NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1707, 26 March 1913, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

In our issue of .yesterday we took occasion to observe that tho Jivenintj I'osl, in interesting itself in what it' alleges is the'growth, of land Aggregation, ;ehose as the time for do-'! nig so the time when the avowed' ■anti-Reform journals were directly accusing the.present Government of having deliberately caused the _ depopulation' of whole countrysides. Our contemporary, it will be remembered, said that it had itself made "no suggestion. that it [the alleged aggregation] was duo in.'any way to the iUssEY Government," anil we pointed out' that it had all the same aided those who- had made that suggestion. We had before us the fact that the Font had been embraced as an ally by those journals which live to traduce the Government. How-' ever;' our contemporary, after soine rather clumsy evasions of, our point (which was that it had, perhaps unintentionally, aided tho traducers), has said, in effect, that it does not bring indictment against tho present Government-. That is so much to the good. We only mention the matter again in order to emphasise the fact that the adverse' criticism the Government receives has of late been so largely based on wild distortion of facts and misrepresentation of the most bare-faced kind that those who honestly disapprove of the Government in any particular 'must be specially frank or else run tho risk of being in the'same class as-the antiReform journals, and of the same unreliability.

One of tho measures which the British Government had to drop, owing to pressure of business, during the session which ended early this month, was the Temperance (Scotland) Bill. Licensing reform iu Scotland is a long-standing need, and tho Bill attempted to give an English Radical translation of Scotland's needs. The House of Lords inserted , several amendments, after giving the Bill: what no responsible speaker on the Government side eared to say was not honest non-party consideration, and one of its amendments proposed to open the door to what is known as "disinterested nianagement."_ This is an adaptation of the Scandinavian system. It means that the people in a prescribed district shall liaye an opportunity of deciding _ whether a monopoly of the licenses in that district shall be handed over to a disinterested company, .limited to a 4 per cent, dividend, all profits above that figure to go to purposes of public utility. The Government would not accept the amendment, although many Ministerialists favoured it. Amongst its supporters was Mr. Sheiuvell, a Ministerialist . supporter, and a notable authority on licensing problems. Mr. Sherwell's speech waß strongly supported by Mr. Balfour, who declared that the beat opinion in Scotland favoured at'any rate the presentation to the people of,the option of choosing "disinterested management." In New Zealand we have settled down to a much more rough-and-ready way of dealing with tho liquor question. It is not for want of knowledge that the statesmen of the United Kingdom have never oonsidercd the adoption of the crude New Zealand method. They are ready to leave to local communities a good deal of power in deciding how the local sale of liquor shall be regulated, but that is as far as they will go.

and fakes a hand in politics,, is as disingenuously .Ha'.lical as, the Dtuhj .Xavf) quotes a communication from a Winnipeg correspondent which makes very comical reading. It is quoted as a vory nasty onu for Mlf. ioiiDEN and the British Opposition, but what it really is anyone can sec. The message records the proceedings of the Manitoba Grain-growers' Association at a reußiit c.onl'crona-. Tho principal resolution was one of protest against both the Canadian partics lor, countenancing Canadian naval expenditure, and it opened with a pomposity as truly American as was the cuteness of another resolution which we will ak<j mention. "Whuruas," the resolution ran, "whereas among the Christian nations of the earth there is an evcrinereasing desire upon the part of the common people that war and preparations for war, which entail such a fearful harvest of human lives and places such a crushing financial burden upon the taxpayers, should bo brought to an end, and that this vast energy now devoted to purposes of destruction, and death be utilised in the cultivation of the arts of peace; and that instead of promoting distrust and hatred between nations, a spirit of confidence and brotherhood should be cncoitragod; and whereas," etc., ctc., to the conclusion that Canada should shut its pockets up and do nothing. The other resolution that pleased the Economist was one asking for free-trade with Britain, in the name of Empire; but the canny Manitobans made it clear enough that just as they hate to spend money on defence, so they can afford to advocate free-trade because it will cheapen the things they must purchase from, and will not cheapen tho things they sell .to, Great Britain. There is evidently a great deal of human nature in parts of Canada. One can easily imagine the chuckles with which the Manitoban farmer reads o'f the i British Radicals' approval of him.

LOCAL AND GENERAL. The Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minis-, tar) yciterday received the following telegrain from ifr. Foster, of the Empire Trade Commission: —"Members of Koyal Commission heartily appreciate your good wishes, and tender their warmest thanks to your Government for all their kindness and hospitality. They leave New Zealand with many regrets." Tho Prime Minister informed a reporter yesterday that eighty-two replies had been received to the advertisement for a General Manager of the New Zealand Railways.' He added that there were some particularly good men amongst tho applicants. In the absence of the Minister for Railways from Wellington, lie was unablo to say definitely when tile appointment would be made.

~'A wonderfully good view of tho eclipse of the moon was witnessed in Auckland on Saturday night. The eclipse started bstwoen SI.-10 p.m. and 0.-15 p.m., when a., dark shadow was noticed on the edge of the moon. t The shadow gradually extended until at 10.15 p.m. it covered more than three-parts of the sphere. Up till this time, tho sky was beautifully clear, and a very fine view was obtained. Clouds, however, then eanmiiu, and tho moon was only teen at brief intervals. Half, an hour later the clouds lifted for a brief interval, .and a red glow showed the position of tlio. totally eclipsed moon.. Shortly afterwards the moon commenced to emerge, . again, and by. 0.30 a.m. the shadow had completely gone. The slight was a novel one, and also a very interesting one, not-only from a scientific point of view, but from Hint of the layman. . At the last meeting of the Wellington Or- ' plums' Ciub executive, Colonel Collins (who occupied tlio,position of Chief Orphan • during Jast' session of the club), was tho recipient of a 1 handiomelyfiftincd photograph by the executive, on behalf ot the club, to record their esteem audi in recognition of the invaluable work rendered by the president. His Worship tho Mayor, who presided, said lie had ..been, told that the success of .the club had been phenomenal tljis year, and tho prospects for the coming season w;ere most gratifying. Tlio presentation exhibited tho great'respect and popularity in which they held their president. Colonel Collins expressed his great appreciation of the.kindness 'which'prompted tho presentation, and aid it would remind him of the. many pleasant evenings he had spent, with them. Mr.'llaggitt, of the Dmicdin Orphans' Club, was present, and also made some very kind references to the Wellington president, as also did Messrs. Keenan, ,B!ick, Oarr, Girdlestone, Christie, Hickmott, and Cerutty.

Tho Amokura inquiry regarding the alleged excessive flogging of the boys on the-vessel was continued yesterday beforo Mr. G. Allport, Secretary for Marine, when the taking of evidenco was completed. The sitting lasted from 9.30 a.m. to about 11 p.m., and during the day and 'evening fourteen, of the boys were examined, as wero Mr. Went, of New' Brighton, father of one of tho boys, the chief engineer, .one of the instructors, and Mr. Campbell, who first communicated the charges to Mr. Hart and -who hail previously declined to appear. Mr. Allport will now proceed with the preparation of his report, which will be presented to tho Minister for Marine in duo course. Visiting university students and_ their friends went across to Day's. Bay in the ferry steamer Duchess in largo numbers last evening. On arrival at Eona Bay the excursionists went ashoro and walked to Day's Bay, where dancing and other' entertainment tok place. Tho Duchess arrived back at Wellington wharf about 11.15 p.m. Fired by a spirit of emulation by the, visit of tho Auckland Boys' Drum and Fife Band, a meeting of those interested in forming a similar band in connection with tho Wellington Boys' Institute was held last night. The Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) presided. The' meeting was ot opinion that a band would be a desirable institution, and a eomniitteo was. set up to make preliminary arrangements, and to advertise at once for a bandmaster. Lieutenant Herd was present, and ho said he would do all in his power to assist in forming tho band, but he could not spare time to tako tho boys in hand.

The members of tho Ponsonby 4 Boys' I U'.iml, which took part in tho Citizens' I Carnival, will leave for homo by to-day's I midday express. • The Prime Minister yesterday nindo tho i following statement on tho subject of" immigration"With reference io the | Government policy in connection with immigration, ,it statement has been repeatedly made by (lie Opposition press and by one or two Opposition members to tho effect that it was the policy of the Government to brim? immigrants annually to New Zealand. The statement is an impudent misrepresentation of what I said when speaking to a press representative on the steamer going to Darguvillo some time ago. What 1 really said was that the country should l>e gaining 25,000 people each year by immigration—that i-S by arrivals over departures—and that we could absorb that number. And I believe wo could," remarked Mr. Massey, "always on tlio understanding that tho people coming hero were the right class. But that is quite a different thing to saying that the Government intended to introduce 25,01)0 immigrants annually. The Government have no intention of doing anything of the sort, but will continue their policy, us I Miid at tlib time to the interviewer, of encouraging men of the farming class, and suitable young people for domestic service."

Tho Central Firo Brigade received a call to Brooklyn before 8 o'clock yesterday morning ,to extinguish one, of common occurrences—the, daily gorso fire. At a meeting of the Karori Borough Council last evening, the Mayor (Mr. C. Cathie) moved that the third special ticket from the Botanical Gardens' to Karori Park be issued from 1 o'clock on .Wedueda.vs, and all day on Saturdays. The mayor pointed out that the ticket was intended to convenience people coining to the park to participate in and witness sports. Councillor _ Hildreth seconded the motion. Councillor Burn asked that it be made clear that it be a special ticket and not a concession ticket. The Mayor reassured Councillor Hili.dreth, on this point. The motion was carried. A new police district, with the Manners Street Station for centre, has been oreated in tho city. Sergeant C. Kelly will be In charge of the district,' which will be policed by three sergeants and about twenty constables.

The Mayor, of Wellington (Mr. D. M'Laren), the- Town Clerk (Mr. J. R. Palmer), and Mr. B. .31. Wilson, who has charge of the arrangements/ in connection with the reception of. the battleship New Zealand, had a conference yesterday with the Minister for Internal Affairs (tho Hon. 11. D. Bell) concerning tlio Welcdme ceremonies. Arrangements were tentatively agreed upon,, and the programme will be submitted to-Iris'Excellency tho Governor when ho arrives ill "Wellington to-day from Auckland. Mr. 11. Ci. Hill writes:—l have pleasure in acknowledging ihe receipt of <£22 12s. towards the Bassett fund, made up as under:—J. M'Menamin, !£5; K.R.11., XI; Mrs. O'Connor, Is.; W.F., iil; IUV., 25.; C. W. Smith, i!l; Mrs. .John Valentine, 10s.; 18 Leeds. Street, Is.; Sympathy, 55.; ]?. W. Moore, ill; J. M. Butt. £1 55.; -P.n., 25.; D.M., 10s.; 8.L., 2s. 6d.; U.'Low, ,£1; Sympathy, 55.; A., IT. Hindmarsh, .£1 is.; per Mrs. Morrison, *B1: per Mrs. Ivory, 55.; Mr. Purely, 35.; per J.IC., .£3 7s. Gd.; Mr Samson, 10s.; Noel and Murk!, Is.: A. Kenner, 25.; W.H., 2s. Gd.; l'\D.W„ i' 2.

. Tho following circular lias boen issued to local schoolmasters by Mr.' C. W. Palmer, secretary of tho local branch of the Navy Loague:—"ln accordance with tho suggestions put fdrward at a recent meeting of the Headmasters' Association, arrangements have been made for. the training of a chorus of Navy Len&'ub juveniles to take part in tho harbour reception of the battle-cruiser.' The first rehearsal of tho chorus will ,bo held at tho municipal Concert Chamber on next Th'urr<lay afternoon, March 27, at i o'clock, and it is desired that only'financial members of tho league should attend. ( Later, passes are to be issued to singers'and non-singers who have enrolled in the leapuo since, fay, October 1 up to March 31 instant. .These.passes.will admit the bearers aboard the steamer which is to be,chartered to meet the warship at tho harbour entrance, and accompany her to her moorings."