NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1526, 23 August 1912, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Some particulars of the remarkable will of the late Mb. T. G. Macahthy are issued to-day, and they are of such a nature that public comment upoa them is proper and desirable. A large sum, which is yet but a small percentage of the fortune-he amassed, is bequeathed by the deceased gentleman in gifts to private individuals, and half of the remainder, which means almost half of the whole, is to go forthwith towards public objects. Ultimately the whole estate, apart from the small percentage absorbed bv gifts and annuities, will revert "to the community in the shape of educational and charitable endowments. In tho end, probably over half a million sterling will have found this destination under the will. .It is very rarbly that in any country in the world so magnificent an endowment is bequeathed to tho community, and this province, which is the beneficial-y, has much reason to bo grateful for the late Mr. MacarthV's broad-minded and - public-spirited disposition of his fortune, The Macakthy Trust, it is certain, will in the future be productive of gfeat good to. the community.

The contest for the Egmont seat will no doubt attract a great deal of attention throughout the country, .is it is likely to throw some light on the view taken by the public of the changes in the Government of the Dominion since the general elections in December last. In December the anti-Reform part.v won the seat by a substantial majority, Mr. T. Mackenzie beating Mit, Dxvf. by 1527 votes, the polling being: Mackenzie, 3009: Dive, 2682. It was a straight-out fight and was contested with vigour on both sides. Now neither of the previous candidates is in the field. Mit. Mackenzie leaves to-day for England, and Mn. DtVE, who did think of contesting the seat, again, has intimated that he will not do so. This leaves an opportunity foy a direct test of strength between the Government and the anti-Reformers, through the medium of Messks. Wilkinson and AsTHttRY. The latter is stated to be the strongest man.those opposed to the Reform Government could get to come forward. He was chosen at a specially-convened meeting which Mr. Bunco travelled all the, wav from Wellington to attend and h-wtmi bv his ijrcspnre. The member for £aiacoi s according, to the

official report of this meeting, intimated that lie was not present to takc.any part in the selection of the candidate, but to assist with advice and to give any information which might be of use to the candidate. It will thus be seen that the Opposition intends to use all the means within its power, even to the extent of sending a leading member of the party into the district to assist in the manner stated, to secure the return of its candidate. The Reform representative, Mr. Wilkinson, is, as we have already stated, a well-known and successful business man closely associated with the farming interests.' He is credited with being a very able man, an excellent speaker, and an ideal member for a community of small farmers. He can be relied 011 to put up a- hard fight for the seat and his party is confident that they will turn the tables on the anti-Reformers and win the seat for the Massey Government.

The Hon. J. Rigg moved in the Legislative Council last evening to irn i Wsl.itive Council Elections Hill by proposing that its second reading should bo taken six months hence, In the afternoon the Hon. 0. Samuel had delivered a very able speech against the Bill. He is opposed to the principle of a Second Lhamber clectcu on a popular franchise and he sought to convince the Council that it was better to have no Second Chamber at all than to have one elected on the same franchise as the House of Representatives. With some of the reasons advanced by Mr, Sajiued we are in entire agreement. The ideal Second Chamber would be composed of Councillors 'specially chosen because they possessed in an eminent degree the particular qualities required in tho members of a revisory Cham- , r ' would be selected regardless of their party views and their position- would be made so independent of exterior influences that they could act on all occasions witbo"t regard for any consideration I 0...er than the general good of tho i community. But how is this ideal to be attained'/ It can only be attempted tinder a nominative system and with the experience of the past 20 years still before us, the dangers of the nominative system are too apparent to make a continuance possible. There is something to be said for election under a restricted franchise—a good deal, in fact, can be said in favour of it. But fl.s. the Leader of the Upper House said in respect of a_ suggestion to i * l nominative system with a life tenure instead of the present seven years tenure, it is impossible now to retrace our steps. We can--110 3°» ac ™ The is "Trust tho people. The people in the mass do not always act wisely. They are at times led astray by waves of emotion, and by demagogues, but on the whole they do not go far wrong. Aloreover, they arc more to be trusted in the mass in the long run than are the politicians who have their party ends to serve and who cannot escape the influences associated with political patronage. Mu. Riqg's amendment, .designed to kill the Bill is a direct challenge, and an unwise one. It is quitc superfluous because the Bill could be killed if the Council wishes merely to prevent its passage, by voting against it on its second reading. Mit. Rigq I ? r ' aska tlie Council, in effeefc, to say: "Wo refuse even to consider the proposal to pass this • *•* ~ 0 Co «n«l adopts this unjustifiable attitude Mr. Massey has no other course left open to him than to adopt such mctaris as will ensure that the wishes of the people nvfnnnr' 011 V/' to ln fc!l ° speediest manner possible.