorably disposed to the idea. They contend primarily that relief work is a matter for the Public Works Department, which recalls the Prime Minister’s statement that be thought the local bodies should do more in relieving the unemployed. The two authorities are apparently in direct conflict. “A POORLY FED SLAVE.” The Minister of Labor is being given an opportunity of investigating Jhe position of farm lads as the result of a question by Mr G. Mitchell bringing

to his notice the report of a Supreme ; Court case in Wellington. In that case Joseph Peters, having pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court at Eketa-j, buna to breaking and entering and theft, was admitted to probation for two years on the usual conditions. The prisoner was a Syrian, and Sir Robert Stoud said it could be quite plainly seen that the lad had not been well treated by the farmer in whose charge lie had been while serving a probationary sentence. He had worked, like a slave, said, his Honor,’ on poor food, with accommodation perhaps a only little better than was given to his employer’s cows. His wages were supposed to be 15s pei' week. When three weeks' wages were overdue and unpaid, commented his Honor, the boyhad gone to a farm house,' and had broken in. Although, said the Chief Justice, his bad treatment could not be considered an excuse for his crime, yet it was hard to expect a boy so treated to behave himself immaculately. His Honor said that as the farmer under criticism was not present in Court to defend himself, he would keep his name out of the ease. Mi Mitchell urged upon the Minister, if the law did not give adequate protection to employees under such conditions it should be amended.