Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Third of a Century.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1905. MASTERTON'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8279, 21 October 1905, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Third of a Century.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1905. MASTERTON'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

♦ ■ —• Mr C. E. Daniell, the retiring President of the Chamber of Commerce, struck a right key-note yesterday, when, in the annual report, he placed first —" means of communication as a first necessity." During the past year the Chamber has made commendable efforts in this direction, but has been a little unfortunate in not " pulling off " any of its projects. We wish it better luck during the ensuing year, under the presidency of Mr Donald Donald, who, we feel sure, will not spare himself in endeavouring to secure the progress of the district. It is superfluous to say that the retiring President, Mr Daniell, has ever been a staunch supporter of all progressive movements. During the past year there has been one noteworthy extension of communication which the Chamber might have recognised, although it did not in any way contribute towards bringing it about. A year ago, the settlers of Upper Opaki, Miki Miki, and Mount Bruce had no mail at all. Now they have an excellent daily mail service, which is distinctly beneficial to the town, as well as to the district served by it. This is real progress—and we may say that it was mainly secured by the personal efforts of Mr Hogg, M.H.R., who went through the district with a Departmental inspector, and satisfied him that it was a desirable undertaking. We should have liked to have scon the Chamber of Commerce formally acknowledging, at its annual meeting, the services Mr Hogg rendered to the town and district in this particular direction. However, we will hope that the Chamber itself will" pull off" some other undertaking during the ensuing year. If ever in our parliamentary annals a stonewall was justifiable, it is on the present occasion. Should the whole Colony be deprived of the right of free speech because two powerful Ministers have been vilified ? No more preposterous claim for protection |

was* over put forward' by Ministers of the. Crown. The Government are using their majority in the House to secure for themselves an immunity from abuse which no public men ought to demand. Their followers must support them, but they must also feel that in doing so, they are being made to eat at one meal a full peck of the proverbial dirt. The stonewall has ended in a compromise, which, to a certain extent carries out the desire of the Government. A new shackle has been forged for the restraint of free speech, but it is not quite as formidable a fetter as tho one originally asked • for. We have to thank the New Liberal Party, as well as the Opposition for securing even a measure of freedom for the Colony. Still a new reign of terror has been inaugurated and this on the eve of a General Election.