VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 532, 12 June 1909, Page 6

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

I : :0. :■: SHELVING THp COUNTRY'S BDSINESS. ;'.'"■ ■■" ;?:-;; JHE■'COMING. INDIGNATION, MEETING. :..;.'■ ■i.l'Eittera.continue.,ti> pour in- fronv all qiiarVo ■ ; ;::tersiprotesting .against the proposal of "the ':.'•■...'■ .>; Governmentto . shelve;the business of the ?;;■;;■; .country ! .until;the .Prime':Minister's-'. return •:;.;■ England;'. These lettersgive a good in■:':',;,!.dication of the state of public feeling on this ■■■; -t;■■ /5 question; and: the indignation- meeting ;to' be' (--;■.: . held, in the: Town Hall on Tuesday evening y, ■■■:.., . .next, ;,at which -the ■Wellington -city members ■i\\> of Parliament.are to-.epeak, promises: to be :■;-, '■'•.one-ofthemost influential public gatherings v;;;. :;«ver;held ; in-:this cdty.V ; A ; ,:■'""::. t - -.-' : :v v ;; AN OUTSIDER'S; VIEW. . X; ; ';.•:, The Dqmimon of to-day there ap- :... >-:: - peared several, Jettere < concerning the. hang- . :'.;' ing up of-the business of this'country to I tie -Prime. Minisfor-;to goto the Old v. : ;; :,. Ootmtry; : I presume to; receive! a'title winch" ::>• '.;■.. will take, two ..Dreadnoughts to-bring "::. out ■;.<., : '. v- here.,: lam glad'.to, say. :I, do not belong to :,:;,.' ..this, obuntry. If.'the Prime: Minister of my ' ::' ; ; part of- the-world attempted .'.to do such '■ a and from t . ...^/the House of Parliament| in fact;tliere.would' :- ; -'/■:' be r war{straight -out;.>lt. seems to me that: "■:',-;. /the/business of this country, is 'run. for.the i ■-.;■; ■•'. convenience of .one'man only—the Prime Min- ,-• /;■■■/■'isterV'-' ' ■'■'■■■ \ '■'"■ .';■ ~'.■ ■ ■.■':','■:'.■. -/,-/"/;■;/; ;.-'.';;/•..-. •'■■ Surely the people of this country: are not //./.going .to stand', this sort ;of ;.'.■' thing much ;.;-. ..longer.. I havehad a good look through' this J //-.'■ during:the past'few; weeks, and.will, ."'.i.;leave New., Zealand with, enough, material to •-:.;; 'write a.comic opera. "■"■'':■ ::'■■'• /. ..-.' ■■■■•.. : :: \'tl ■".;. I attended a.meeting in,• Ohrietchurch a :.;;...vfew;.weeks-back,.called, for the purpose of <■■'. / : resolution.in favpuf'of the action- <;.;. of the. Government in offering a Dreadnought ,r. ■'';;.to the..BritiA;Government; Particulars of -i. : ..,. all.oyer New' Zealand' !:' : ;- , .: : ''- v ™f , ■■■■y;:- '■;.■ lution was carried-with',acclamation.; ■ I -h'ap--;'T: P e ?. e< V to of the front seats, in the' :'.;;.;'• . with me.my .wife/anddaugh'ter,-. -■J ■■. '•and if -the reporier.wio took'.down,.the par- ; v' J : of ■ the meeting was sober and .'gave' :• : '.'.■•": '"■'■■'■ W r e P ort to the press when : he-was.sane;' he :'.;-y; ;i» what we , would call in'OaSda a liarJ As'' . ' ; .'. ; m ** ter of .^ act iTtfembtidn^^'w'as'-rejected by. V. ■■ . .sbout fifteen, to one; and'.a'rwise member of L : r .j; the.audience called for ttree cheers for'TayiJ::'-.;'• lor .. on < 1 then ;three hoots':.for. Ward,. which .■'..•:■.■;;>' ■-. were'birth/aven heartily. ■..;.;' ■'■';'• i-'X" V, -Jf; this is a:taste.of.'the Ne.w'Zeaknd iegis- : :v ■■'•; •■■:■•■■ I J»W re , l ';thenGod .help God's Own Gpuiitry % '■'■■.vv ™o'Pnme,0'Pnme, Minister of .'Canada;wont'■".' awav \.*'f^:^ av pg;tne biisirioss.of 'his.country hung W -.' ;:"i: .™s .way ;the" owners' of; the "on ■I:,;:,- ■ ;■;- which Jie was.tostravelTwould have her welT ; .•;: '.'just in. caso;she'. went , down; , ' ■ -1•A'- ? av «:a few' notes .for out- papers'when, i'eei .;.home.--I :■.: ■;: .:/;-...:■■;. ,:,?"". : BA?::%£■>- V.^ r ' ; ;v-'':;e .:■/."/■-■ ■:':■■:.' CANADA; ' : ;:Wv-rt'-H ; ;;;yA.;CbRNER;:FOR.iw6MEN.:'--v: ; (';■ :■ '^V^ r >^ Sn< coming. ;. s; -^:.mdignatioirmeeting,will BOt:forget-that'-th? ;. ; ',..r;.; i .:.v.iro_meil of Welhngtonrarequito.-.asindignant .■; : y,.;:'. m..; .the..;-men,.,regarding-. the-; Government's 'i?' :':■: npst;:tmneceßsary .;;and ; inopportune''- pro-- ':}■ : A yPoaal to,sh&lve: the;business ofJthe-cbuWiry ? ivi* a \ a enteal. (time: like the' present until the ::.:i? : - JE tu ™'? f : tho , Pnme;.Minißter from.Encla'nd : : M ;;i!^ ould l lt notbe.;possible:;to-.Eet aside one of : 'k'i v.WWOTtranoes ,to the -Town. Hall for women ;.; ; ,;;: and .reserve Va^rtioh : , of the accommodation «;,?•'•;:*?#*?/?,•.until,.; say, ,nye : minutes before -the- '■::■ I', : : ; tlme ;!°r 'the commencement , -of'proceedings;: restriction-• oould:. be removed i :..;.. I His would; enable; thewomen to escape the ?s:^-' d^ ffl «>rt aid crushing .which would bo un- ..%■; ■;•; avoidable_at a great/meeting like that to be ■-. v.ieid. on.Tuesday next.—lam, etc ' : +*y-> v v ''-■;,':• '%'•!: : -: i ;"; ONLY. A WOMAN.' IM UNEMPLOYJEdriIANb THE COVerN- ): - :^'.^: \f i . . v:.;":' thai-there ■;;-.■•.,;■•:•:aro only 2000 unemployed in.New Zealand ;:■;,:; /Allowing this to; be true (whioh' it-is - not)' ,the who-are dailv fe,;.::•■: "reading; and loss of; employment '' ir-' v; u , abeplntely;'certain;. to: eom£ 4 imost ;■:,;-;; ofcthem.owfflgvtoythe. state of depression '-::.;. jntO;TOich,tiira much-vaunted-Dominion has . : ,: ; JJso, how;about.those who ':;>:>:■'■ ;.t«>ugh:_employed at':prosent, caa.'eoarcoly ■; : ::-{y: ';evet with:the most rigid; economy/ mafi *-^SSS'fr fP? Again, ;ho W , ;p;;. '■»■<*» nnfortunate.immigrante who have ;;;•■ B d n«a j>7 lyiDg;agente;to' spendtheii which they weretold.so ;;■;; ~on( ; :anTjal: brought here :;;• V:':■ overstock the , laboTU-:m a rket,aid ;k:-: f™? ttown.tbe It is a pity ;.y,: . that Sir Joseph"and Ma Ministers cannot . ,i-.;change placea: with .borne of ihese. unlucky' V;,.;,. peopre I .But; apparently the Prime Minister ■;;> '■ is r .qnite-.content to. go; Home and enjoy ■;:;; j.' ..bancfu.ots v and..entertainmeiita,.: :'and- .leave ;,, .-thousands of. wbrkless .people to- starve—l ■'■••''". '.. am/j.ete., .'-;.'*... ■•"■■■■'•' ,' ; ■;:'■■.; ■.■■■:■■ ■■*'■■. ■■'■■■ ■~t'Z , :*:-- : &.'rr h WOULD-BE ! WORKER ;v c :;•;,. ,;Jtme. 11; •;; ■ • ..; .■;. :, : !: -;.\,- ■■■-:■'■:.;■:■:.■■,: , .-. ;?.^l':'-'T.KE;PRIME. ; MIN;CTER , B'fnoiP»iBSED- ; f:'\: '-■_'- -■:;;;;; r <^ : J. DEPARTURE. ::■ >; ';!■ ;.'■ .;::.'.; : {^Sir.-T-it :is to :be .ho'ped' that"the tmiversal ..Y;' ■-. :Objection.^ithe adjournmeEt of "Parliament ■/ .- '. ; K ,the request,of the Prime-Minister will be ',; ,;; : more, praotically .given .effect :to thai by .that ,-,. ::'. of'the/propoeed' meeting of protest. 'The 'v; :.;Prime •HiriisteT'was 'flattered at the address -\:r;- signed,by.6ooO resident's of this'ciiy.' '1 think" ;;i ;: ; ; tronble were taken .by; the; section' -•'■'■■:■ ..of .the press not subservient to the : !V'^.-^erapOTJi > tt;ge't,''np , .;; :',:,cellency, : asking liim.-to dissolve Parliamcint' ■; .' on/accouEt. of the i.almost. unanimous objec- '• ; *{?"* — '«3journineot.; of Parliament when • - ./'.the country "is in such a depressed state,' it :;.:,,; ffould be. signed .by.: at least- two;.to, three' -■ : , hundred thousand .people ■ in 1 a', very short .:.:.-' ■-, .time. ..The 6ffer : (utterly unconstitutional) by .:: -the; Uovernment of a Dreadnought, without : ;;-;■;, che. sanction of .Parliament, should '-also be' .';;.. considered.—l am,.et<;., ',',.'■: '■:'■'■■■ • :?-'l' -"'■ : -i':Z':'! --v.;/•.-. ; ../-..■ one'objeotor. ' .; ~■:-■.■ r: 'Juno. t lO..- ...:';:; '; "pv ' : ';. ,'• : .'• -■' ■•.' ' '■'.. V:T'i. A .: .WISE..PR i ECAUTiON.'v'M , . I ;V-' ;; - . ;let' me through your cplumm' :.:• 'suggest...that the. Governriiont secure : the" ;;,:., services,of, ; ;.sayj/two of our; leading-medical" •;..,-; : mpn'io : Sir Joseph Ward on his vm ;■ tn Pi to England, : a lso to lnsuro .his 'lif<« : ~. i ...against; shipwreck for, say, tho value of one V; ■;.,•. or;two ; Dreadnou2hts,- for I should hate to ;;,; vthmlv of poor New Zealand, should 'anything -;,-;. serious, happen our "one wise; man."—l ahr' -..-., CtC.)'-*"'- ■' ■■'." : 'C\'\~ ; '-~ :/■', ..•"';:'•■.■.'-..•■'" '£.;{.. '- NO r T A LOY I^ ;OI? ; .THE-LIMELIGHT. ;-S;: ;: ; :'Napier, June's.,,: '^~"■■:'' ; : : ZZ, ..'..'/ ' : ■•'■•■• ' : ;; V ; IT7 ' RATHERI" : : : : :;;.;Sif,—Enclosed- please find'one (cancelledj •■:■;.. penny postage stamp to form ithe nucleus of .':' ;Blund to commemorate by means of a ; suit- ;■;.:: , able presentation, the action of the , forty odd ; : - members who so;;nobly did their-"duty to-' .;■ Ward their neighbour."-' ;.■■•■•,'' ■■ .; ;. V-;. ;.; Should r.the amount ! collected bo in your' ':•■: .ludgmf.nt in excess of that deserved, I sug- -,.:; gest that the left-oyo'r portion be;devoted to •.;.; :■ erecting a sanatorium in whjehtho said forty ;-,•;:;' •• (vory) odd bo : trained in their duty towards .-:;.' 'their country.- 1 -! am; etc., V .■■-.■ v<.-; .. : v: K -i" :; -.'-■-"■■ V'NOTHER NEIGHBOTJR. - : .' , Levin, June 11. -.'.' , •; • J • AN APPEAL TO COMMON SENSE. \ "■•'■■' Sir,—lt having, .'.been,, decided ' that Sir '■':■ Josepn. Ward is to., visit England in connec-' - ! .:■■:.': .■ Iron with ;the.Naval;Conference, is not .the ■ occasion ah 'Opportune one to consider- our [■::.';' position past, present, and future? :.: ...' New Zealand some short sixty years ago ::'■■':■ was almost uninhabited by, the Bntish race, : and practically unknown; ;In tho- interven- '■■.-'■ ing years the wilderness has', been partially •■-.•/■'•■ converted into useful agricultural , land and ■';■:■••■;.. ftiir-sized towns', are being gradually built. '"■■'..'■■ Till a year or two,ago.we were prouil to call . ■'■Dtir.great little country acolony, but on the : advent of Sir Joseph .Ward to the , Premior- '. ■'~;■•'. jhip'vwe blossomed outi into aVfull-blown DoBiniofc A colony wouldneyer have had the

.temerity to offer a Dreadnought to the British: Government, but it was quite a simplo :matter. for-the Dominion of Nm Zealand! •with, such an optimistic and enterprising ;loader. Our present position' then is that with the above-mentioned gentleman guiding .the affairs of our country single-handed we ;are committed to an expenditure of £80,000 ; per year-over.and above the interest on oiir present enormous National Debt. This great added burden, which, as a young and only ivory partially developed country we are ill ableto bear, has been thrust on us by our Premier acting solely on his own initiation without, consulting tho people through their representatives. And what return do we got for this expenditure? A battleship is obsolete in twenty years' timo at very latest; consequently twenty years hence we or our ■hildron will bo■ .still paying something.'like :£BO,OOO per year to the English money-render with nothing to' show for it.' Our Premier has had a good advertisement, and has been kept well in % the limelight, but this will bo poor consolation to future generations who have to foottho ; bill: As a specimen of reck- , lessness, this of not one Dreadnought but a Dreadnought or two would be hard to beat. Leading English statesmen evidently thought , the offer premature and altogether too daring, otherwise it would have been accepted with more promptitude. To send an heroic cablegram. making an offer of something which the sender really hasn't got may bo all right in theory; but in practice it wiil not.be ; worth much. ...... •The people of New Zealand could do much more permanent .good .by spending moro thought and money on their own; defences, thus becoming, as time, wont on, a source of ■strength rather, than of weakness to the British Government.' A note of warning is evidently much needed,- and any- future action teken: by this Dominion in doing our sharo in the defence of the Empire should be well weighed ■by our representative's, and our worthy Premier -should •be made to realise that sound practical : ideas and not wild-cat schemes are,required.at the present juncture. ~rl am/'etiC,'.--'. "" . ..'. ;. OOT OF THE BURLY. ..Waveriey, ■■June.10. : s