NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 892, 11 August 1910, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The member for Stratford in the House of -.Representatives last even-; 'ing, in response to a challenge from ' Mr. T. E. Taylor, stated definitely the nature of the charges against certain cx-nicrnbers of Parliament which he referred to in general terms' a few evenings ago. It will be seen from a perusal of our report of his speech that Mr. Hike's information is to tho effect that tho particular persons affected, while members of Parliament, drew commissions on the sale of certain properties to the Government;.. In one or more of tho cases it would seem that it is alleged that the Government had previously refused to purchase the property or properties subsequently bought. It is idle to attempt to ignore the seriousness of these allegations, and the public will await with close attention the action ~of the Prime Minister. It canno'ti for a moment be assumed that Sin Joseph Ward thinks the matter can rest ivhore it is.'. Mr. Hine. is a responsible member of Parliament; he has stated definitely his charges; he has pledged himself to produce evidence to support those charges if the Governmentwill appoint a Commission of Inquiry. That ib ' the positiou which the Prime, Minister has to j face. He knows, and the public knows, that Mr. Hine would not dare to make the charges unless he had.evidence to support them. If there is nothing to fear from the allegations made, why hesitate to hold the inquiry .1 .Nowhere eke would there be any hesitancy shown in a matter so vitally affecting the honour and dignity of Parliament. The cold water very properly administered by the Prime Minister to the deputation that pleaded' with him on Monday on behalf of the South Island Main Trunk Railway may rather chill Canterbury's regard for. the Government. So, at all •events, we cannot help concluding from .the fact that the Ministry's Ohristchurch organ has hastened to justify, the Prime Minister. In embarking on this delicate task our contemporary perhaps did not quite see where it would bo led. ' For it concluded its article.with this remarkable passage:— The Prime Minister frankly admits that he is continuing- a vicious system. Wo arc-■ sick and tired and ashamed of the cries of ."Justice. for the North Island" and "Justice for the South Island," "Justice for Canterbury" and "Justice for Auckland." It is time that the country Ijegan to call out for justice for New Zealand. ' This cannot be obtained by building long lines of railway at the rale oi tour or five miles a year and leaving, tho interest and. depreciation and loss of revenue to mount up at a greater rate than tho actual expenditure. If the people.of the Dominion Were shown in plain figures what this stupid policy is costing them they would realise' tho enormous burden-they are imposing upon themselves by their. parochial demands for : "justice, and then probably they would be disposed to exercise - some patience, and'even to make some sacrifice in order to advance the general welfare. "Justice.for .New. Zealand," which wo have been urging without cessation, can only be obtained by. sweeping away the conditions that make railway policy a matter of local deals. We shall get it only when the 'Ministry is set free from the pressure of local interests. It is pleasant to know that our Christchurch contemporary is coming round to our view that a non-political control' of public works expenditure ' must be established. ;. We wore informed by cable tho, other day. that the Australian. Gov.-,' eminent has so far surrendered to .the public's sense, of justice as : to withdraw it's in its Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, that tho Arbitration Court must grant preference'to unionists on the application of any-.party to a dispute. The Courtis still to be allowed some measure of discretion.. Apparently; however—the cable message was very brief .and unsatisfactory—unions are to be allowed the utmost freedom to' expend .their'funds just as they choose. ' It 'is' possible that this provision may bo" ruled out as contrary to the Constitution, as il has been ruled in Britain to be contrary to public policy. In the meantime there have -become available some, facts which show the impropriety ''of granting, this license. In the course of.dcbute'on Tuesday of last week in the Federal House the former rules of the Australian Workers' Union were quoted. ;.Tho executive' of that body is empowered• by its rules' to levy from its members £5250 a year to subsidise the Sydney Worker, to set.apart over £1000 a year for election .funds, and to impose a fine of £3 on'any member who works ,or -votes, against the selected Labour candidate.. What the result would be of preference to unionists under a law that allowed unions to use their funds as they chose .is admir--ably stated by the Melbourne Argus, which has .been supported by its rival,, the democratic Age, in protesting .against what the Age calls an "absurd and monstrously -inhuman" measure. Let this law be passed (says tho "Argus") and Labour politicians will have in their hands.the most powerful and most unscrupulous political ,weapon .ever devised. The non-unionist can. bo cowed, with the threat, "Join us, or you lone your job." And if he joins ho must givo, up his political conscience to the ' union's command. Tho threat, therefore, becomes more clamant and ' the demand, more exorbitant. "Buj' our newspapers,, or lose your job. Subsidise our political funds,- or lose your job. Vote for our candidates, or lose your job." jWe do not want injustices like'this in this country. The member for Wairarapa was in fighting mood on Tuesday evening, and must have felt somewhat flattered at the manner in which he drew his opponents' fire. There was quite a chorus of "explanations! 1 at the' close;of his speech, sure evidence that the representative of the Wairarapa had found some tender spots amongst the occupants of the benches on. the opposite side of the House. Probably Mr. Buchanan's most effective score was made in his recital of specific instances in which favouritism lias beeti shown by the Government to serve the ends of political supporters. General charges as a rule carry little weight, but when a member comes forward with an array of evidence such as that produced by the member fete Wairarapa the. public has sumething definite to guide it. The.manner in which tho people of Mr. Buchanan's own electorate were penalised and promises to them broken' is really very startling. The Gisborne small grazing runs episode is perhaps better known. ■ It is surprising, however, how quickly these acts of maladministration are forgotten. Some day an enterprising Opposition member may. go to the trouble to collect and tabulate oulr standing cases which have conic into public notice during the past few years, They'would make a damning indictment '