“Woodman, Spare That Tree."

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 9, 30 August 1911, Page 4

“Woodman, Spare That Tree."

A recommendation from Committee on the petition of the Rangitikei Racing Club for reinstatement was the signal for some more talk oa the work of tho Racing Commission in the House last week. Several members took the opportunity to hark back over the grour.l already discussed, and in the course the discussion it was freely inferred that the recommendation was tantamount to a want of confidence in the Commission. One member suggested that the object of the Commission was to centralise racing, amt to build up the monopolies in the targe centres'. Sir. Fisher contended that the express wish of the House was taken on! of tha statute by the Legislative Council. A member: You wouU have lost the bill. Mr. Fisher: Very well, better to havo lost the bill. Mr. Poole expressed the opinion that Rangitikei had nut been altogether fairly treated, but if the House accepted the Committee’s recommendation they would have representations from every club in the Dominion that had lost its permit. It should be rather a question of redistribution than of increase of permits. The subject was thrashed out at soma length, and elicited a most vigorous protest from the member fo.- Wellington Suburbs. It was about time, Mr. Luke declared emphatically, that the House shut up and stoppeel wasting time over this racing business. lie was satisfied that there were other far more important matters affecting the welfare of the Dominion than the mere question ns to whether they should grant a lieensa to some country club or other. The Hon. Mr. Millar clinched the argument by saying that the report of th? Commissioners would have to stand for twelve months unless Parliament chose to after the law passed lass session. '‘Why attempt to take away the permits from a number of clues shat afford innocent enjoyment to a large number of people?” asked Mr. Glover. "The day is not far distant, Mr Speaker, when this totalisator will have to be swept aside. Look at the way the investment! are going up by leaps and bounds, said the member impressively. “What about the increase of population?” asked a fellow honourable member. “Increase of population,’* returned Air. Glover, scathingly; "it is not in ir. What I say is that if you want to do away with racing root it up; sweep it away root and branch.” Sir James Carroll: Ah, woodnuc, spare that true. (Loud laughter.) No Interference Proposed. “It is not intended to introduce legislation this session dealing with the question of the over-selling of mining S'-rip, nor with the desirability of Government offices making investigations and rep ' in connection with the prospectus* proposed mining companies, ’ was -> reply of the Hon. R- McKenzie to i >• Poland's question. Mr. Poland, in ' 1 cussing the reply, remarked that : parently the Government were not 1 - pared to stop gambling by broker, but only to stop those people ivno Wished to enjoy themselves at a meeting.

Taking; Wealth. ‘The effect of the proposals will be to hit mainly at the wealthy corporations, such as banking institutions and insurance companies, to shut out foreign money, and to correct current abuses,” was the manner in which a local gentleman intimately associated with financial matters, summed up the Government’s amendments to the Land and Income Tax Legislation, and he predicted that on the principle of “shed thy (brother's blood,” the proposed amending bill would become law. An increase of 25 per cent in taxation in all cases where the unimproved value of the land of any taxpayer was not less than £40,000, he said, was a tremendous leap, but would not touch the general body of the public. Only a very few people held estates up to that value, but banks and insurance companies, holding freeholds in all parts of the Dominion as necessary for carrying on business, would bear the brunt of the advance. He looked upon it as really a penalty for success and stability. Five banks financially strong were better for a country than twenty-five weak institutions, and the more freehold property that was acquired to add strength to facilitate business and to expand, the greater the tax payable. The increase in the tax would tend to encourage leaseholds, and that was not at all desirable. On the other hand the man who held, say, 50,000 broad acres could rightly be claimed to be retarding the progress of settlement, and the tax would cause him io sub divide. The proposal to tax the absentee partner, along with the one resident, said the gentleman interviewed, would ensure the sub division of estates, but very few people would lie affected, while on the other hand foreign capital would be kept out. As a hypothetical case it was mentioned that a big English company, with a capital of £150,000, acquiring a stretch of unimproved country in the North of Auckland, and then subdividing, would be seriously hit by the tax,although the useful work of improving the land and making it ready for occupation would be carried out. He thought it was better to encourage the introduction of foreign capital when it was utilised for improving and subdividing land, which otherwise would be taken up by men with moderate moans and involving time and labour before it could be made productive. The clause, providing that income tax shall not be assessed in any interest payable in places beyond New Zealand in respect of any stock or ventures issued by the Government or by any local or other statutory public body, but this shall be held to exempt interest payable beyond New Zealand, but received in New Zealand, was introduced evidently to please local bodies. It affected loans raised by local bodies from financial institutions in New Zealand, and the paynient .in the interest and principle to a local ofli.e, though in the face of it the money was payable outside of the Dominion, >ii'* • : uißc dealing with the revenue of ‘nd and wife in partnership, Croatuij one account onlv, would stop “getting at” the Income Departni''n b ’■ it would not concern very .p]p, I*’ I'-Mid to the provision relating to ciT-'? !,, ; Priv ’ l'f‘ indicated that the _ o ' ' Hl ‘>l h t > to penalise the enormous or goodwills. Under ' : 'cuinstances, he mentioned t ], at oi hotels were kept fairly j / ’•* ■' hig goodwill value would / Evidently in the past no r ‘ v "’fiA paid on the amounts w av of goodwills, but the , ( v provided would ‘cover the* use Find of Greenstone. pj’ 1 ' ‘ ll West Coast, reqmrtaut discovery of what is all .| fl"' mother reef from which I, G”, y° ns toi>e found there is derived, di frl '"P f |e mountain in Ahaura Hili' ■ "' l "J>’ , tlicr actually the origistorJ ‘ ’* a vas t outcrop of green- ■ i, ’i ainting to millions of tons. I'luit ft' "iv-n ’ laS 1,00,1 f° rnled to extiti< . i " 1 Rreenstone in such quanto io,,'ii "’ ll no long 6 *" be confined tamnirr ; a,ld t,le . idea is to put it to telnio,., ( Purposes in the form of man is ni tabletops, monuments, etc. It nn' 1 n lf ‘l7" tOO t. that tl,pre wi " 1,0 a in fim . ' 1,1 p hina, where greenstone prculi nf i ade i,! regarded with r ullar veneration.

Afflicted and Dependent Children. During the year 1910 the total number belonging to the schools for afflicted and dependent children was on the average 2586, and the expense to the Government was £51,922. Of this sum £15,314 represents the outlay in connection with the purchase of property, erection of buildings and other works. The numbers on the roll, and the expenditure on account of the various institutions were as follows: —School for the deaf: Number under control, 97; net eost £4087. Jubilee Institute for the Blind, 39, £721; special school for hoys of feeble mind, 31, £7834; industrial schools, 2419, £39,280. By the Education Amendment Act, which became law last year, extended provision is made for the education and training of young persons who are deal blind, feeble-minded or epileptic. They must now come under efficient and suitable instruction at the age of six years, and remain so until they reach twenty-one years, unless previous to that time the Education Department is satisfied that their educational attainments oi their proficiency in some art or handicraft or other calling enable, them to provide for their future needs without further instruction. During the year the Government con tributed towards the eost of training 35 pupils at the Jubilee Institute, of whom one was an adult, the net amount ex p mdeci being £721 (including £99 from national endowment revenue), as against £903 for the previous year, on account of 39 pupils. Maintenance payments by parents and guardians increased from £215 19/3 in 1909 to £291 2/6 during 1910. For the past two fmanc'al years the revenue from the national endowment reserves account amounted to £99 9/4. The sum payable by the Government as subsidy to the Board of Trustees during last year, under the provisions of the Hospitals and C haritable Institutions Act, was £1709. The number under the control of industrial schools at the end of 1910 was 2454, an increase of 74 during the year. Of this total 805 were resident in the institutions, 263 being in the private (Roman Catholic) industrial schools. 794 were boarded out with foster parents, and 855 were earning their living in situations, placed with friends on probation, etc. The number of children on the books at the end of 1910, maintenance was a charge against the public fund, was 1629, as against 1566 in 1909. The special school for boys of feeble mind is being steadily developed, there being now 47 boys in residence. The matter of adding young persons who are over twenty-one years of age has been fully considered, and it has been determined to give preference to younger applicants. Undoubtedly a large number of the pupils will need permanent institutional care, and by retaining these under control the adult section of this institution will be formed gradually. It is to be borne in mind that the Otekaike school does not admit those who are imbecile—it is essential that pupils shall have the capacity to derive benefit from the special education and training provided for in the school course, state* the report. Harnessing of Waikare Moana. “The Government is fully alive to the importance and possibilities of Waikaremoana as a source of hydro-electric power. Mr. Parry, the Government hydro-electric expert, will visit Waikaremoana and inspect the site at an early date,” remarked the Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister of Public Works, to your Parliamentary representative when approached last week as to the position respecting this important scheme, which was provided for in the proposals laid before Parliament last session. The matter is of considerable importance in view of the significant remarks recently made by the Government's new expert concerning the possibility of transmission of electric power a distance up to 150 miles, with but a 5 per cent loss. Last year it was proposed to utilise the Wairoa Falls, near Whangarei, for Northern Auckland; Kaitumi (Rotorua) for Auckland, or possibly the Huka Falls at Taupo; Waikaremoana nr To Reinga for Gisborne and Napier; and the Hutt River for Wellington. Great interest will attach to Mr. Parry’s verdict upon the suitability of Waikaremoana, which, geographically, is splendidly situated for the distribution of power for the whole of the North Island, and in the event of its adoption will save a great outlay on the construction of the suggested district schemes.

*’ Jack Ashore." “We are not surprised that the attention of the Government lias been called to a recent incident at Auckland.” says the “Post.” Men from a British warship were debarred from a skating rink because they were wearing the King’s uniform. The management, in an explanation telegraphed to the “Post” not elusion had been ordered, and gave the excuse that some lady patrons of the hall objected to the presence of sailors in uniform. It was further stated that long ago, expressed regret that the exit the sailors had been in civilian dress they would have been admitted. It is not customary, however, for men of the Navy to come ashore with a kit of civilian raiment, and no doubt they are not eager to hire a suit to gain admission to a skating rink or other entertainment halls. This prejudice against the uniform of the Empire's defenders by land and sea is no novelty. Similar hostility to the clothes of soldiers and sailors has existed in the United States of America, and the bias of some thoughtless sections of the public has gone so far that a league has been formed to promote respect for the uniform. It is a pitiful confession for men of any country to have to make. We suspect that the nervous ladies associated boisterousness, possibly developed by liquor, with the uniform, and in such a case it will be well to have the suspicion fairly put in the open for answer. Certainly it is no good way to encourage sobriety to shut ‘Jack’ out of the skating rinks and other places of healthy recreation. Is he expected to find his distraction in the tavern? It is hoped that the regrettable Auck land occurrence will not be allowed to rest at the point where it was left by the management of the skating rink.” Whaling in New Zealand Waters. The good old Jays of whaling in New Zealand waters are about to l»e revived under more prosaic conditions. In the days of the sailer, it was a great fight between the hunter and the hunted, but nowadays the steam trawler, with its shot gun harpoon, gives the whale little chance when it gets within striking distance. An Auckland-owned steam trawler, the Hananui, has been engaged in whaling on the New Zealand coast for twelve months or so with gratifying results. A Norwegian trawler similar to that vessel is expected to arrive in the Dominion towards the end of the year, and a firm at Akaroa, Messrs. Wilkins and Sons, are. making inquiries as to the prospects of whaling, while a Norwegian. Johan Bryde, is also interested. In a communication to Captain Thos. Cook, of Auckland, Mr Bryde says that he has recently purchased the big steamer Bucoros (6600 tons), and is fitting her up as a floating factory, where all the work of converting whale into oil, etc., can l>e done. He inquires for accurate information as to the seasons for the humpbacks and right whales, and whit h harbours are most suitable for them. Captain Cook, who has boon offered flip command of the Buceros, has replied that Whangamumu and Stewart Island are the most suitable places for both whales in season.

Escaped Again. Joseph John Powelka, the now nolor ous man who was sentenced to 21 yuai.iiiiprisonment for burglaries and aisun i the Palmerston North district, made a.» other escape from the Terrace Gaol, \\ < i lington, some time between four and o'clock on Sunday morning. Powelka bodily forced a small grating out of the cell. The grating opened into the yard, and favoured by darkness, Im prisoner got cle.an away. Later, a milk man reported having seen a man in whin running near Kelburne power-house, towards the botanical garden. Sixty odd police and warders ire now searching in all directions. The gardens have been thoroughly explored without result. A man reports having seen a person corresponding in description to Powelka hurrying along a Hutt b\ street in tiie direction of the W'ainai bush. It is stated that the grating was screwed on from the inside, and the screws had been removed ami the filled with putty, so that all Powelka had hi do was to force (he grating through at a convenient moment. Up to noon on Monday nothing further had been heard of the escaped prisoner.

Seamen and Firemen. According tn reports in circulation, there is a likelihood at no distant date of trouble between the New Zealand Shipowners* Federation and the Seamen’s Union. It is rumoured that the tirem*‘ii ami *ail<»i»*. who*e award will expire v«*r\ *hortly. intend taking drastic Hep-s if their claim* are not conceded in the present application. It is stated that the men employed on the N**xx Zealand coa*t receive £9 per month, but tliey demand £IO, which they -tale is a fair ami reasonable amount. The larger rate is n<»l lining paid on the Australian c »a*t. <>ne of the large com panic* doing bu*ine** in New Zealand is reported to have m» t the men half way and offered a ri*e «»f In . but this amount tin* union declines to accept. In order to force th* claim, it i* alleged that th** men have decided unlr** their demand i* c ,needed by the end of the present month t<» g" out on -trike. They fully rvogiii** t.i* *•• iuusn**** <>f taking up this attitude, but t:i»y maintain that this i- tin onh -ur-e left <»p«*n by Axhich tiicir claim can receive a hearing. Xo official announcement has up to the pre-t nt bci-n mad** of th** course that it is intended : • ir*u . t • ■?. y a reporter made numb* r <•! inquiries in Lyttelton, but t i • n cn w«*r** found to be very reti -nt on th. matt* i. although it was ®dn s I' reached an a<u r c *tage. Win aelH ' • pre s f un* ; ■ stated that for some time past the relations t ie firemen ami shij « ■ . and. . ~ far a- he knew, efforts in the way of ci'ih i- .nion were not bring overlooked by i •. adi ; t.« the n to. go out oh strike it ivenient to the as w* as t , ; He b( ex 1, however- that au agreement would be arrived at which wuu 1 provt satisfactory to the parties • ■ ‘ at efforts are now bcimz mad.- in Dun* din to bring about a ’•*•>t one of the largt steam ship ampanie*. In the meantime the int* r***t j par tie* are keeping an eye on future development*. Shingle Dispute Settled. ’ '' ' exvs of shingle boats Ahi di haw im . n tied ur at Auckland for «■ f< rtn _ t > ist. resumed work on Wednesday. Then xxa* much hurrviiv and scurrying in the morning, while masters e gal ing then vrexx* and going t the Marine 1)< - part men; t.y ; •rmit- \Vhe?i the :nemi>er* of t.ic Auckland < oa-ta': Ma*ter* A** t• >n mt ton the prey ious da .• ■' c a serious \ s prepared t< resume vork; nt tiu majority weie iiot .satisfied wi i *. I > t**r*»iin»*d uyi-n holding out. .lu*t ;«* 1 tters were at a isi- a teleg from the M ni-ter of Marine was re eiyed, ant this aspect of affair* Th* tvhjiam -tated that the i >.r* <-il *hdig> from all axailalh* Leaches t is oma I■Milan la. Mar. hi.; and Lak** Tak a pur. i ■ ■ the ** g< xva* read the members in;m» -lia t«-:y *?.<(♦•*! their willingness to r * - m • work, and « n W< dne-day put their i*-'.d\e in:o pra t;••*■ i v getting al! their I ar- ready. In • *n\»-)-a t i**n xxith a “Star” r*--p*.n<). tl..* -evretaix ~f tJ M ‘ A*>*m iati*n. < apiain Ka*p i . gaw an as-ui-an-t that there would be an efficient supply of -hingio in th*- * ity in tin- .-our*e of a day or : vo. 1 1 <• o k-oiit has pr..\ed a serious matter to the i > itmen. let alone the bn.’ l■r* .-I’d j ro\ iders. In all sonic 200 boatmen xver* idle, and the lo** in wage* r->-pr» -ents * >m.-tiling hke £ 2Mmi. crew* ax-ci £11 an! master* £l9 i*.r mon: h. Regimental Bands. • pi* \i>.*n xxill be mad* in t.*e new ( *’ : ' »M foi the upk. •J. of gai| •oil Band*. *a\* the Hon. (Jen. Fowhl*. wh* explain* further that at the end of th* . urrvnt year the capitation of garrison hands us such will cease to be paid, am! garri** n band* xvill become the |»and« to the xarious military dixision* a* regf. mental bands. It i* intended. sav« the Minister, to encourage th* 1 formation of regiment banda for each regiment of m* unt* d rill*-*, each battalion uf infantry. and each drxiaiou of garrison artillery. *

The Maori Population. Papers relating to the census of the Maori population have been presented to the llou-e. The figures, which were previously forecasted in a former message. are as follow (including Chatham Islands 215):

Infer* nces deduced from the figures must be regarded to a large degree as conjectural, remarks the Under secretary of Native Affairs. It was doubted whether the large decrease shown by the census of 189 t» was a real decrease or merely due to the non-inclu*ion of a number of native*, either by accident, or through retu*als to give proper information to the *ub-enumerators. lloxvever. the increase shoxvn by the present (•cnsu* may be taken a* a fair index of the position. In addition to the foregoing total* there xv* A? enumerated "ith the European cen*us the following hah-ca*tes: Male*. 1475: female*. 1402. It i* an idea uf many people that the ultimate fate of the Maori race i* to become absorbed in the European. XX hether any tendency i* *hown in this dir°‘tion mu-t be gathered from the increa*< or decrease. (The number of half-aste* has increased by 250.1. No valid deduction can be drawn except by taking account al*o of those half-castes xvho are living as European*, and not a ‘ounted for in this census. The total population of the Chatham I-lands i* gix en at 215 per*on*. as against 2og census. A visible increase is recorded in the Maori population, but it j* regretted that the original inhabitant*, the Moriori*. are dying out. The Maori* have, increased by 16 per cent, and the Xloiioii* haxe decreased l»y 46.6 per cent. Ihe increase of the former is largely due to the bettor care of the children in the matters of housing, clothing, and infant feeding. Soldiering and Sport. A* the result of a discussion at a recent meeting of the committee of the < anterbury Cricket Association on the manner in which cricket would be cf-f**<-b-d if t) le military training parades ann«!um«*d xvere held on the date* fixed, a dcpntatii'n waited on ( olonel Hawkin*. t. last a . .. < lap deputation pointed out that 110 players xvould be .affected if the dates fixed for the training parade* xvere adhey* d t* . Ihe orti«-er commanding t district xvas assured by the deputati* i -! e association heartily supported military training, and was willing to a*si>t by * * i it* power h» make it a *m re**. At the *ame time it was des It -Jioiild be given to cricketer*. < olonrl Hi * * >uld go th* roughly into the matter, ami would advi*»‘ the a**«H-iatiun lat r uf the d» ; isio» arrived at. He expressed the opinion that the military authorities from th<- commandant downward*, would bo willing to a*>i.*t the cri.kcters if it wa-» at all practi* able. Improving the Breed. It may not l»e generally known that racehorses are carried free one way on the railways. Mr. Fi*her xvants to know why. The Mini*ter explains that it is • lorn* on a *imilar principle as prompt concessions in railway stock to aeri- • ultural shows and lime to farm lands. The one is to induce effort* to improve the breed of stock, ami the other to in<*rea*c the productivity of land. The Amoknra Boys. Theie is a regulation which provides that when a boy’s training on board the Amukura is completed he shall take employment at *ea for at least six months if the Department can find such employment for him, and hitherto there has be* ii no difficulty in obtaining employment in British merchant ships and in th** navy for the lads. The number of boys who afterwards go in foreign ships is *<> small that Mr. Millar does not think there is any need to make a regulation to prevent it.

Monopoly in Fiction. For soiim? time past firms of booksellers and publishers in the Commonwealth have followed the practice of securing the exclusive rights of popular American novels throughout Australia and New Zealand, and all members of the bookselling trade in the Commonwealth and Dominion have had to obtain supplies through this channel, individual importing from America being denied them X second syndicate has recently been formed, in which it is understood" a leadlne Xe*a Zealand bookselling firm has a large interest. This syndicate is turning its attention to English novels. Already they have secured the Australian and . en Zealand rignts of half-a-dozen popular works of fiction. In consequence of what promises to prove a curtailment of their respective bu-inesses, local booksellers are forwarding a stronglv-worded letter of protest to the Publishers’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland, against what i* in their idea an attempt to e*tablish an unfair monopolv. Dissentient book*ellers allege that if the syndicate is alloxxed to pursue its plan unchecked, the outcome xvill be a monopoly of the greater part of the trade in fiction, leaving for the rest of the bookselling fraternity only such business as can be done with the rndrvidiial customer over the counter, at a greatly reduced profit. The protesting firm* allege that the latest nmve on the part of the *yndi-ate will tend ultimately to eliminate competition and place the reading public at the mercy of monopolist*. But He Would Have Good Sport. In the of some remark* on the rat ing un this afternoon, the member for Wellington South invited the attention c/f Mr. Glover by suggesting that the Takapuna and Avondale Clubs, being proprietary club*, xvould be very good one* to which the happy dispatch might be given. He trusted the hon. member for Auckland Central xvould not raise any objection to hi* suggestion. The hon. member for Auckland Central. to the delight of the House, sprang to his feet, and announced very emphatically that he did object. ‘ XVliy,’" he exclaimed, “Takapuna is the most popular club in the Dominion. I recommend the member for Wellington South to pay it a visit.” (Laughter.) Mr. Poland: He would not get out alive. Mr. Glover: I do not know xxhether he xvould get cut alive or not. but I do know he would have a good day** sport, and the House held it* *ide*. An Auckland Estate. The e-tate of the late Mr. D. L. Murd* i. xx hi. !i ha* !*ven proved at £ 149.005 xx ill contribute to the Dominion Treas- - ** ties the -•:m *«f £31.700. Bhvo.H £lOOO xx hh a was I cqueathed to the diibdee In*titute for the Blind, life remain lei < f thi* large for tune xvill go out of the Dominion to " • . _ Mr. Murdo • " ■ relat iv* - iu ii* nalive laird. Attack Upon Chief Justice. I d *n’t think the right thing i* being done in appointing the Chief Justi.e. *"ir Robert Stout, to make si inqui ies as that which has just taken place * ? remarked Mr. Ma**ey on the debate on the Look I-lands administration in tiie House last week. Appointment upon such inquiries does not tend to the dignity of the Bench. It seems to me—ami 1 have xxatcaed what i* going on—that the t hief Justice is far too fond of what may be call- J *e. ret inquirie*. My mind goes back to the Departmental inquiry oi two yars ago. xvhiv-i was held within «lo*ed door*. Tneti there is what is kuotxn in XXellington a* the ’Secret Court ( ase,* ami there is the recent Inquiry at th<* ( <»ok Islands. 1 don’t *xy that th*- Chief .lu*tice wa* identified with • very one <>f the«e .-a*e*. but he xxa* with most of them. In the la*t few day* it ha* been my duty to call attention to another *e ret inquirx. the admini*t rat ion of the prison department at Auckland that i* now going on. The people of the colony are getting si k nf thi* ’Star Ll.amber’ business, and the House xx ill have tu speak with no uncertain sound before the present session come* to an end.’’ I xvuuLi ask.” continued Mr. Massey, who brought the Supreme Court judges on to the floor of the Ministerial member*: “You did.” Mr. Massey: ” No member of the Opposition brought the judges into the arena

of polities, and I say what iii>t bror.C i them into the arena was undoubtedly the < oinmi-~ion of a few years ago. and also the improjier payments. 1 > a v th s, that Opposition members have not d >i ’ their duty in connection with those icvmentss, and I take my share of the No Supreme Court judge should smh payments, and no payments -h.. -■ I be made in addition to the pavntents passed by Parliament as supreme < e'.iit; judges. J regret that 'Upre.r.e to judges have been brought into the -rent of politics in this way It is h. n-p , , of an advocate rather than of a hidjeh’ Ministerialists: - shame!” Mr. Massey: It is the r ,. ~,I t ;, x counsel for the defence rather than the report of an independent .-oinin.'-h . .” .Mr Laurenson: "That is th. ty .1 talk about our judges?" Mr .Massey: "Judges are a t a u a criticism.’* "I am .not concerned with the allegations about the Cook Uands administi.ttion, which have been tally dismissed v the Chief Justice," remarked Mr Laarenson. who spoke a little later. "I .. > concerned, however, about the bru:..l >1 personal attack made upon the - . i Justee.” (Hon. Members: Hear, "1 here is not one pei cent o; he : or this country but do not view . i alarm tire attacks tint have r- . i. been levelled upon sir Robert s; ,t. If it be wrong to degrade men engaged : i party warfare, what is it to belittle 3 1 decry the Chief Justice of thi- ■■o.nr.r. ! 1 guarantee there is no man, no mat’, r whatever side of politics he is on. but does not consider if you .van' to maintain the .social system, law and order, it is essential to the Government of a c..rantry that y< u shoul IJo even thing y i possibly can to maintain th office < ■ o judges as sa.rcd. If there a i.e rs ..f .on option against oar judges, the i bring that charge and make i upon t ’ floor of the Hou-e. and back :: up wi i evidence, but this vile innuendo, : ■ shadow that walks by darkness and -t.i s a man in the back, to belitt ■ and legrad oar judge-, it is a crime ag.:.n-S every loan and woman in the .iiininii There is not a member of the Opposition that doos not agree with that smtime’g. We have Jmd the Leader ot :he <>j tion and Mr Allen reiterating s.andalo .s statements. There seem- to . on!, resource left to the Opposition—p. , - ’ abuse. Nothing is now sacred > them. A minute or two later a -light jeetion fell from Mr Allen eonce: g our annexation of the Islands. "My friend." and the member i telton turned to the gentleman on t a other side of the Hou-e. "I wa- e ■ 1 the House when you go: up and -JG "Rule Britannia” and "God save t.e Queen,’’ when we annexed the t .>ok -* lands. (Laughter from the Ministe' benches.) When the Government • ’* not done anything wrong they are attacked, and vilified by the Leadep- 1 ■ the Opposition. We now have this i and mighty party of purity and prog *’-' leading a deliberate attack upon one the highest and best men in this <<■.! >• try, but these attacks injure none save themselves.” , Mr Poole declared that the mot .on o* Mr Wright to refer this report the Chief Justice was an absolute ret.e--tion on his integrity and judgment - 11 ' ' he thought members had too much mon sense and high appreciation o. ■ * Supreme Court bench to do anything _ the sort. It would not lie a credit the Assembly.

Census. Persons. Increase. Decrease. 1878 43.585 — 1 s j 5 1885 44,088 5i»2 — 1886 41,909 — 42.128 1881 41,993 24 — 1896 39.854 — 2139 1901 43.143 3389 — IMHi 47,7.31 4588 — 1911 49,565 1832 —