The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MRONING. GISBORNE DEO. 18, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1961, 18 December 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MRONING. GISBORNE DEO. 18, 1906.

The voting for the election of members to both Houses of the Commonwealth is significant of two facts, the one being that Australia as a whole is not prepared to give any countenance to Socialism pure and simple, and the other is that the Ministerial party which favored a middle course between that steered by Mr Geo. Eeid and Mr Watson 13 in a hopeless minority, showing clearly that the electors prefer a straight-out duel to any sort of compromise in politics. In our own country many attempts have been made to form a middle party ; but the result has invariably been a failure for the reason that neither side will trust

the trimmor, and Mr Deakin has now

tasted the inconveniences of his position “ between two stools.” The party led by Mr Watson are termed “Labor Socialists,” but that in reality is a misnomer, for he and his friends are not fighting for Socialism in any reasonable interpretation of the term, but for certain concessions to labor I which in all cases he is justly entitled to ask and in some cases to receive in part if not wholly. But the Socialist I pure and simple takes such an extra | vagant and highly theoretical view of things that he can make little or no headway in drawing public opinion to his side. He is a strenuous and aggressive worker, too, in the cruse which he has espoused, and yet over (ho whole of Australia he can muster only a .shade over fifteen thousand votes out of a total of cm million and

twenty-eight thousand east at the recant election for the Senate. The reason of this is not far to sosk, for it •; 3 directly due to the fact that the Socialist is a dreamer of impractical dreams that have as their basis the 1.-lso assumption that all men are equal, and that as o. consequence of this ail men should possess an equal share of the world a goods. Among .Socialists there are many degrees, but v.e are dealing now with cue most sensible division of them known as Communists, who do not go so far a a to aver that there is justification for j

legalised robbory in order (bat wealth and luxurioH may bo shared alike, although they would bring about that condition by loss direct but more equitable moans, wboroes the ultra Socialist booh no harm in plunder in order that the fruits of labor, industry, and brains may bo shared with those who possess neither. On the other baud, the party inaccurately described as “ Labor Socialists ” moroly domand what appears to them to bo a just quid pro quo for their labor, so that their policy cannot ho described ns in the least degree socialistic, and the difference that exists botwoon them and the other two panics is osuontiaHy one of I amount, not principle. If labor could only bo moasurod as other commodities are and with tho same accuracy as cloth and Hour can bo moasurod by tho yard or the pound thoro would bo little cause for tlio introduction of labor questions into politics ; and tho more fact that it cannot bo so measured forms one of tho strongest, arguments against Socialism, and the Australians evidently realiso it too, us shown by their cumulative vote. Tho results of tho introduction of those divorgent triple issues brings about a situation that is not quite satisfactory to any party, for any two of them can outvote the other, ami if there is no possibility of coalition neither party can form a stable Government, and the position may, most probably will, lead to uuothev mention. But before that happens must be u novice uf

short-lived OabicciH. By that tune the country n»*.y e.oe the futility of the tripod plan -.md ho induced to v-ro yes or v„> on i, direct is,mu ; ’.between two parties holding tho most opposite views, and drop tun middle p£wy nlsogot her. That eouvao nypesr 3to be the only permanent solution of the d'ffi* culty, and it will bo interesting when it comes about

Those who interest themselves in the collection of money for a good cause deserve every encouragement, and there are causes which would almost justify any method being adopted to secure tho neerssasy funds for their advancement; but while that is so it is always the duty of those who undertake the work to consider that of ail what methods are not only justifiable but expedient and wise before adopting them. Tho custom is gaining ground in. this town as elsowhoro of employing children of aU ages and sexes to go into the highways to beg money of every passer-by for this, that, or the other object, and we do not. hesitate to say that it is a custom which in the interests of the children themselves should not be resorted to under any circumstances that are not controlled by tho most extreme necessity. Many charitably disposed people have, a decided and very reasonable objection to being stuck up in the streets by children of tender age and asked for money because they rightly think that such training for children is not conducive to their moral welfare, for it cultivates in them an amount of immodesty and assurance that cannot be otherwise than destructive of those higher sensibilities that any welltrained adult should possess. Surely there are more legitimate. means of collecting monoy than this, and it should be borne in mind also that the growth of the practice must ultimately end in tho plan being adopted by unscrupulous persons for their own gain, and the victims can have no means of finding out whether or not tho juvenilo collector is a genuine one. Such things have happened before, and will certainly happen again if the practice is publicly recognised. It is not a sufficient answer to say that the genuine collectors are supplied with cards, for they can, and have been, duplicated, and in one instance that can bo stated a fraudulent collector went on for a couple of years without detection. Some at least of the persons who subscribed in that instance most solemnly vowed that they would never subscribe to a collector again Besides, a person WHO begs from sheer necessity corny its a punishable oft’-jnea against the. law, and there h really no aiiferesce in the act itself no matter by whom committed if it is a meet shy. so why should tho one be punished aud the ofeae? applauded ? Tho end seldom justifies ih-3 means.