HERE AMD THERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1294, 24 November 1911, Page 8

HERE AMD THERE.

CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COMMENTS. Odds Against the Prime Minister. A member of Tire Dominion staff received tho following interesting tolegram from a relative in Southland yesterday: "Bets are offering in Invercargill that Hamilton will beat Ward. Short edds are laid." The Five Million Loan. In tho controversy which has raged for some considerable time past on the subject of tho fivo inilli.on loan very conflicting statements liavo been made as to the total amount which it will cost tho country. Dr. Newman, in a recent speech, estimated tho cost at X3fio,ooo. Mr. F. G. Uolton, a Government candidate, stated on Monday evening last that the loan ■would cost only .£185,000. Mr. Massej;, Leader of the Opposition, in talk with a reporter yesterday, put the nosition regarding tho loan in a' nutshell. It was impossiblo to state at tho moment, ho «aid, what its actual cost would be, but it all tho concessions offered, to investors in connection witt its flotation were taken advantage. of, it would cost more than .£'300,000. Since investors as a rule were business men, they would 110 doubt take advantage of everyconcession offered. The cost of the loan includes, ouo por cent, for underwriting, a discount of 30s. per cent., and a concession by way of interest to investors who pay up at December 1. Tho last item refers to an arrangement under which the Government pay six months interest for ono month's use, of tho money. Then a concession of a half per cent, is b.eing, offered to investors who pay nil in a lump sum, instead of by instalments. In addition there is tho ordinary outlay for stamp duty, inwrintion, brokerage, and advertising, and lastly there is the concession under which investors are given two per cent, of stock in consideration of making the period of tho loan 30 years. Tho last item alone, if fully taken advantage of, will entail an outlay of ,£IOO,OOo.

Don't Quarrel. Speaking of Commissions last evening, Mr. D. M'Laren referred to the Timber Commission, and remarked that a shorter method of business than that actually followed by it would have been that suggested by a gentleman who heard somo City Councillors discussing tho question of wood-blocking. His contribution to the discussion was :: "Don't quarrel, just jut your heads together, and the thing is done.

The Next Prime Minister! "What docs this mean?" said Mr, T!. A. Wright last eveuing, referring to the foot that all the Ministers wore fighting for their political existence -at this cleciion- "It means," he said, "that a strong change of public opinion has come about. (Applause.) It means that tho electors nf >sew Zealand generally are dissatisfied with the present regime. The people feel that it is tirao for a change, and I believe that tho change is about to como." Then bo referred to the request of JLr.. Millar that he should bo returned in order that he could he Prime Minister if the berth became vacant. "But." said Mr. Wright, "I bcliovc that Sir Jchn Findlay resigned his seat in tho Upper House in order that he might bccome the future Prime For I n;m satisfied that Sir Joseph Ward, whether successful at the election or not, intends to go Home to Old England, where baronets are more in evidence than in New Zealand." There was also Sir James Carroll likely to ho a competitor, Mr. Wright continued, eo that even if the present Government were not defeated, a most interesting position would be created, and probably there would be a radical change.

Railway Reform Wanted, The Hon. Mr. Millar's declaration that tile railways have reached a paying point givos tho Auckland "Herald occar sion to point out tbot the North Island linos still have to make good tho deficit upon the unprofitable southern system: "The situation is so inexcusablo and so disgraceful that very few Government candidates ventu.ro to defend its railway vrdicy, contenting themselves with saying as littlo as possible. After the elections are over wo may have Government supporters again released from the partisan obligation to excuse the monstrously bad railway management and the most unjust, railway policy of the Administration. Then wo shall again hear from thorn of ovr northern grievances, whilo Millar continues to citations un-

checkcd. If electors ore tit so they will bo "deceived by no electioneering platitudes, silences or doviccs, but will reform the railway administration in llio only available way—the expulsion from office of tho Cabinet to which -Mr. Millar belongs and of which he is a very typical member."

Something the Premier Doesn't Quote. The Primo Minister has been repeating up and down the country a statement that in the opinion of Mr. Hcrries the Maori owner. 1 ! of Mokau received a fair price. But Mr. Hcrries also said several other things which Sir Joseph Ward docs not quote. For instance, he said that tho vital question was: "Should the Government have issued the Ordor-in-Council?" diid ho answered it in this way: "I am quite sure that Ministers, if they really spoko what they thought, woiild regret that they ever issued the Order-in-Couneil, becauso'the result of it is this—and this is whero tho trouble comes in—that there is no doubt speculators have made largo sums of money owing to the issue of the Order-in-Couneil. . . . That Order-in-Council was a prodigious asset to ' Mr. Herman Lewis and Mr. Mason Chambers. If tho Order-in-Council had not been issued, those large sums of money would not have been made. For instance, Mr. .Herman Lowis, for doing practically nothing—he never did a hand s turn on tho estate —makes about <£'30,000, aud retains 7000 acres of the best land. So he lias dono well, and so has the second man, Mr. Mason Chambers. Ho also is a smart man, and makes ,£IO,OOO for doing nothing."

"The Trouble is." "Are vou in favour of workers receiving tho whole produce of their labour?" was a question addressed to Mr. M'Laren last evening. "The trouble is," remarked that candidate, "that some of you fellows would get nothing." The questioner subsided. Voting Powers of Seamen. Seamen are empowered, under the Legislature Act, to record their vote 3 with tho Collector of Customs in any port at which theit vessels may ' touch between tho dato of issuing the writs and polling day. The Act provides that the Collector of Customs shall fill in a blank ballot paper with the names of announced candidates in the district in which the seaman voter' is entitled to vote. The voter himself may writo on the ballot paper the name of any person for whom ho may wish to vote in tho event of his becoming a candidate. As soon as nominations close (at . noon on November 27), tho lists of announced candidates already in tho hands of Collectors of Customs will bo corrected by telegraph.

Must be an Oppositionist. Aftor Mr Michel had held a very successful meeting at Hokitika, tho "Guardian," which supports Mr. Seddon, announced its conclusion that, although Mr. Jlichel had announced himself as an Independent Liberal, he was really an Oppositionist. Whereupon tho "West Coast Times" sums up the reasons which must have .caused its, contemporary to form that opinion: "Because Mr. Michel had the audacity to say that there is need for caution in the financial affairs of the Dominion; because he is of opinion that Supreme Court Judges should be so liberally remunerated that they will not be lei tu expect grants for services rendered in lieu of thejr ordinary routine work; because Mr. Michel made a charge that the railway employees in the lower gTades were.poorly paid; that some relief should be granted to. the workers through the Custom" tariff.; and because he denounced in no uncertain manner the muddle tho Government got itself into over the Mokau business, whereby a company of land speculators • have been alloiv&l to makn tens of thousands mt of the deal— mousy wtych will inevitably have to come out of the pockets of 'those settlers who eventually get on to the block. . . . Ho •is an Oppositionist bccauso ho.shows n prcclivity to uso his brains to think and his'voico to praise or protest as occasion arises."

■ "Although tiio Government' has borrowed money," pleaded Mr. Barber last luptht., in extenuation of the financial policy of the present Administration, "it has been expended on " "Dreadnoughts!" finished a ready wit in tho audience, an<l a titter went round. For What They Can Get. Down in Westland, Mr. Michel has been defending the Government against some of its own supporters. In a speech at Hokitika he said: "It seoms that many of thoso who are supporting the party in power are merely doing so to'mak? something out of that party. ... If Westland has been favoured, then tho Ministry is the greatest set of rascals) that have ever sat on tho Treasury Benches." Mr. Michel /went on to say that he boliovcd whatever Westland got they deserved, and those who accused the .Government of bribery and corruption, and also those newspapers which tried to make out that Westland had been specially favoured, had done tho Government an injustico. Tho "West Coast slates that Mr. Michel, in making this point, gained a tremendous round of applause.

"Liberal" Methods of Reporting. On Tuesday the 'Tahiatua Herald" had a leader dealing with the reporting of Mr. ,B. B. Ross's meeting. The "Herald's" correspondent sent an unfavourable description of Mr. Ross's speech at Waipukurau, and the "Waipuknrau Press" : described it in similar terms. A very : glowing report, however, was. sent to a number df Government papers, including the .''Pahiatiia Herald," signed "CorresIpo'ndent.", Next day another glowing report, also signed "Correspondent," came in concerning Mr. Ross's Hatuma meeting. Mr. Ross was described as having delivered "a stirring address, completely shattering the Opposition criticism. This message was printed by the "Dannevirke Advocate," the "Palmerston Times," and, slightly modified, by tho "New Zealand Times." The "Herald" applied to tho postmasters for tho name of the "Correspondents," and found that tho first was sent by a certain J.P., while the second was ondorsed "If. B. Ross"! The "Pahia'tua, Herald" says rather mildly:—"What we do object to is that Ministerial papers should publish statements that a candidate delivered 'a stirring address, completely shattering the Opposition criticism,' on the authority of the candidate himself or one of his supporters, and insert them in such a manner that the public would believe that this was the opinion either of the paper itself or of an independent correspondent. Thero is no objection to a candidate sending a newspaper an indication of tho points touched on in his address, and giving the vote passed by the meeting, but when the candidate begins to give an appreciation of his address as a. 'stirring" one, or gets a supporter to do it, the opinion is quite worthless. Newspapers that accept such fulsome reports and publish them as if they came from an independent and unbiased source are not acting fairly by their readers."

Along* the Main Trunk. Mr. Hockly has just concluded a very successful series of meetings in OhakuM and surrounding districts. He has addressed largo audiences in Ohakune, Ohakime East, Horopito, and Makotuku, and has been everywhere well received and attentively Listened to. Referring to Mr. Smith's determination not to pledge himself definitely in any direction, but to maintain a free hand on all questions, Mr TTockly at one of his meetings put this pertinent query: If Mr. Smith would not vott> for the freehold when ho was pledged to do so what hope have you of bis doing so if ho is returned to tho House unpledged? The question went home. Interest in tho election in the towns and districts up tho Main Trunk line is getting very kwn and there is certain to be a very heavy poll—"ltangitikci Advocate." "The Time Has Arrived." Mr. Hunter appears to bo meeting with much encouragement in tho Waipawa electorate. At tho closo of a crowded meeting at Onga Onga last Saturday, tho following resolution was passed; ''Thc.t 31r. Hunter be accorded a hearty vote or thanks and confidence, and that it is the opinion of tho- meeting that the tinio has arrived when, in tho best interests of the Dominion, tho present Administration should be turned out of office." There were only three dissentient voices. Tho. largo audience then sang, "For He's I a Jolly Good Fellow."

Awkward Questions. ".Mr. liai'lier," said an inlcrjeclnr nt that cnmlidiite's iiui:tinsi evening, "do yon consider Ids. a week is n living wage for a worker tn receive in tl\o city of Wellington ;-"--"Xo," replied Mr. Barber, who went on io say that certain people had been circulating insinuations to the contrary. .Mr. Carey, the Labour candidate for Wellington Nnrt.li, bad accepted his (Mr. BarberV) statement in thai regard. "Are you the W. 11. I'. Barber that slated on oath in the Arbitration Court that you thought .'tfls. was a goad wage for a man who could do groom's work;-" persisted the questioner. -Mr. Barber again replied ill the negative, adding that lie had never appeared in the Arbitration Court in his life. There was then handed up to the chairman a typewritten extract from the "Eveuing I'ost" of May in, referring to what was stated to be Mr. Barber's evidence before tho Arbitration Court in the dispute between the Grooms' and Conductors' Onion and the Wellington Citv Council. The typewritten statement read:—"Mr. Allan Orr appeared for the union, aud called several witnesses. W. H. P. Barber, a member of the Tramways Committee of the City Council, said he thought tba.t .£2 Bs. per week (tho union demand) was too much for a forty-eight-hour week for a groom. Uo thought that 30s. a week was a good wage for a young man who could do groom's work."" "Do you deny having said that?" asked the inquisitor. "1 don't remember the occasion at all," was Mr. Barber's reply, greeted with considerable uproar.

Mokau Understood. The meaning of the Mokau dealings seems to be pretty well understood along the West Coast. Threo at least of the candidate*-Sir Arthur Guinness (Ministerial). Mr. H. L. Michel (Independent. Liberal), and Mr. P. C. Webb (Socialist) —have coudemucd the issue of tiio Unler-in-Council. Mr. Michel's trenchant utterances on the subiect at his llokitika meting are reported to have gained "prolonged applause." The Disappointed Back-blockers. Writing of the abolition of the Roads Department and tha simultaneous cutting down of ' expenditure on back-blocks roads, the "Taranaki Herald" says:—"ln threo months threo thousand men were taken off road works, and the Ward Ministry, though authorised to spend .£230,000 a year tor four years on. back-block roads, cut tho expenditure down from JSIS-VJSB in 1908-9 to .£127,977 in 1909-10, and then to .£83,45S in 1910-11. In graphic words Mr. Hogg told the whole story to a Masterton audience, a story wo havo told in different words in this column over end over again, a story of treatment which has destroyed tho confidence of the backblock settlers as it has destroyed Mr. Hogg's confidence in tho Ward Government. A general election is again approaching, and little works are being put in hand here aud there by tho Government, in order to try and recover the lost confidence of tho settlers. Tho Prime Minister himself is to turij the first sod on Wednesday of a railway at Te Koura, to connect the Main Trunk line with the Stratford-Whangamomona extension, a work which, wo venture' to say, would not have been touched for a long time but for the jjener&i. election impending, "urgently required as it is. On all sides wo fina the Government seeking to reinstate itself in tho good graces of the electors, but tho back-block settlers of Taranaki will, wo believe,, remember how Sir Joseph Ward dismissed from his Ministry the man who was doing instead of promising, and then cut down the expenditure on back-block roads almost to the vanishing point. They have been deceived so often that the Ministry will have only its own neglect to thank if a deaf ear is now turned to'all its preelection blandishments and promises.

Not an Old Tory. "Surely I am not to be blamed lor what occurred under tho regime of the old Conservative party! I have only been three years in Parliament, and when Mr. Seddon took office I had only just got my vote," said Mr. Hino at Tariki on Monday night. Farmers and the Land Question. The Katikati branch of tho Farmers' Union has resolved: "That the Katikati branch of the Farmers' Union unanimously supports tho platform of the Reform political party, demanding legislation whereby every Crown tenant may hecome his or her own landlord at any time when able to do so under the optional purehaso clauses of tho Land Act, upon equitable terms. It emphatically declares that tho locking up of millions of acres of Crown and Nativo lands under tho subterfuge of endowments creates a State landlord and Maori landlord class monopoly, thereby retarding the settlement, and consequent wealth and progress of the country, and therefore regards those candidates for Parliamentary honours as political wolves in lambs' clothing to catch tho thoughtless and unwary voter, who, expressing themselves as ardent freeholders, support the Government to tho detriment of all those classes of the community who desire to possess and leavo to their children or heirs their own freehold, without bein" subject, as tenants, to periodical revaluations for increased rent by Slate or Maori landlords."

Dainty Appetites. AtMonnt Cook Schoolroom on Wednesday nigh t Mr. Fisher was expressing some views on our obligations in the matter of preparation for war. "It is essential," he was concluding, "that we should bo in a position to say to China or Japan: 'We will be able to give you such a verywarm time that it would not be wortn your while."' A persistent interjector: "Why, they would ea£ you before breakfast!" .Mr. Fisher: "Well, I don't know.. There are some of us, you know, .they would not touch at any meal at all!" (Laughter and applause.)

"Confidence," But— Some people's "confidence" in the Government is a rather hardy plant. A Mr. Dash, in moving a voto of thanks and confidence at the close of Sir Joseph Ward's Waimate meeting, said the speech was not just what Waimato wanted. They would have liked to hear something of tho policy for the future. He also expressed regret that men of tho calibre of' Mr. Fowlds found it necessary to leave tho Ministry, while others who could be done without held on to their portfolios. A Native Rating Fiasco. Mr. Basil Hewett, Independent candidate for tho Raglan electorate, in a speech at Hamilton, referred to the unsatisfactory condition of the Native Rating Vet, and said in the Raglan Countv alone if the Maoris paid local rates, tho result would be an increase in revenue of <£3000. A few years ago the Raglan County Council had endeavoured to enforce the Act, but although they were assured by those in authority that tho men proceeded against in the test ease were the rightful owners, when they got judgment and appealed to the Hon. Ja's. Carroll for permission to enforce ihe judgment they were informed that they had not proceeded against tho right men, and that those against whom thev had obtained judgment had been dead for twenty years. A Department in which such a state of chaos existed was utterly hopeless, and a change of some sort was desirable.

"Quite Right." "My opponent, Mr. Wright," said Mr. Barber at his meeting last evening, "says that public works should bo paid for out of consolidated revenue." "Quito right!" said a voice at tho back of tho hall. • The Defence Scheme. Addressing a large meeting at Rangataua on Tuesday, close on 500 people being present, Mr. Hockly strongly condemned Sir J. G. Ward for dragging tho dofenco schome into the arena of party politics. He. declared that tho Prime Minister's statement, at Winton that the lieform party had kept a deliberate silence on tho question during this election campaign was a deliberate mis-statement. 110 (the speaker) on every platform on which ho had stood had endorsed the scheme. In view of the admirable spirit that had prevailed in the nouse when tho Defence Acf was being dealt with and the manner in which all parties had striven to keep the matter outside of party politics and' to make the scheme workable, practical and successful, it was deplorable that th.o Prime Minister siLoiald

adopt l.lio course 110 did. 1!o condemned tlio Government for Iho weak anil vjic.il- | lating manner in whirli they wero mlministering tlio Act and trusted (h.n.t. 110 ulterior motives would ho allowed to interfere with its impartial working. Sir. Ilockly's rcinaj'ks wore enthusiastically received and loudly applauded. That Flag. Said Mr. 0. Hutchison at Wanganui:— A incmlicr of l.lio Mokau syndicate was Mr. Kobert M'Nab, the Liberal candidate lor J'almerston North. Thai, gentleman had been Minister for Lands in the Ward Cabinet, and ho had nailed the (lug.;of leasehold to the mast. But when he was thrown .overboard he took the mast, and flag with him. Sir Joseph Ward, as Mr. M'Nab's successor, had (licked lip the Hag, but instead ol Hying it at Uio masthead; was using it as a lloar-eloth. (Applause.)

Where is Mr. Hogg? Mr. Herbert, ono of the. He(nrm candidates for Masterton, remarked in a recent address that Mr. Hogg was not with tho Government, nor had ho been for years, though on policy measures he always voted with the party. He was not with the Opposition. Then where was he? He was practically sitting on the rail waiting for the. creation of some party which he knew not of. Would this satisfy tho intelligent electors of the district? lie did not think so. If a settler had purchased a. horse on o guarantee and the animal fulfilled that guarantee for several years, but became fractious and failed to pull at the crucial moment, what would the settler do with the horse? He would get rid of it. Mr. Hogg did good service for a number of years, tut he has gone back on the guarantee by which lie was accepted by the people. "If Elected." Mr. G. Hutchison (Wanganui) on tlio Attorney-General"Sir John Findlay has.gono to Parnell. Ho has taken a residence at Devonport. Ho is going to take, a longer lease—if elected. Meanwhile ho is getting his coal by tho sack!" Bribed With Promises. Mr. Escott, speaking at Waipukurau, lefcrreil to tho non-expenditure of votes for roads and bridges: The Government professed to have a very strong desire to proceed with these works, but money voted for such purposes was often not spent at all. He considered that once money was placed on the Estimates it should remain there until the work for which it was allocated was completed The present conditions simply meant that the Government wero bribing tho people with promises, and it was bad enough to bribe the people with tlieir ovn money without bribing them with promises.

Trouble at Te Roti. The "Haivera Star," referring to the Hon. T. .Mackenzie's Te Roti meeting, writes:—"We are now informed by a supporter of tho Opposition candidate, present at the above meeting, that the vote of thanks to the Government candidate, and' of no-confidence in tho Wir i Government, was never put to tho meeting. We also understand from the samo source that the alleged disturbance was merely some horseplay induced in by some irresponsible youths at the back c'f tlw hall, and that some of Mr. Dive's supporters were prominent in appid'ng for a fair hearing for the Minister."

Dangling the Bait. Tho Opunako line was being held over, to . be dangled as a bait before tho electors, and if bribery of that kind were to be allowed to continue a sorry day was iu store for New Zealand.—Mr. Dive at Manaia. ' One Sort of "Patriotism." "Next to religion," says the New York "Outlook," of October 28, "patriotism suffers most from the foolish, the ignorant, and the schemers and adventurers. When one considers tho vast amount of buncombo and humbug that is inflicted on the world as love of country, one recalls Dr. Johnson's famous definition of patriotism as 'tho last refugo of a scoundrel.' . .'. Among the most tiresome profaners of tho great and noble passion of patriotism are those partisans who are always fighting the battles of the past in the spirit of the past; who keep the old bitterness 'ahve after all the conditions which explained and humanised the bitterness have passed away." iin excellent rebuke to our "Liberal" patriots. Tho Freehold Sentiment, "It is in the interests of settlement, of good government, and also of tho prosperity of the nation as a whole," said ■Mr. G. Hutchison at Wangauui, "that wo should give to bona fide settlers tho tenure they value most, for it is that, which will induce them to greater <xertion in adding to the wealth of the whole community. (Applause.) It is not idle sentiment that makes a man feel more secure if he has the freehold j of his land. As the housewife and children gather aronnd the fire at night ho things that Tom and Jack' will succeed him, and he feels glad to know that the' rent gatherer will no.t call on them, and he also thinks that he will bo able to give a dowry to Jessie or Ann. That makes him go out in the morning proud in the thought that he is not a tenant but a freeholder. (Applause.) I think my Labour friends will agree with mo that we are not going to break contracts, but that we are going to deal with the whole land of this Dominion as belonging to the nation, and that those people who are occupying it are trustees with security of; tenure." (Applause.) Tho "Wanganui Chronicle" says that Mr. G. Hutchison in his speech at Wanganui "proved conclusively that the years have not robbed him of his form, that his thrust is as keen a3 ever it was, and that ho is unquestionably the strongest and ablest aspirant for tho confidence of the people of this electorate, and one of ■ the foremost -politicians of the Dominion. The castigation hb administered to the Ward Government, and particularly to its leading chieftains, .will not soon bo forgotten by those who heard it. . . . Indeed, it is not too much to say that tho speech created a profound impression and greatly enhanced the candidate's prospects at the coming poll."

The Masterton Seat. The Ekctahuna "Express" notes that there is undoubtedly a "swing of the pendulum" in tho Masterton electorate, but thinks that Mr. Hogg, owing to his past services, and his present ill-health, will poll a large sympathetic vote. "But, adds the "Express," "so acute is tho expressed dissatisfaction with the powers that be, that it is more than possible that even sentiment will not hinder a direct expression of opinion at the polls." The "Liberal" Sup-Press. The tremendous triumph of Mr. Massey at Winton oil Friday night, when an enormous audience in the centre of tie Premier's electorate passed a resolution in favour of removing the Government seems to have paralvsed the mechanical resources of the Ministerial Dapers. Although Tile Dominion was ablo to fublish the column message sent out by tho Press Association, the "New Zealand Times" professed itself unable at such a late hour to print any of the message. Another Ministerial organ nearer at hand contented itself with: a report of about twenty lines inado to look as unobtrusive as possible. There could be no better proof that both the tone of the meeting and the resolution are regarded by tho Government as very damaging to 'their election prospects.—"Tho Press."

The Prime Minister's Opponent. A resident of Invercargill, writing concerning tho contest for Awarua, says: "J. R. Hamilton (Ward's opponent) has been acquitting himself extremely well, and has had an excellent reception wherever ho has spoken. Even at tho Bluff ho had a full house, and a splendid reception. Ward evidently realises that he will have to leave no stone unturned, as witness tho enclosed advertisement of his forthcoming meetings. Hamilton has surprised everyone with his platform performances, and he is a match for the hecklers. Hamilton has been showing up some Government grants. One of the beneficiaries tackled Hamilton at ono of his meetings, and there was a strenuous encounter, in which Hamilton scored heavily, (lie audience being with him, and, indeed, they fairly howled the other fellow down. The man's line of defence was that there were other cases worse than his."

Mr. Masscy's Pnlmcrslon Mooting. I The "Maniiwalu livening St a ndn [i I " describes I lie Ifefni'in leader's meeting at, Palmei'slon North as Ihe greatest, political ineleiiig <'ver held in that town. It then comments as follows"About uoni) people were crammed into the building, and it was estimated that, another thousand were turned away, 'there were sumo signiticanf points about Ihe gathering. 'In the lir-1 place, if riinlirmed Ihe fact we have so often staled that I'almcrslon, ill common with (lie rest of (he Dominion, has rapidly been tiring or the present Administration, and that the forces of Reform have been steadily closing up their ranks anil receiving the support. of large numliers who were hillieilo in (ha opposite ramp. When compared with meetings of la,-1, election, when Mr. Ma«-cv addressed the electors in th« same building, it will readily be seen that there has been a great change in public. Sentiment. It was not necessary three years ago to turn tho capacious stage into an auditorium, ami wo do not remember that largo bodies of anxious electors were turned awny irwu llifi building. At v. Ma.s* bov has gained immensely in public popularity during tho interim, and must have, felt 'flattered at such a testimony ol the regard in which lie is held.

If tho Electors Do Their Duty, "Does anybody really doubt that the Opposition is capable of forming a Cabinet incomparably superior to that, now administering tho country? 111'. Mossey is as well known and as favourably known in Auckland as Sir Joseph Ward is in lnvercardll, and in tho ranks of the Opposition are to l>e found men who have borne tlio heat and burden of a long political battle, and have seen the political weakling weeded out from their ranks. Now Zealand is not so poor in public men that sho cannot dispense advantageoiislv with the present Government as will' bo promptly demonstrated it the electors do their duty at the coming election day."—"New Zealand Herald.

Unfairness to Civil Servants. Jlr. Luke was speaking last night of anomilies in the Civil Sen-ice. lie said (.hat often, when a country place was being built up, tho post oifico and the railway station would probably bo in the chargo* of one man. When the place grew a new post office would bo built, and a postmaster sent along. "And you will find that a postmaster draws a greater salary for the. one position than the other man did for the dual position. That is not fair, and is not square. I bclicvo in equal pay for equal serivce." Wanting It Both Ways. The Minister for Railways, in the course of his speech at Wakari, declared that ho held himself responsible for the actions of the Administration during tho past five years only, when he had himself been a member of it. The Prime Minister, who has hold Ministerial office for a much longer period, mado a similar statement while lie was on his way south. . "He was not responsible," 110 said, "for anv former Government; ho was responsible for the Government of which he was the head, and that was a Government which was now five years old." Such an avowal, says the "Otago Daily Times," which does credit to his discretion—wo had almost said modestyis a very proper one to emanate from a Prime Minister in Sir Joseph Ward's position, and.there is no difficulty in accepting it in the spirit in which it

has been made. But in tho interests of consistency, there remains something to add. Now that Sir Joseph Ward has disclaimed responsibility for what was accomplished by tho Government before he bccamo its leader, he must recognise also that no credit is to be claimed by him for what was done by the Government between 1891 and 19015. Tho members of the present Ministry, and members of the Ministerial party, have, however, been endeavouring to reap where they have not sown. It is impossible to claim credit for tho virtues.of a past Administration and consistently to repudiate responsibility for its shortcomings and for tho accumulated failures of a very long term of office, but this is precisely what tho Government has. been trying to do.

Who'll be King of the Castle? "The Government is ridden with aspirants for tho position of leader. There are no fewer than three or four out for the position, should it come about that Sir Joseph Ward should leave tho party." —Mr. J. P. Luke, at Eerhanipore. Ministerial Methods.

"The fact that the Ministerial morning journal in Wellington abstained from publishing the Press Association .report of Jlr. Massey's Winton speech has been the subject of adverse comment throughout tho Wellington province," says the "Wairarapa Age." "There can be no excuso for tho omission, as the message arrived in timo to enable the 'Age' and other provincial journals to publish a fairly full report of the speech. The action of the Ministerial journal in suppressing tho report is the more significant in view of the fact that the same paper published a ten-column report of a speech delivered in the same township a week previously by tho Prime Minister. And this is the mouthpieco of the party of purity, tho party whoso leader is continually asking for 'fair play' "!

That Dairy School. "A Hator of Political Immorality" writes' from Palnierston North to tho Taranaki "Herald":—"l" notice that Mr. Dive, at a meeting recently held at lvaponga, in his electorate,, commented upon the nonfulfilment of Government promises, and instanced tho promise to erect a dairy school at Palnierston North, which promise hod been wantonly broken. As he did not give the reason for this breach of faith, I desire to do so. Just before tho poll'at tho last election, at which Mr. Buick was returned as member for Palmerston North, the 'Manawatu Times,' a rabid supporter of the Ward Ministry, informed the electorate through its columns that if Mr. Wood, the Government candidate, wero not returned it would bo all up with the dairy school. Of course tho Government did not say this, but although tho dairy school arrangements had-preceded as far as the erection by tho Government of a dwellinghouso on the land intended for it, and everything looked rosy, Mr. Wood was defeated at the poll, and, truo enough, down went the dairy school. Singular, is it not, how some people can look into futurity? The Government did not, of course, tempt the electorate with tho school on the eve of an election; the Government took cars to see that the prophecy of the editor was fulfilled, and so placed the coping stone of that which Palmerstonians now speak of as a discreditable breach of promise to punish a constituency for holding its own opinion."

Ask the Workingman's Wife. Writing on the rise in taxation from X'i 7s. 7(1. per head in 1905-6 to £o 3s. 6d. in 1910-11, the Christchnrch "Press" sa.vs: —"A favourite method of allaying the suspicions of those who are feeling the pinch through the increased cost of living is to tell them that the extra revenue from taxation, and particularly that raised by Customs duties, is evidence of the increased spending power of the people. In other words, if the workers were not. so well off, and so flush of money, they would not be able to contribute so handsomely to the national exchequer. Obviously this conflicts with the theory- that the worker is escaping taxation. However, the question is one which can very easily bo settled without reference either to Government Bluebooks or the theories of political economists. Those who wear the shoo know where it pinches, and every workingman's wife can tell whether it is easier to keep house than it used to be, or whether it is not rather a. fact that her money does not go nearly so far as it used to do."

Mr, Byron Brown Asks Why. "No M.l'. should be allowed to take from tho Treasury any other sum than his .E3OO a year, and when wo find firms whose chief partner is a member of Parliament taking large sums annually for services rendered to the State wo cannot wonder- that honest men sniff. This sort of thing is going on, and you have not got to go far from (his electorate to find it. I don't say that these firms do not render honest sen-ice, but; why should they Iw selected to the exclusion of other firms that oould do the work just as well, and perhaps better Mr. Byron Brown at Levin.