The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2247, 20 July 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING.

tween the SVtlteJ, tho absurd and paltry bickerings over tho capital site, and the prominence of tho Labor Party in all discussions. In theso wrangliings- tho press join heartily, aiul it is extremely difficult to- obtain nn unbiassed statement on tho chief political questions. A recent iss-uoof the “Sydney Morning Herald” endeavors to sum up the present condition of affairs, and although dts version is tinged/ with tho inevitable Sydney-Melbourne jealousies, the article is exceedingly informative.

Broadly it is this: that after almost eight- years of formal union real union is not advanced. Federation was accomplished in order that provincial jealousies might be allayed, ami that as an. Australian people wo might- become a more effective unit of the Empire, 'and, dovoting tho energies of the whole people to the problems of the whole continent, present a- more imposing front to th 0 world. But so far from this having resulted, wo find Australia, as represented by the dominant political faction, or. to speak more precisely, the dominant political combination, has evolved means of modifying our .relationship to tho rest of the Empire, and has m addition introduced quite new causes of disruption. We are not so unreasonable as to say that much of the friction that has resulted from the operations of the federal Government would not have resulted under any circumstance, it was inevitable that the .assimilation of various fiscal systems to one must produce dissatisfaction in the States m which the change involved' tho greatest industrial and commercial re adjustment. As the most prosperous State of the group, and the only State which had achieved its prosperity under a -policy of absolute freetrade, New South Wales felt tho impact of the change to high protection much more than any of the other States. We of the mother State, howover, might have reconciled ourselves to this ehauge ; great as it is, had the advantages which it held to confer been distributed evenly. But they have not been. Evidence of this is to hand in the treatment meted out to certain large New South Wales industries, as, .for instance, iron and oil. There may bo other oversights in regard to tho industries or vile lesser ©cates, but we. Know Unit there fiave been no oversights in xogaru to v lcuniau inuusuieo. .tin uiroagn V ictoria lias exercised uu entirely eusproporuonaio lnnuence. Not that wo olaiiie Victoria; bite nas only made the most ot an . affluent in politics, winen has übca m her favor. Having the Federal Parliament in Melbourne, her manufacturers wore entirely on the spot to ••advance their claims." But while we do not blame V ictoria for- looking alter herselt, we d 0 blamo the i'etleral Government for ns failure to lioid tlie scales even.

The root of the difficulty lies in the circumstance lilac tile Federal uoveninieut— we say Uorefumeu-t, oecaiitie with the exception oi a tew montlis’ interlude, t-lic same comoiuation lias been in power since tlie beginning—has never yet governed its own right. I lie Ministerial party has always been a minority, holding ollice at the grace of the Labor party. it lias so happened, -too, that tne dommating members of -the Ministerial party have always -been Victorian high protectionists, and- they have bought tho support of the Labor party, which in the main is not high protectionist, by concessions, and those same concessions are at the bottom of the trouble as it presents itself to the States to-day.- Thus it comes that it is not the Ministerial programme, but the Labor programme, which is being forced on Australia at this moment. We do not say that the Federal Labor programme any'more than the State Labor programme is bad in -all particulars. But we do say that it has not been sanctioned by the majority of the people of Australia. And We believe, moreover, that Australia is not yet ripe for it; or, to put it in -another way, the Labor programme is not ripe for Australia-. We might not fear the members of Parliament. But we .do fear the organised irrespdnsibles who are tlie masters of the Labor members of Parliament. Thus behind what the Labor party in Parliament does or would wish to dg is the meance of what it might be lhade -to do. That uncertainty rests to-day like a, pall over the whole field of Australian development. In seeking for a solution of - the difficulty, our Sydney contemporary 6Uggest-s that it would be much preferable for the Labor Party to attain office than'for it to remain as at present, “the power behind tho throne,” lor “tile Labor Party in office, and thus burdened with responsibility, is infinitely better than tne Labor Party in power, as it is at present without any responsibility at ail.” The “Morning Herald,” however, points out that there should be sufficient strength among those op-pot-eil tg the Laoor Party to form a really strong Government, and now that tile tariff question is out of tlie way there is no reason why the present Government and the Opposition should not join forces ana form a Ministry representative of Australia and net merely of particular States.

The following was the revenue received at the (Jusom House, Uisboruo, last week: Customs auties aoj'j bs 2d, beer duty £2B ids-, light dues £lo os, shipping fees lie, Harbor Hoard revenue £i3U as Id, other receipts £l6 9s 2d, total £11)62 6s sd.

At the Police Court on Saturday morning, belore Mr. \V. A. Barton, W.M., George Smith, for a third conviction of drunkenness ivatliiii six months, was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, and a prohibition order was issued against him. I'or a second offenco within a similar period, Frederick Cricliand was convicted and fined £l, -and 2s co-slo, or four days’ imprisonment.

Tlie Deputy-Official Assignee (Mr. T. A. Coleman) convened a meeting of chedStors in tli 0 bankrupt estate of Albert Ludwig Amundsen, laborer, of Whatatutu, on Saturday. Mo creditors were present, but the bankrupt was examined as to the cause of his insolvency, and attributed his failure to meet his liabilities to the loss by his wife' of a bag containing £56, to illness, and to inability to earn sufficient to support his family.

T-ho victim of tho lVikntao [.hooting case, Miss Mary Agnes Petersen, has sufficiently recovered from her injuries to bo able to leave tho private hosiptal, where tho lias been under ! treatment, and go to her homo. The ? young nun, Walter Syinoiult, who is "charged with attempted murder of tho girl, will bo brought before tho Court on Tuesday, when tho charge will probably bo heard. A largo number of witnesses will be called to givo evidence, land the 'hearing of tho case will probably bo lengthy.

A well-known sawinillcr on tho West Coast states that the outlook for tho sawinilJiiig industry on the Coast is very gloomy, owing to tho largo importations oi Oregon pine, ilo stated that there wore very low orders coining to hand, and most of tho mills cutting red pmo would linvo to coneo work unless something was done speedily to protect tho industry. 'J no business pooplo on tho Coast did not realiso tho seriousness of tho position, otherwise they would bo up an arms os a protest, lie assured a “Lyttelton Times” reporter that orders wore placed in Wellington for 3.300,000 foot of Oregon pine to be delivered within three months. This would seriously nlfoct the export from the Coast mills, and practically paralyse tho industry.

Tho vagaries ot the intoxicated poison are many, but one individual, who is stated to have been more or less “under tho influence,” on (Sat-, urclay mglil, broke out in a strikingly original-direction. It is .alleged that •ho entered a fruit shop 4 u Gladstone Road, and stating thill he was a Government inspector, proceeded to examine the fruit, -and in some cases to cut it up and subject at to m:scroscopical investigation. After having d'ouo this, it is said that he stonily commanded tho trembling proprietress to immediately closo up tier shop as her fruit w;ue -all infected by microbes of a most virulent type. The timely arrival of the police prevented this course from being followed, and tho “inspector” will be called on to oxplain his behavior at tho Police Court this morning. x

It is not every Minister (says, the “Post”’) who can regard tho question of stipend from so exalted a plain as did tlie well-known Paul Hauraki, one of tlie most earnest and eloquent of Native preachers, in his address at tlie Maori Congress given in his own tongue. His own experience, fie said, was that it would cost as much effort ,to contribute sparingly as liberally. When lie began his work there wore some who promised 10s. a year. His stipend' was £7O. They soon'eomplained that the burden was too •heavy, and lie said, “M ike it five.” This, likewise, ..was too much and he said, “Then give half-a-crown,” but tlie -half-crown proved as hard to find as the half-sovereign, so lie said “Then givo sixpence. I am coming, not to -take your money, but 'to preach tho Gospel.” Wellington residents who have disembarked from the large steamers in GiSbornu roadstead to tne Union Company's little tender when, the sea has been rough (says the “Post”), will -recollect how difficult it lias been to transfer from one vessel to the other owing to the rolling of the smaller boat. W lieu the weather has been so bad that n gangway could not be used tlie Union Comapny -has brought int 0 use a basket chair designed to seat ono passenger only. In order to cope witli the increasing traffic the company has adopted a new basket of a different type, -and of much larger dimensions. It is constructed on similar -lines to a co ll basket, stands about five feet in height, measures about 5 feet in diameter, and is capable of accommodating ‘at least six passengers at one time. Entrance to the cage is effected through a strongly-built door in the side. The “Labor Journal” for tho mouth or j uly gives tiio following report or tlie condition ol the labor ma.rket in Gisborne : —“Trade generally has been quieter than it was last month, although retailers report very fair business for, the time of the' year. Hie bunding trade is still brisk, but there has been a considerable mllux 0 i carpenters from other places during the month, and all employers are now lull-hamicd. A few carpenters are idle. Bricklayers are busy and likely to continue so lor some time. Plas-terers-are also busy, but as a number of jobs are just about completed this truuo is likely to be slack for tlie ensuing month. Engineering trade is very busy. A new and up-to-date foundry is to bo erected. Coaciibuitders, blacksmiths, plumbers, ihusmitlis, and painters are all busy and' working lull time. Tailoring trade is quiet, and a few journeymen -are working short time, although the female operatives are fully employed. Dressmaking, millinery, etc.: All very busy, and a number worked overtime during the month. Unskilled labor: Ilio market lias been very cpiiet. Three men have been sent to work during t-hoDmonth, and- there are quite a -number of good strong men, mostly from other parts, out of employment, laithougn all local labor men appear to be fairly constantly employed. The market is likely to remain quiet for some time to come. There -are a few blocks of bush offer-, ing, and no doubt these contracts will be taken up a 6 soon as the freezingworks close down. Another brickworks has just been .completed, and when in full swing should give employment to about twenty men.”

The boisterous weather and tho difficulty of obtaining supplies in the', south is 'accountable tor a great Jacit of enthusiasm ,in that d.strict amongst tlie -housekeepers there, but we are pleased to note that- such is not the case with us when best quality black lead polishing brushes are -eigli-tpence each at Parnell’s Popular Saturday Sales, 25th inst. only. A large part of women’s •Buffering comes from headache. No matter what the cause, the cure is always found in Stearns’ Headache Cure, which is tasteless, easy to take, and acts promptly.