THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1287, 16 November 1911, Page 8

THE ELECTIONS.

NEWS AND NOTES. SPEECHES BY CANDIDATES. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Mr. J. IJenrdon (Labour, Hutt Electorate), at Eastbourne, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. P. Luke (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at State schoolroom, Nowlands, at 8 p.m.

Mr. D. M'Laren (Labour, Wellington East), at Seavicw Private- Hotel, Kilbirnie, at 8 p.m. Mr. John Brodio (Independent Liberal, Wellington East), at schoolroom, Roscneath, at 8 p.m. Mr. D. JL Guthrie (Opposition, Oroua electorate), at Schoolhouso, Moawhango, at 8 p.m. Mr. W. H. Field (Government, Otaki electorate), at tho School, Himitangi, at 8 p.m. Mr. C. A'. W. Monckton (Opposition, Otaki electorate), at Druids' Ball, Shannon.

Mr. Byron Brown (Opposition, OtaJu electorate),, nt tho Hall. Ohau. Mr. F. G Bolton (Government, Wellington East), at New Century Hall, Kent Terrnoe, at 8 p.m.

TO-MORROW'S MEETINGS. Dr. A. K. Nowman (Opposition, Weilington Bast), at St. Mark's, Sussex Square, on Friday, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. Brodio (Independent Liberal, Wellington East), at Kilbirnie, Friday. November .17. , Mr. J: P. Luke (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at Methodist Schoolroom, Ngaio, Friday, November 17. Dr. Couzens (Independent Opposition, Wellington South), at St. Thomas's infant schoolroom, Friday, November 17, at 8 p.m. Mr. R. Fletcher (Government, Wellington Central), at Druids' Hall, Tuesday, November 21, at 8 p.m. Mr. D. M'Laren (Labonr, Wellington East), at Clydo Quay Schoolroom, Friday, November 17. ' Mr. W. H. Field (Government. Otaki electorate), at the Hall, Taikorea, Friday, November 17, at 8 p.m.' Jfr.C. ,'A. W. Monckton (Opposition, Otaki electorate), at the Schoolhouse, Eeikorangi, Friday, November 17. Mr. Byron Brown (Opposition, Otaki electorate), at Druids' Hall, Shannon, Friday, November 17. Mr. M. J. Be-ardon (labonr, Hutt electorate), Churolrrooni, Alicetown, Friday, November 17. Mr. J. ,E..: Fitzgerald (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at the school, Horokiwi,' Friday, November 17.' FUTURE MEETINGS. Mr. W. H. Field (Government, Otaki tlectorato), at. the school, To Horo, Saturday;' November 18, at 8 p.m. Mr. C. A. W. Monckton (Opposition, Otaki electorate), at the school, Oroua Downs, Monday, November 20, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. Brodie (Independent Liberal, Wellington East), at St. Mark's, Sussex Square, Tuesday, November 21, at 8 p.m. Mr. • J. E. : Fitzgerald (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at the school, Jndjeford, Saturday, November 18.

Mr. J. P. Luke (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at the Hall, Pahaufcraui, Saturday, November 18.

Mr. Fisher will speak at tho Aro Street Mission Hall on Friday next at 8 p.m.

HERE AND THERE. CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COMMENTS. Mr. Ma.=sey will deliver an address in the Opera House, Palmerston North, on Tuesday, November 21. A Satisfactory ■ Record, • Mr. W. H.,,8e11. is not allowing any grass, to grow under his feet in his can-' didaturo .for the Wellington Suburbs sent. Since October 20 he ha 3 delivered an address on every, week night, that is to say, he has addressed 22 meetings. At 21 of, these meetings he was accorded a 7oto of thanks and confidence, and in all, save one or two instances, the vote was unaniivoqs.,' Mr. Boll's committeemen consider" that his prospects of election are very bright.

"India-rubber; Prime Minister." Winding-tip an article on the Government's queer attitude towards the defence system, the Christchurch "Evening News" mates this crisp observation:—'As for the publio which is providing hundreds of thousands of pounds for a defence system that fails to materialise, if it has a kick loft in it on December 7, the 'indiarubber Prime Minister' should not stop bouncing till he lands in London looking for a job."

The Modern Micawber. "What' a Micawbcr-like existence, to bo straining every syllable in a vocabulary of persuasivo verbosity in order to get another advance for a debt-ridden little island at tho bottom of the Pacific Ocean! Nay rather, .let us call a halt, and see whether John Ballance's policy of .selfreliance is not practicable. On the Government's own showing, the cost of administration during Sir Joseph Ward's 41 years of office has increased by over two millions per annum. Place this startling fact in juxtaposition with the state of our trade as revealed in the Commerce Department's export leaflet issued last week, which shows that tho exports of tho principal products have shrunk nearly J22,000,000 in value sinco October, 1910. Surely we are under an obligation to the critics.who, despite the indifference of an unforeseeing people, point out how fast we are speeding down the shoot of commercial and governmental topheaviness."—"Waimato Advertiser."

Indications. In his first election Sir J. Ward lost ono Minister and ton seats. Since then two of his Ministers had dropped out. It was hard to foretell what the present election would do, but there were indications that one Minister would bo defeated.—Mr. Hcrries at Tauranga, About Estimates. ■ While Mr. H-srdman was speaking last evening, about tho vagaries of Government estimating of • the cost of public worirs, one of his auditors interjected: What about your own calling?" ?'Wo are able to look after ourselves," replied Mr. Herdman. "If you want to be defended I will give you an estimate [ any time you like!" (Laughter.) "You won't c.iarec him for that question?" asked another membor of the audience. "Oh, ho," said tho member for Wellington North. ' The List of Candidates, The name of Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh, Labour candidate for Wellington South, was inadvertently omitted from the list of probablo candidates published in yesterday's Dominion. Another accidental omission occurred under Palmerston North, whero tho name of Mr. Milverton I (Independent) should havo appeared.

Worse Off than 20 Years Ago. Mr. W. T. Young, tho Labour party's candidate for Wellington Central, has no belief in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act as a permanent help to workers. Said Mr. Young last night: "Judge Sim, who has had a good many bricks thrown at his head lately, is, I believe, an intelligent man and a very learned man. I behevo he knows something of political economy, and he knows, as a man who has read, that it is quite useless to increase wages unless yon restrict enterprise; he knows' that you aro getting no benefit from in-u-ttisfld wages. I venture to say that you re nil worso off to-day as far as spending ixnver is concerned than you wero 20 years ago." Hogan Past and Honan Present. The man with the long memory is tho ■ugboar of the political wobbler. One ■icli roso tip iu the "AVanganui Herald" i day or two apo to remark, in a letter ■'i the editor;—" Mr. Hopui stated that olitical memories were short, and thai ilie majority of the electors did not know much about politics. Now, Sir, I have-

lived in Wnnganui for sixteen years, and I find that the peoplo of Wanganui are just as intelligent as any other part of Now Zealand, and take a'keen'interest in public affairs, and Mr. Hogan may 'find out in the course of a few■ weeks that the memories of the electors of tV'nngun-ji arc not so defective as ho asserted. J remember when Mr. Hogan addressed tho olectors six years ago, from some thirty different , platforms, he stated that member should devote tho wholo of Itime to his political occupation, as ho was well paid for it. To show how ho lias carried this out I need only refer to n division that was taken at the close of last session, when a sum of over .£2OO was put on the Estimates for special work performed by Messrs. Stallworthy and Reed, our member voted for it to bo retained, and I could refer to ninny moro breaches of faith with tho olectors, but I refrniD from taking up too much of your valuablo space at this time."

I Labour and Capital. Referring to an intorjoctor, apparently n Labour party sympathiser, at his meeting last evening, Mr. Iterdman iniprossodon his hearers tho fact that in this country, despite the boasted benefits of Liberal Administration, it was much harder for a working man to rise to tho status of oil employer than in England. The moral ho drew was that it did not pay to battle and bully capital as for some timo_ past it had been the practice to do in New Zealand. If the prosperity of the workers was to be promoted th<> investment of capital must be encouraged.

Candid Admissions. Tho "Eltham Argus"—tho Hon. Mr. Carncross's paper—"supports the Ministry, but it admitted, in last Monday's issue, that two items of Government expenditure have been criticised with good reason. "One is the item for entertaining the Hon. George Fowlds on his return from Africa. Wo cannot see that tho Government were justified in thus expending public money. Mr. Fowlds had just returned from a very pleasant jaunt, and if Ministers wore desirous of entertaining their colleague it is a pity they did not do it at their own personal expense. The' expenditure—only some XTO or .SSO—cortainly was not large, but the principle was not a good one." The othor instance in which the "Argus" admits that there is ground for complaint is tho purchase of the "Hon. Roddy" nugget to present to tho King. "Here, again, the expense was not very great; probably some £700 or .£SCO; which amount divided proportionately amongst the population does not constitute a very burdensome sum on anybody. But what on earth was the necessity for such expenditure? We think it borders on the farcical to purchase a nugg:t of «"j'.il to prosont to tho King of Great Britain."

Sign* of tho Times. Among the Ministerialist candidates who have been studying the signs of the times, and acting accordingly, is Mr. Greensladc, of Vvaikatb. Ho told the electors at Kiliikihi that "he thought the famo had.arrived in tho politics of this country when they should send men to Parliament absolutely untrammelled." He said tho pages of Hansard would show that ho had never been a great party man. Returning to the same subject at the close of his speech, he pleaded with the electors to send him to Parliament "untrammelled , and unfettered." The other candidate' for Waikoto is Mr. J A. Young, Mayor of Hamilton, who stands as a non-party man,' opposed, to tho present Government, and his prospects are thought to be good. Tho contest is evidently a keen one ; but there is no professed out-and-out Ministerialist in the held.

The Gisborne Seat. It is stated on excellent authority that, although his'nanio has not yot been announced, n Keform party candidate will give Sir James Carroll* a run for tho Gisborno seat. Some time ago tho "Gisborno Times" in an editorial, expressed tho opinion that the Native Minister had by no means a certainty of being returned. It pointed out that territorial alterations of tho electorate had increased tho proportion of its electors who were likely to ignore Sir James Carroll's personal popularity and judge him on purely political grounds.

Two Kinds of Independence, . The Christehurch "Press," after reviewing .Mr. L. M. Isitt's short Parliamentary record, suras iiim up in this way: "What most people understand by independence in politics is independence of party in order that the candidate ninv support the principles in which he believes. Mr. Isitt's 'independence' is independence of principles in order that he may support one particular party."

Misrepresentation Exposed. A common form of misrepresentation indulged in by Government candidates is that of alluding to Mr. Massey as a representative of tho big land ownor. Sir John Findlay has been at tho game again, and this morning the "Herald" takes him to task vory severely for it. It says: "Wo may point out to Sir John lindiay, who as a complete stranger to the Auckland province, may bo pardoned for ignorance which would disgrace an Auckland schoolboy, that Mr. Massey i - himself a small farmer, and has always been a small farmer's representative knowing that New Zealand must inevitably become a country of small holdings. Throughout his lifo Mr. Massey has consistently and intelligently championed the cause of the yeomanry of the Dominion, and has won their esteem and' their confidence by his devoted work on their behalf. It is easy for Sir John rmtflay, who ha* never known the difficulty nf securing practical results in agrarian questions, to attempt to belute and misrepresent men like Mr Massey who, in season and out of season', havo advocated close settlement and denounced tho mistaken legislation which Jocks up tho land and prevents the progress of the country. The desire of tho Opposition is to see cvorv aero in Hew Zealand put to profits bio use. and it is to blind the public to the failure of the Government m this respect that Sir John linu lav misrepresents Mr. Masscv. Sir John talks of bursting np the great estates, but ho says no definite word of buying up Ibe greater 0 f a !j_( h( . N i«k ""'' n W - wou,(l ,iko t0 J>w Sir ~?. tit B !\° on 'breaking up the big estates* to a gathering of T&rfL t 'IT t1- any e !™ to ra'« in the Zll I ' Sla, , K '-' H, , s F* is mero elMtion--1,1"Ul f''-? f ° T aml obscnr « n„iL ? St and undemocratic policy for which he and his colleagues aro responsible-tho attempt to institute m New Zealand an idle and hereditary Maori aristocracy fattening on the rack rented toil of British tenants." Mr. Hogg's Position. - n f"ir?V°'-- e '? n J ard tne candidature of M-r Hogg; asks the "Wairarapa Daily limes ' reviving 1, 15 opening speech at Masterton "We confess that 'wo had hoped to findl ourselves in the position of giving Mr. Hogg support as ono pledged to do all in Ins power to put an end to the existence of the 'Continuous' .Ministry His ion? services and personal popularity give him a certain claim on our regard. But in the circumstances, and in tho absence of any evidence, to the contrary, we cannot do other than look upon Jir. Hogg as tho Ministerialist candidato for the Masterton seat, and oppose his return accordingly." «»™ The Eketahuna "Express" finds the in just the same way: In tho absence of a more definite statement, wo can only conclude that Mr Hogg will continue to slate the Govern' ment, but will be found on its side in all cases of division, for the time being at least. But of what use is his criticism when his vote is sure?"

Flapdoodle and Platitudes. "Sir Joseph Ward has thrown a lot of flapdoodle and platitudes off his chest lately on the eve of the elections," said Mr. W. T. Young, in the course of a political address last night. "I refer to the Budget. There is more flapdoodlo in the last Budget than I have .heard for many years. He stole one of our planks —pensions for widows. Pensions for widows nevor occurred to Ward until he read it in the Labour partv's platform. When ho saw if thero "he took it up. and handed it out iu his Budget as one of tho benefits of Liberalism. (A voice: He is only an opportunist.) They arc all political opportunists. Thev don t possess a political principle bevonil staying in office as long as they can." Mr, Young admitted also that ho didn't "go much on the Massey crowd"—would-

n't touch them with a frrlv-foot pole, "but," hi! added, "I don't belirvc I would touch the Liberal parly with a (ifi.v-l'nol. polo. I know them. 1 used to he associated with (hem, hut 1 foil ml out my mistake."

Land for Every Man, Dealing with tho land question, in his speecli at Otahuhu on Saturday, Mr. Maswy explained the aim of tho Uoforni Party, to enable every man of small capital lo have all possible facilities for going on tho land by means of the leasehold, as a stepping-stone lo the freehold, if ho desired it When a man had enough capital ho .should bo given his .independence as far as a freehold title could make him independent. He explained also that tho party's contention that the State, with the enormous amount of money sunk in lands, let on loase-in-pcrpctuity, or on renewable lease, should sell that laud if tho lessees wanted to purchase, so as to release tho money for the purohaseof other land. At present the improvements and goodwill could be bought and sold by tho lessees, but apart from that they could hold the capital value of the. land tied up for 999 years. The money could be paid into a special fund; he did not want for the State a penny belonging to the settler, or for the settler a copjier be'.enjing to the State, in this connection. Difficulties in connection with land settlement hod-driven' numbers of young men to other countries, where the opportunities were better. He was strongly of opinion that enough energy had -not been shown in connection with the. settlement of tho country. In laiing tho foundations of a great nation they should aim at occupying the land with yeomen settlers, each "sitting under his own vine and fig tree, no man daring to make hiiu afraid."

The Nai Nai Purchase. Mr. Herdman remarked last evening that he would like to obtain particulars in regard to the purchase o; the Nai Nai estate, at tho nutt, by the Government. Tlio property was valued by the Government valuer at from .£Bo* to £Sb an acre. The owner demanded .E2ov) an nere. After some negotiations in which Mr. Kennedy Macdonald acted as go-be-tween, the Government paid ,£l5O an aero for the estate. Mr. Herdraan said ho wanted ic find out what had happened to that estate. Originallv, he believed, it iris proposed to use if as a site for workers' homes, but nothing had been done, and the Government refusod information on tho subject. This was only an instance of what was going on.

Assisting Settlers. The "Taranaki Herald" remarks that, a striking instance of tho advantages which the party in power for the time being possesses over the party in opposition at the time of a general election is furnished by the'"King Country Chronicle," which rocords that tho Government candidato for the Taumarunui constituency, Mr. \V. T. Jennings has received a lettor from the Prime Minister, telling him that, following'upon'tho representations of a deputation and a communication setting forth the position and requirements of the settlers on the Tangitu and Mapara Improved Farm Settlements, the whole matter has received vorj carelul consideration, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth, has been instructed to visit these settlements at once, and ascertain the actual requirements of each settler. The Commissioner will then act as | intermediary between the settlers and the 6tock agents in connection with the purchase of dairy cows, etc., the Government guaranteeing payment of interest on tho purohaso money, and undertaking to endeavour to protect tho interest of the stock agents when leases are issued to the settlers. The' Opposition, obviously, cannot do anything liko this, therefore the Government has a substantial "pull" upon the support of tho settlers concerned. No one (continues tho "Herald") will accuse us of a want of sympathy with the back-blocks settlers, but when tho Government, on the eve of a general election, in which its existence- is at stake and every vote will count, comes forward with an offer to finance settlers in their dealings with stock agents—well, it seems to be a ease to which the term "debauching the constituencies" may ho said to apply. It is, as we have said, a weapon which the other party cannot use, and this financing of settlers' stock dc.-.Hngs is a procedure which is not followed every day. Settlers in other localities shonlil tako the tip, and ask Sir Joseph Ward to holp them similarly.

"Our Alleged Democrats." In one of his works Mr. I. Zangwill makes one of his characters remark:— "I am a Democrat with a profound distrust of the people. Polities is a seesaw. Conservatism creates Radicals by irritating the ill-to-do; Radicalism creates Conservatives by contenting them." The writer must surely havo had tho Ward Ministry in view when ho wrote of Democrats who distrust tho people, for our alleged Democrats will not let ovon the elected representatives of the peoplo know on what terms financial business has been transacted. And it is also certain that the so-called Liberal Party has now become the Conservative, under the leadership of the Continuous and Titled Ministry.—Tjangitikei Advocate."

Loaves and Fishes. There is an argument sometimes used by boverament candidates in soliciting the votes of electors which implies that unless a district returns to Parliament a representative pledged to sunoort the Government, that district will" not receive its share of the loaves and fishes of public extwnditurc. The argument is worth considering for a moment. It implies tuat the Government is using its power of the purse not for tho good of the country, but for the purnosc of keeping itself in office. It implies that public money is spent not where it is wanted, but as a bribe to the voters of the various districts. It implies that tho public works fund is a kind of secret service fund, to bo used for tho nurpo«cs of recompensing members and ..electorates which give support to the Ministry. When the argument is considered from this point of view, it appears so shameless that one can hardly imagine' any Government supporter using it. Yet it is being used in every electorate of tho country, end no less a person, that tho Hon. K Mlvenzie actually gave exnrwsion to it in the house a few weeks ago in connection with somo comnlaint by a Tarauaki member. w 0 do hot believe that tho Minister, was to be taken quite ijtorallv although he obviously desired his hearers to think so—"Hawke's Bav Herald "

Mr. T. Seddon's Opponent. , Imports to hand from over fifty of Mr Michel s committees state that in all parts of the electorate his supporters are increasing daily, in fact, reliable information from all quarters indicates.that his return is assured—"West Coast Time's"

The Jelly Policy, _ Said Mr. Herries at Tauransra: Anyone in Opposition admitted that Mr. Seddon was one of tho great statesmen of NewZealand. When 0110 did beat him in the House, one felt that ono had achieved something, but when the present Government were beaten thev retreated to tho rear. Mr. M'Xab's Laud Bill had in IDOG been brought down, but then | disappeared. In 1907 Sir J. Ward was in favour of allowing bookmakers on racecourses, but in 1909 he objected to them. He had been against compulsory training," but later on was in favour of it. Two years ago the Primo Minister was opposed to Mr. Hogg's State note issue proposal, but lately he had favoured a similar, proposal.' The speaker likened the policy of tiic Government to a jelly. It would slip out of your hands and you could not grasp it. (Applause.)

Converging on tho King Country. Sir Joseph Ward bus arranged to visit Taumarunui next Tuesday, and on tho following day he will open tho Ongaruo bridge at 10.30 a.m., and in the afternoon he turns the Erst 6od of the StratfordMain Trunk line at To Koura. Sir Joseph Ward will give a political address in the evening, and a public reception is also being arranged. Mr. Mas&oy will give a political address at Taumarunui on Thursday of next week. How About tho Settlers? According to the Government candidates the Mokau business was a very statesmanlike transaction. How about the settlers who will have to pav middlemen's profits to tho tune of nearly .£75,00(1? Leasehold Government did you-sty?— "West Coast 'limes."

Tho Ministerial Innuendo. The worry of trying, to persuade. Parnell lo elect him has blunted the normal acumen of the Attorney-General. In his speech on Tuesday nielli he sought t'i justify his insinuation that Mr. Massey had been fpiilty of intimidating the, Supreme Court, a.nd after a long argument he'raid: "What possible, inference, are yon to make?" And yet at the end of his long indictment of Mr. Massoy, he actually' slipped into cover by himself using tho very device he improperly imputed lo Mr. Massoy, thus: "1 made, uu personal reflection on Mr. Massoy,"

Puerile Complaints. Tho Christchnrch "Press," commenting on Sir .loseph Ward's outburst at the 131uff against tho Opposition's itlt.it.mlo on tho defence question, says:—" If Sir Joseph Ward, instead of uttering childish and unfounded complaints about. Ibo alleged 'silence' of the Opposition on the subject of defence, were lo make a plain statement to the effect that tho (iovoniinent intend lo enforce tho Act, which, mi ho says, was passed with the assistance of tho Opposition, he would perhaps introduce a HI tie more backbone into mmuo of his own supporters, who nro iirac/icalli' the only candidates who are wobbling oil this question. Mr. Massev. in hi« mio'-i-'i delivered last Raturdav night, snid be believed in military training, and had Toted in favour of the pruuip l e i.i , m fence Act of last year. If the Opposition wero disposed lo treat this as a party question, no doubt they could capture n good many votes, but to their credit, they have taken a broad patriotic view, of Ihe .v.iestion, and placed the needs of the country before party tactics. In these circumstances it is not onlv conteinplildv mean, but very foolish, of Sir Joseph Ward to' attempt to disguise, his own I woakness of administration by puerile complaints because tho Opposition are not continually shouting out to him to help him to keep up his courage."

Supplementary Rolls. Tho No. 1 Supplonientarv Roll for Wellington Suburbs was issued soino days ago, and foi the information of nnv who are in doubt as to whether thov are registered, has been widely circulated throughout the electorate. A Peculiar Appointment. As illustrating the methods at present followed by the Government in making appointments to the Public Sorvico, Mr. Herdman ■ last evening quoted a statement made by a. speaker in C'hristchurch to the effect that a man was appointed to a Government Department as a typewriting expert, mien the anointment had been made, it was discovered that he did not know how to uso a typewriter. Mr. Hong on Retrenchment. Air. Hogg on the great retrenchment— LP SS ?S e ,, m » is s P Mc a at Masterton: lne lublic Service waited in fear and trcmoiing. Aged messengers came to me witii tears in their oyes. What was tho naturp of the retrenchment? Civil Servants—somo of them with fat salaries, tuat had reached tho allotted age—were superannuated and added to a formidable pension list. Temporary clerks were unceremoniously dismissed and offered bush land on which, not being bullocks of .iushmen, they were unnblo to live. The Itoads Department of which I had charge —tho most useful Department in the Public Service—was 6mashed to pieces. Remonstrance was useless. Tho Department, with its trained officers and stalwart army of roadmakcrs, was wrecked, deliberately wrecked. Tho boasted saving to be effected-by retrenchment was made at the expense of the co-operative labonrers and land settlers. The destruction of the Roads Department was due to no vindictiveness, but it was an act of supremo folly. ■ I venturo io say that a more cruel or suicidal stroke of bad policy had never been inflicted on a young country. At a time of universal suffering, when work was unobtainable, thousands of men were summarily turned off the road work to beg, borro\f, or starve H : they haunted the labour depots and applied to the benevolent boards for charity! How the settlers and business residents in the little centres petitioned and protested against the removal of labour from their roads and tracks. The cries I heard, the scenes I witnessed I shall never forgot. The Treasury was declared empty, and men and officers were dismissed at the rato of a thousand a month."

Credit Where Credit is Due, Two of the things which tho Opposition hayo done for tlio people, but which are often overlooked, wero mentioned by Sir. Massey in his Ekotahuna speech: "Op to two or throe years ago there was no public audit of tho three chief Departments of tho State—Railways, Customs, and Lands, but through tho agitation of tho Opposition these Departments were now rightly audited _by tho Con-troller-General. The Opposition' had also been responsible for gotting an amendment to the Crown Suits Act, whereby citizens injured by any Stats Department had a right to sue for compensation the same as they would against a private individual."

Taxation and Expenditure. A point made by Mr. Hemes in his speech at Tauranga:—"ln tho Budget of 1909, Sir J. Ward said an increased annual expenditure of .£330,000 would have to lie met for the following.—Dreadnought, £150,000; superannuation funds, ,£30,000; inland defence, £100,000; additional armament, ' £50,000. The increased taxation was to be met by: Death duties, £150,000: graduated income tax, £SO.000; increased passenger fares, £100,000 ; primage, £50,000; banks, £30.000; racing clubs, £33,000; total, £418,000. Mr. Hemes pointed out that tho estimated extra revenue exceeded the estimated expenditure by £118,000. Until this year the extra expenditure had not been incurred, and vet for the last two years the extra taxation had been levied."

Symbols. "Humbugs and Homilies," the book that the Attorney-General published before he was a knight or a candidate for Parnell, has yielded many apt quotations. A contemporary has discovered the following in its pages:—"Heraldic badges, stars, and decorations ... are properly symbols of a regime and lineage which despised honest labour as degrading.."