The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOV. 2, 1907. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2227, 2 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOV. 2, 1907. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The Ward Government appears to be in that dubious position attributed to the London coster of whom it was said “ 'E dunno where ’o are.” The Premier will undoubtedly be a happy man when the present .session is over, and despite his diumatic exclamations that he intends to get liis programme through if it takes him till Christmas, there is every indication that another week or so will find the Parliamentary buildings deserted. The session can scarcely be considered a .barren one, for a Parliament that lias passed the three Land Acts and a Tariff Bill can hardly be described as entirely inactive, but 'it is the method in which these measures have been placed upon the Statute Book that must have proved embarrassing to anyono ■who claimed the leadership of the House. The Tariff Bill was in the

main supported by the Opposition, who arc just as desirous of fostering local industries, and also of conserving the special interests of the working classes, as the present occupants bf tho,Government benches. Whore ■differences of opinion existed it wns chiefly in regard to tho attitude of the Government towards those industries that mainly concern the man on the land. The party in power apparently look upon the constant pin-pricking of country interests as an inherited policy that must be continued at all costs, and on .this point Mr. Massey and his party naturally joined issue. In tlio contests which followed Sir Joseph Ward was usually able by resorting to the time-honored expedients of parity warfare to carry tho divisions, but on one notable occasion ho received a lesson that will not soon be forgotten. This was over the mining industry, when the Premier found b.rmsalf in such a tight corner that lie bad to resort to the last stratagem in Parliamentary tactics, and threaten his insubordinate followers with a dissolution. On the land policy tho peculiarities of tho position aro even moro pronounced, for although no one doubts Socialistic intentions of tho Cabinet,' tho Government has adopted amendments tluat render tho new Acts, comparatively speaking, harmless. The objections made by the practical men on the Opposition were so unanswerable that tjie Government was placed in the position of either accepting substantial modifications or ,nf appealing to the country, and, following his recognised policy, Sir Joseph elmse the line of H’fffejesiistance. It is the old line of cleavage ViS between the party in power and the Opposition is the freehold issue, and the Government conceded no more in this respect than it was hhsoluteil/ compelleck to do, but the freeholders belli in the country and out were sufficiently strong to.so far control the situation that the Jaws a« at present passed and in passage are much nearer to Mr. Massey’s vieifs than they are to those proclaimed in the first- instance by Sir Joseph Ward. In

oilier words, flic Premier finds hi nisei f in the anomalous position of one who is giving effect to the policy of his political opponents. This is the only conclusion that can he come to after -a calm consideration of the session’is record. It is, of course, natural that the-Premier should endeavor to explain away these facts, hut the task is not an oa-sy one, particularly in view of the conflicting statements made by members of his own Cabinet. It was only the ether di.V that the Attorney-General, .Dr. Findlay, made the frank statement that the Government had abandoned the limitation proposals of last year, because they were unworkable. That is, of course, true, though Dr. Findlay’s candor in voicing the fact must Ouve given the Premier some uneasy thoughts, but what the public win naturally want to know is how it happens that ciu-li things occur.

No one can. bo expected to liavo .a very exalted opinion of a Ministry which in connection with the most important subject which comes before the country brings down measures so crude and absurd as to bo

‘•unworkable.” ‘Hie obvious :lssulllpition, moreover, is that but lor the notion of Air. Alcnssoy, Air. Herries, and other members of the Opposition bills shocking sample of legislation would now he disgracing our Statute Book and harrassing our farmers.

On the endowment proposals, too, tin' Government has show-n remark■able vacillation. At first 9,000,000 ■acres were to be definitely reserved for perpetual Crown leases, and .it was very injudiciously hinted by some members ol the Government party that this was intended as a lirr.t' instalment of land nationalisation. But here again tho Opposition stepped in, and seems likely to save tho situation. Tho quantity that is to be films set aside permanently from use by those who look forward to living on farms of their own has been materially reduced. From the fixed quantity just stated 2.000,000 acres has been deducted, and the only manner in which the Government lias boon able to make .headway with..the measure has been by making amendments which will ■add a largo area of grazing runs to the 7,000,000 acres remaining in connection with the endowment policy. With these facts before us it is easy to understand the strong feeling that is growing in favor of the Opposition. There was a time when every person who ventured to disagree witlli the Government was stigmatised as a Conservative, and an enemy to progress. That time, fortunately, is past, and the public is ut last learning the lesson that all the honesty, all the ability, and all the progressiveness is by no means confined to the Government in power. Throughout the present session it has been particularly noticeable .that the Opposition lias shown that it is thoroughly in sympathy with a democratic policy. There lias been very little factious opposition carried on merely to embarrass the Ministry, but there lias been an earnest endeavor to assist the Cover,nment to pass legislation that will benefit tho country. So markedly has this become apparent that many members have been seriously discussing a proposal that the Opposition and tlie Government should amalgamate forces with a view to combatting the growing tendency amongst a section of the community to bring about rabid Socialism in. its crudest and most objectionable form. This is an aspect of tho political situation that we may discuss on a future occasion, but for the present tho suggestion is chiefly noticeable for the evidence it gives of the different attitude that is now being adopted towards the ■ Opposition. AVliile there might be something to be saikl in favor of a coalition, we consider there is still more to be said in favor of giving the prese/nt Opposition a term of office. The leaders of that party are men whose integrity is undoubted, and who are just as good democrats us those who sit on the Government .benches. What is more, they have shown during the session that is now drawing to ia close, superior statesmanship in considering tho important affairs of (State that Iras been in strong contrast to the hesitating, weak-kneed tactics of tho present Ministry. It is good for any country to .have a. cliango of Government now and again, and there is little doubt that apart from legislation—which would be quite as progressive with Air. Massey's party as the condition of the country warrants —there would be excellent opportunities for improving the administration of the various public departments.

THE FRENCH IN AFRICA. - Mr. W. Fitzgerald, who lias been travelling in North America, declares in the American “Review of Reviews” that Morocco is tlic world’s richest prize. Given a couple of decades of develojnnent by European methods, her trade, ho says, should be worth forty million sterling a year. The country contains 300,000 square miles of fertile land, lying at Europe’s very door, it has 1300 miles of coast-lino, on tlio Mediterranean and tho Atlantic, “a granary that would feed an Empire, limitless fisheries, copper mines richer than tho rich Rio Tinto property just across the Straits, and ton millions of a liurdy fighting raeo that might well yield a superb army of half a million troops for ttso in Europe should occasion arise. Tho climate is tho lovely climate of Southern Spain, and the soil will grow anything from wheat and barley to oranges.” At present, the trade of Morocco-’ is worth four million sterling a year. Tho prize,- Mr. Fitzgerald thinks, is destined to fall to Franco. Tho French policy of “pacific penetration” lias carried trading and military posts over tho

Algerian frontier and round the illdefined southern boundary of Morocco, and in a few years the famous and .rich oasis of Tafilot will be in French hands. France is now in possession of tho desert from the hinterland of Tripoli to tho Atlantic coast, from Algeria to Lake Chad and Timbuctoo. But’ Morocco, says Mr. Fitzgerald, is tho key to the whole French scheme of Empire in Northwest Africa. When Morocco falls into her hands, France will control a coast-line of 3200 miles, and \yill enjoy a monopoly of African trade worth £100,000,000 a year. Her empire will exceed India in extent and wealth, and she' will have it at her own, doors. French Guinea and French Congo will bo detached, but France will be anxious to link them with the rest of the African Empire, and then, says Mr. Fitzgerald, there will ho trouble lor Britain. Every naval station on tlio Mediterranean mute will he overlooked by a French station on the African Coast, and there will he no friendly port between Plymouth and Senogambia.

The following addition lias been made to the telephone cxcliango: 27, C. Smith, Kirktown, Maiigapupa. The. whole of t'lio water mains throughout” the old Borough, Whataupoko, and Kniti were filled with water yesterday, and the hydrants oil the various sections were tested. Yesterday in Chambers the Chief J ustice granted, on the motion ol Air. .1' W. Nolan, probate of the will of t lie lute Thomas Daulton to Sarah Jane Daulton, tlie executrix named in the vvill. At Wesley Church to-morrow the Rev. C. Grillin preaches on the companion subjects—-“ Care for Nothing” and “Care for Self.” At the evening service there will be Communion. The United Bible Class meets in the afternoon. Attention is directed to the services at St. Andrew’s to-morrow. At tho morning service the Rev. W. Grant will preach on “The Sequel to last Sunday.” The evening subject will be “The Three Masters,” when Air. C. Balk will preach.

Advice has been received by Air. W. D. Lysnar that the Gisborne Harbor Bill was considered by the Local Bills Committee on Wednesday; but as no further advice was received it it understood that tho Bill is still under consideration.

Next Thursday .another of the conceits by tlie Salvation Army Band will bo given. In addition to tho instrumental items a varied programmo will be presented. Honorary members ol the band are reminded that those performances are free to them.

A great deal of interest is being taken in the sale of work and garden party which is being organised by tlie St. Andrew’s Ladies’ Guild for the 21st November. Contributions are coming in freely, and tho concert in the evening promises to be very successful.

The meetings at tlie Salvation Army Barracks .ail day to-morrow will be conducted by Adjutant Dickens. A hearty welcome is extended to all. The Band will ircnder a special programme next Thursday evening. The local corps will conduct their 21st anniversary tea on Thursday, November 28th.

In regard to the observance of the King’s Birthday on tlie following Monday, Air. A. Donald, local representative of tho Labor Department, states that under the Shops and Offices Act there will be no difficulty in observing this day; but under tho Factories Act it will be illegal to employ females or youths on tho actual day of the anniversary, .During the mouth the following amounts wero collected at tho. Customs House: Spirits £1389 0s 4d, cigars and cigarettes £125 13s, tobacco £506 12s 6d, wine £139 4s 7d, beer £207 18s, cocoa £1 17s 6d, sugar £lOl 10s, goods by weight £9B 7s 2d, goods ad valorem £77 6s lOd, total L 3345 19s lid. Excise duty £llO 16s 6d. For tho correspond lug month last year the total collected was £3440 11s Gd.

At the recent conference of tho Baptist Union, £IOO was granted for tlie work in Gisborne this year. It is understood that Air. Lamb, JUondon, will assume duty as pastor of tho local Tabernacle about February next. In the meantime preachers will be provided by tho Rev. A. North. Air. Blackie, who arrived last Saturday, wilt remain over two Sundays. A commiteo of sixteen, with Captain Cummiiig as lion, secretary and treasurer, has been set up to supervise the work of tlie church until tho arrival of Air. Lamb.

At Holy Trinity Church on Sunday there will be the usual celebration of Holy Communion at 8 a.m. At 11 a.in. there will be morning prayer, Litany, and sermon. The usual sessions of tho Sunday school will be held ,at 10 a.m. and 2.45 p.m. In the evening at 7 o’clock the Bishop of Wainpu is to conduct a confirmation service. A largo number of candidates are to be presented by the Vicar. As this beautiful sorvice always draws very largo congregations, the church authorities are arranging to have the seating accommodation in the church largely increased. The Vicar of Gisborne issues a hearty invitation to all parishioners, visitors, and residents generally in the district to attend the confirmation service. A special invitation is also extended to all parishioners confirmed in Holy Trinity Church in past years. Evening services will be conducted as usual in Alangapapa and ICaiti district schools at 7 o'clock.

After the successful flotation, the Lyuda Soap and Trading Company is in a sound position to commence operations on a more extensive scale on December 2nd. The services of a first-class soap manufacturer have been secured, so that customers can rely on the standard of the products being uniformly satisfactory. Messrs Williams and ICimbel’s old clientele and now customers are invited to communicate with the manager, or send their orders by telephone: The local article will more than bear favorable comparison with imported soaps, and tradespeople generally can rely upon prompt delivery and attention to all orders, without any of the trouble which importing entails. Station holders' and farmers generally are notified that the Company will purchase tallow in any quantity at the top market prices. It is gratifying to seo a local industry established oil such a promising basis, and the enterprise is well worthy of support, especially as good value is assured on all <hnes.