HERE AND THERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1290, 20 November 1911, Page 5

HERE AND THERE.

CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COMMENTS. Mr. Millar and the Prcmiorshlp. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways, has handed a statement to tho lress Association concerning the press comments on his reference in his Duiicdjn speech to his ambition to nuccced to tho Premiership. Ho says: "My object in, making tho referonco as I did to tho subject was to deny publicly tho report whicli was being insidiously circulated in Eimcdm and my constituency that there was no need to voto for mo at the coming election because I was to procood to London after tho election to tako up the jjosition. of High Commissioner for Now Zealand. In fact, this rumour had gone touch, further aflold than. my own elcc"torate, and I took tho first opportunity of denying that 1 intendod any such courso of action. In thanking my constituents for their loyally to myselt over a Ion" period of years, I stated that tho natural ambition of every man in Mich circumstances was to occupy tho highest position, and that if tho opportunity occurred I would be pleased to submit' mysolf to tho Liberal party for election. I never dreamt my remarks would bo distorted in tho direction of prophesying that Sir Joseph Ward intended relinquishing tho position ns Leader of the Liberal party. In fact, I know nothing which has over or at tho present time poinded in such a direction. Tho Prime Minister'has tho confidence of his colleagues and party, and I foel certain tho coming polls will 6how ho lins tho confidence of tho people." Railway Men's Wap.cs, "If elected to Parliament, when money is passed for wages for railway mori, would you bo in (avour of tho Minister for Railways keeping it back from vorklngraen so as to got interest on it?" Tho question was asked Mr. E. J. Carev on Saturday night. Mr. Carey replied "No." Railway men had beeu treated badly in that way. Tho service was seething with discontent. "Certain Men in Officc." Jeremy Heuthain lived and died sa long ago that lie had not tho privilege of watching the proceedings of the Ward Government. Yet ho wrote thus: "There aro certain men in offico who, in discharge of their functions, arrogate to themselves a degree of probity, which is to exclude all imputations and all inquiry. Their assertions are to bo deemed equivalent to proof; their virtues aro guarantors for the faithful discharge of their duties; and the most implicit confidence is to be reposed in thorn on all occasions. If you expose any abuse, propose any reform, call for securities, inquiry, or measures to promote publicity, they set up a cry of surprise, amounting almost to indignation, as if their integrity wnro questioned or their honour wounded." If Bentham could watch tho present election campaign, he would renliso (hat tho last clause of tho abovo quotation is too mild. It should road: 'They set up shrieks of horror about gross misrepresentation, insinuation, innuendo, diseased imaginations, and base detraction." No Confidence. Tho Hon. T. Mackenzie does not, appear to be having the "soft thing" that sorno people thought ho had in Egmont. Tho "llawera Star's" To Roti correspondent states that tho hall was packed on Wednesday to hear him deliver his address. Mr. Mackenzie spoke for on hour, and then questions were rained in upon him and the excitement was considerable. Some questions the hon. member answered, others ho will inquiro about, and sorno he was unable to answer at all. Mr. W. A. Cleaver proposed a hearty vole of thanks to Mr. Mackenzie for his address, but no confidenco iu the Ward Government, which was seconded bv Mr, G, P. Cox, and carried amidst cheers. A vote of thanks to tho chairman terminated one of the liveliest meetings over hold in To Roti. ■ Who Shall Nurse the Child? Mr. Nosworthy, in a speech at Gor. aldino, referred to tho Family Land Settlement Bill, which was brought down lato in tho session by Sir Joseph Ward and riot proeeedod with. The candidate described tho measure as "an adopted child." They had absolulvlv aiMpted tho policy of tho Opposition, and proposed to sell tho freehold on tho deferred payment system. This policy tad been advocated by tho Reform party for twenty-one years, (Applause.) The elections we're close at hand, and the Government had got the Reform party's child. Who was to nurse it and bring it up? Would they leavethat adopted child m tho hands of such parents, or ta,ko it out of fclwir hands and place it in the hands of its rightful and honourable parents? (Applause.) Where to Commonco Reform. It has been said beforo, but Hio "Nolson Evening Mail" says it so well, that Iho quotation is good reading:—"The oh taining of roads and bridges for the back blocks and railway extensions in various parts of tho Dominion should not depend upon tho good-will of tho Government. And in tho past Uioro havo been ninny imtanoes of publio monoy being allocated in each a moaner, that it would

seem that it had been the rcbontion of " office, rather than tho general welfare of tho country that had been in the mind of politicians. It may bo admitted that ; improvements havo been made in this ; connection, but tho parnicious system is ! still in existence, and it is still open to any party, to do what practically means buying the peopJo with their own money. U Jiij does not tho Govornment abolish tho : present unsatisfactory system instead- of i clinging to it wit'h tho tenacity of a drowning man? i 3 a question which, may well be asked at this juncture) Tho . peoplo now have tho opportunity of lift--1 nig tho political lifo ot New ifcaland on to an altogether higher plane, and tho ; ballot-box is tho plaoo to conuneoico tho ; reform." The Rank and File. " "It doea not matter on. what scction you impose taxation that section will pass it > on to the rank and file."—Mr. Massoy at 'Napier. ■: Closer Settlement for Foxton District, ; Tho "Manawatu Herald" expresses warm ; approval of Mr. Byron Brown's remarks .■'■ on closor settlement. Tho candidato point- , ed out that in tho vicinity of I'ox.ton thero ■ weio four largo estates aggregating 21,800 ' acres, whilst tho sons of local larmers were "leaving tho country to seek land elsowhore, '"All this is happening," said Mr. Brown, , "notwithstanding the fact that tho mem- . ber for the district says ho is in favour ."of preventing aggregation. If you return :mo I will fight strenuously until I get , those estates taken over by tho Government and settled. (Applause.) My policy ■ is, 'the greatest good to the greatest number,' and tho vested interests of tho fow must give plaoe to the needs of the many." "A Candidate Retires. A Press Association telegram from Rotor ua states that Mr. Clinkard, who startled tho campaign as a Liberal and No--'License candidate for Tauranga, has retired in favour, of Mr. King. Tho Workers in Dunedin West. A correspondent, writing in tho Dunedin "Star," ovor the signature "Au Old Millar Supporter," expresses tho opinion that ninoteen-twentieths of tho workers in - Dunedin West are, in sympathy with Mr. Bedford. He.concludes: "The present Govornmeat got into power with tho Support of tho workers. twenty year 3 ago, and as a worker I helped them by supporting Mr. Millar. As a -worker I offer hostility to him now ?or these reasons. Tho present Administration aro rucking the iroa out of the veins of tho workers. They are dragging down the fair name of Democracy. Tliey havo laid their hand upon the cherished lcgacy of every free-born' Britain. Mr. Bedford is e democrat or ho is nothing. ■ More power to him and his courage, with his stone and sling, to wage war with tho Goliath of 'tlii- Ward Administration, the Hon, J. A. .Miliar." . Mr. Massey on Wafles. If the cost of living increased much longer as it was doing at present, then . fe. pr.T day wages was little enmigh for , a man to receive in order to enable him ; ml his vrifo to livo decently and Ir/ing ■ up a family.—Mr. Massey at WintoD. To Right the Wronged. Air. Byron Brown, Opposition candidato for. Otaki', told his' Foxton 'audience that if olected he would not find them billots, but. if anyone had been wronged he. would make it Ms-duty to see that they were righted. "As for finding billets lor the nuwai'hcd and lickspittles' he wouldn't do . it. • It was • this' dirty, -filthy system that had brought. Parliament down to its present state."

"Sagacious Persons." TJioto have always been people who were afraid of reform. Sydney iSmith noticed thom nearly a hundred years ago, and hi 3 description of thorn contains porno expressions that eie quite up-to-dute:—"The plunderers of the public, the jobbers, and thoso who sell themselves to somo great man, who sells himself to a greater, all scent from afaT tho danger of political change—aro sonsible that tho correction of one abuse may lead to that of another —feel uneasy at any visible operation of public spirit aad justice— hate and tremble at a man who exposes and rectifies abuses from a sonse of duly—and think, if such things are suffered to bo, that their candle-ends and cheoso-parings are no longer safo: and these sagacious persons, it must be said for them, are not very wrong in this feel--1? B " Providence, which has denied to thorn ail that is great and good, has given them a fino tact for the presentation of their plunder: their real enemy is tho Mint of inquiry—tho dislike of wrong— tho lovo of right—and the • oourage and sihgence which are tho concomitants of these virtues." How th« Money Goes, . members.sitting, lying about; iho Chairman of Committees half asleep; the Minister nearly asleep; half tho members sound asleep; and tho House voting away millions of money—not manv, only three and a bit—(laughter)."—Mr. Fisher's description of a 5.30 a.m. House towards tho close of last session, presented to his audionce at Aro Street on Friday evening. "It's absolutely true—you can sco for yourself, if you 1 like to go along some lino morning," ho added. Truo to Whom?

Lot me illustrate Mr; Barber's posi-' "O"- He is head of the advisory board of tho Employers' Association. What will bo his attitude towards Labour?, He must bo either troo to the employers or true to Labour. If he is elected—as a matter of fact he won't be elccted, and I think everyone hore knows that—what Kill bo his attitude?"— Mr. E. J. Carey, at his meeting in Sydney Street on Saturday night. - "May be the Deciding Factor." The Government must l>o givon' credit -or many things (says'the "A'elson'Evennig iKßtvs"). It must be acknowledged that improvements in not a'few directions liavo been made, but thero are manv abuses still to be eradicated. The Civil Service, good ns it is, is still liable to bn dominated by political influence, and the tenacity with which the Government to this nriviiojo gives ground "for serious doubt, whether political influence !s not exercised in many matters. And wo service is increasing rapidly, and the votes of its members may possibly bo the turning or deciding factor in many olcctioij.s. . If this, quickly-increasing service were under an independent board of control, free from political interference In the matter of salaries, appointments tnd promotions, it would bo better for the members and the country alike. But tt is a valuable aid to a party in power to hold these matters in its liands, and a Civil Service Board is strenuously opposed by the Government.

Commercial Trusts Acl. The Commercial Trusts Act was another Instance-of legislation not being put into force. The rciison for this was because tho Government were afraid of losing votes, support, and influence of the big manufacturing firms.—Mr. Byron Brown at Otaki. Mr. Fowlds's Future. "Would you accept the High Commissionership if it were offered you?" was a question put totho Hon. Geo. Fowlds at Mount Edofi last night. Tho cx-llinister replied: "I am not out for the position. I have been practically divorced from my irife and family for the.last fee years whilo a Minister of tha Crown, and as Mrs. Fowlds would not leave Auckland, even if I had the offer, I'm not a candidate for the High Commissionership." Further tslied would ho accept another nortfolio ill the Ward Administration. Mr.' Fowlds gave the laconic reply, 'That depends upon circumstances." —Auckland "Star." Land for Settlement. Speaking at Okato last Tuesday, Mr. H. J. Okey had something to say regardin" the Prime Minister's statement of his inability to purchase lands for closer ■ir-l ilemenl' at a price that would leavo j orefit for the selectors. Mr. Okey iliunrated th 9 Warea run, which was offer»i' <1 few years ago to the Govonimont a* JCI2 per aero, and was adversely rei rtetl upon by tho Department's valuers. 1'!:" simo land was sold lately at an :i\'.>rage of .£23 por acre, to farmers and suns of farmers m the district, who know 'lie value of the land better than any 'Jnrernmor.t valuers. If Mr. Masscy bad ;h" power ho could buy a million acres in •he Dominion at tho present time at a •y reasonable prico.

"Rotten Egg" Criticism, Tho Christchurch "Spectator," of which tho proprietor and editor is Mr. G. W. Russell, M.P., a staunch supporter of the Government., had a remarkable cartoon on Saturday, which iris meant as a compliant to Mr. L. JI. lsitt, but which really tells the truth about that gentleman's methods. Mr. Isrtt is standing behind a wall, with a box of rotten eggs, which ho has boon hurling at .Mr. Massey, who is pichired in the foreground dripping from tho horrid missiles. Tho legend midor tho cartoon is this:—"Bill Massey: 'What do you mean by this? J thought you callcd yourself on IndependentL. At. Isitt: 'So I am, my dear brother! And this is intonded to teach you pationco also. Lookout!!'" A Matter of Principle. ."The underlying principle in connection with tho Judiciary is that a Jungo shonld bo ontsido tho influenco of uny political party. If our Judges aro not sufficiently paid let us pay them more, but for the sako of all that is right and honost do not pay thom anything outeido their salaries fixed by Act of Pariinmont."—Mr. Massey, at Napier. Mr. Buddo's Future. A newspaper paragraph states that Die Jioii. I). JJiKulo'd name has bcou icraov<xl from the Kaiapoi roll because tho Minister now resides in Wellington. After December 1. (says tho "Press") wo may expect to sco another paragraph to this effcefc: "Mr. Buddo's naiuo is aix>ut to be restored to the Kaiapoi roll, as there is P° ' < ] u S < ? r any necessity for him to reside in Wellington." In Ballance's Footsteps. Mr. H. G. Ell, in opening his campaign in Christchurch South, sought to show that thero had beon no departure from tho self-reliant, non-borrowing policy oi Ballauoo. but somehow ho -.omitted to mention that the Ward Goyernment has .taken statutoiy authority to borrow .£8,51-1,750 • during tho current financial year, exclusive of loans required for redemption purposes!