The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1908. A DEGRADED PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2311, 2 October 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1908. A DEGRADED PARLIAMENT.

There is great need for an entire change in our politicians. In making this statement, wo aro not speaking from -a partisan point of view, butfrom an aspect that should appeal to anyone who cares to give the subject careful consideration. If the present position wore satisfactory, or oven tolerably 60, one might feel disposed to concede something to the supporters of things-as-thoy-aro, but accounts of the proceedings in M’ellington during the present session provide abundant evidence that our public affairs arc in incompotent hands. Roughly speaking, oighty members aro sent to M’ellington to represent the country in tho House of Representatives. They ave paid a remuneration which is supposed to warrant us commanding their solo services during tlio time tho session is on. Tho length of tlio sessions aro presumed to bo dependent upon tho amount of business before members and, strictly speaking, they should not terminate until tho business is finished. In actual fact tlio duration of the session is made to suit, not the public interests, but the convenience of members, and particularly those of the Ministry and Government supporters. Thus wo find that, every session, less than a third of tlio Bills presented to Parliament ever receive the consideration of the House. Year after year measures of the utmost importance to tlio country aro foreshadowed by tlio Government, and just as regularly they aro “chucked overboard” at the end of the session under tho plea that there is no time to deal with them. All the fino promises of candidates to the electors, all the fervent pledges of Whole-souled devotion to the people aro apparently forgotten, and after throo or four months of wordy toil thero i 6 a mad scamper by M-P.’s for their homes- Last year members managed to stay in till the close of the year; this session they seem likely to get away in a week or ten days’ time. The avowed excuse is that they do not wish their opponents in the political campaign to get ahead of them in canvassing. The admission is degrading and an evidence of political dishonesty. The sitting member has a big advantage over new' candidates from the fact that ho is already “in the saddle,” and he has had the opportunity to prove his utility to his constituents. But in any case, having accented the position of Parliamentary representative for three years, tho member Ins no right to relinquish his work prematurely in order to ensure a renewal of his appointment. However, it matters little what the public thinks on this matter—if it does give the subject any attention—the House is likely to adjourn after a session of little more than three months. And what a miserable session it lias been ! First came that dreary debate —tlio Address-in-Reply—then the Financial Statement, and then a holiday for Fleet AVeek. Practically nothing was done during the first two months and now’ Sir Joseph has commenced all-night sittings in order to overtake some of tho urgent work, and thero is the usual result of important business being carried on by a minority of the House. Tho other night when tho Public M’orks Estimates wore being discussed, only about a score of members wero present, and this 6tato of affairs is by no means uncommon. Now, there is no need to mince words under such circumstances, and the condition referred to betokens a low standard of political l morality on the part of Parliament. In the first place, Sir Joseph Ward has no right to keep the House sitting after a time when all are tired out and, secondly, tho individual members have no right to leave the building whilst tho expenditure of two millions of public money is under review. Legislation passed at these all-night sittings is not properly discussed and criticised, and the results aro soon apparent when attempts are made to enforce 1 the new laws. The fact of the matter is that a large proportion of the present Parliament comprises mombers who have been in tho House too Jong. Any enthusiasm thoy may havo once had for the national welfare has long been sunk in tho petty grooves of party politics, and for years they have been nothing •hilt little link® in a jiolitical machine. Politicians rather than legislators, they are only following out the policy as professional politicians in desiring to cut the session short so that they may get to the hustings again in the full belief tint the glib tongue which was so potent in the past will again succeed in cloaking over their many deficiencies. A large influx of new blood into the next Parliament is the only hope of getting our public affairs out of the dismal ruck into which they have fallen. Some radical change is certainly needed if wo are to havo the business of the country carried on in a business-like manner and questions of vital importance discussed in a practical manner by statesmen who will give some consideration to the national aspect and less to the party point of view. It is therefore to he , sincerely hoped that the general elections will find a substantial change in the personnel of tho House of Representatives.

The jubilee of the Haivke’s Bay province will be celebrated on November 4. A meeting of workers employed as blacksmiths and farriers in Poverty Bay will lie held in Townley’s Hill to-morrow evening at 7 o’clock for the purpose of forming an industrial union. Mr. W. L. Bees has made 'arrangements to proceed at once with the surveys for the trams in the Wailiuka Valley and Bakauroa districts. The tram-line, where it will pass through private property, will be mapped out, and the application for a license renewed before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M. The new creamery that is being erected at Te Arai by the Kia Ora Dairy Co-operative Company, will probably be reidy to receive supplies next week. The building has been completed, but the machinery has not yet been installed. As soon as the machinery is ready supplies will he received,

A three days’ aquntio carnival will be parried out at tho Christchurch Tepid Bath during Carnival week undor municipal direction.

A suggestion lias been made in business' circles in Auckland that that city should hold an industrial exhibition on a large scale next year, about August or iSoptoinbor.

The socrotary of tho East Coast' Trades and Labor Council (Air. John H. Hall) asks thoso desirous of participating in tho Labor Day procession, and who havo not yqt been approached on tho matter, to communicate with him.

As an outcoaaio of tlio recent “lamb-ing-down” case, it is stated on good authority that tho iiolico have been directed to lay informations against Joseph Burko, late licensee of the Record Reign Hotel, for permitting drunkoimoss oil licensed premises, ad for supplying liquor to an intoxicated person.

Nows was received at this office last, night that a large whale of the black species had been stranded on tlio beach at Tokomaru Bay. Tho whale is 22ft in length, and is a fine specimen. The Natives havo taken possession of tho carcase, and were busily engaged during tho wholo of Wednesday night in cutting it up.

Last evening a visit was paid to tlio Old Aten’s Homo by members of tho M’esloyau Christian Endeavor Society, wlio ontortained the inmates with an enjoyable musical programme. The inmates expressed their appreciation of tho entertainment and the kindly feelings which prompted the visit.

It is stated that a political oaiivassor, making a house to house visitation ill one of tho streets of Christchurch could not ttnd between seventy and eighty electors whose addresses 'are given on tho roll as in that particular street-. The portion of the street visited contains about two hundred houses.

At tho Police Court yesterday morning, before Air. M r . A. Barton, S-.A1., a man named Christian Alatliieson, on bail, did not appear to answer a second charge of drunkenness within six months. His M’orsliip, after hearing the- evidenco of tho arresting constable, ordered that accused forfeit the amount of his bail (£1).

It is' not generally known that copies of tho main roll of all the electorates of tlio Dominion may bo seen at tho office of every registrar of electors. Another good idea that is working very well is tho alphabetical fecord that is being kept by every registrar of electors of every transfer or claim for enrolment since the main roll was closed in April last-

Am enjoyable progressive euchre tournament was hold in Erskine’s Hall last evening. Tho prize-winners wero Miss C. Hepburn and Air. Hogan. and the “boobies” were Aliss Reid and Air. Forrest. The tournament was followed by a dance, at which about' 50 couples were present. The music was supplied by Alessrs Vita Bros., and the Ladies Committee provided a tasty supper.

The “Fielding Star’" says that Air. Douglas Al’Lean, a prominent Hawke’s Bay pastoralist, who was in Feilding recently, was greatly impressed with the movement amongst Fielding farmers to provide a fund for the Canterbury farmers in recognition of “the stand they took against the Farm Laborer’s Union. Air. M’Lean has decided to inaugurate the movement in Hawke’s Bay, and will himself canvass for the Fielding Guinea fund.

In view of the possibility of President Roosevelt visiting New Zealand next year, the following from a London correspondent, under date August 21, is interesting:—ln a review of “A M’oek in the M’hitc House with Theodore Roosevelt—A Study of the President with tlio Nation’s Business,” by William Bayard Hale, aiote is made of the following remarks attributed to the American President in the course of a conversation with an Australian squatter: “I need not tell you that I am tremendously interested in Australia—and in "New Zealand, too. Yon have one of the most interesting of the newer countries. It is tremendously important that you should avoid' one pitfall, ■however. It is most necessary that something should bo done to populate your vast stretches of country. It would be most unfortunate if your cities were to continue to grow out of all proportion to tho growth of your farm lands and pasturo lands.”

At the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday afternoon, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., the evidence of Andrew Douglas Davj’s, for the defendant, was taken in the case in which the Commercial Agency Co., as assignees for Frederick J. Shelton, trading as the “Heat', Lijtlvt and Supplies Co. (Mr. J. Blair) is proceeding against Henry White, of “Acton,” Gisborne, shoopfarmer, to recover £195 4s 6cl for tho installation of. a “Daylight” acetylene plant. The witness (examined) stated that ho had inspected the generator and the gas (burning), and the general effect produced. In 'his opinion tho plant was not working properly. Mr. Blair’s cross-examina-tion was on the lines that the witness had not made a complete or satisfactory tost of the plant, and that he had taken everything for granted as it was told to him. Tlio case is set down for hearing in Wellington about the middle of the present month.

A .leaflet has been issued' by Mr. W. Crombie, stationmaster at Auckland, addressed to “members of the House of representatives and the general public of New .Zealand,” and headed “A Captain Dreyfus in New Zealand,” setting forth particulars of an act of injustice, which ho alleges has been done to him by the Baihvay Department in connection with his reduction from the position of district traffic manager, G-reymouth, in 1902. Mr. Crombie says:-—“As I am leaving the railway service in the course of a week or two, after a long term of thirty-one years, I ask you to ‘ kindly peruse the accompanying correspondence in connection with my dismissal from tho position of district traffic manager, at Greymouth in 1902. The correspondence speaks for itself, and shows how an old and faithful servant can be. treated in this much-vaunted ‘God’s Own Sountry.’ Strange as it may appear to honest people, I was reduced and-sent to Auckland at a reduction in salary of no less than £55 per annum and a free house valued at £4O per annum; and that after two enquires had been held without any charge of neglect of duty in any shape or form being made against me; and I was not even asked to give evidence at tho first cnquirv, being informed by tho gentlemen” who held it that it was not necessary for me to attend; and although asked to give evidence at the second enquiry I was not present to hear the evidence given by the other witnesses; and I have not up till now been supplied with a copy of the evidence given at either enquiry. To give you an idea how serious the unjust reduction has been to me, I have lost in- salary alone upwards of £SOO, and when I retire on superannation by allowance will be at least £46 per annum less than I would have received had 1 not been disrated.” The correspondence referred to shows that Mr. Crombie appealed, but in vain, to Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. J. Bonayno (general .manager), and Mr. Hall-Jones for reconsideration of his case with a view to his reinstatement in his position of district traffic manager.

Dominion Day, with perfect weather, passed quietly, and the usual display of bunting was made on the business premises and Government buildings. The only thing worth recording was the surprising number of wash-hand basins disposed of, and this week its two fancy patty puns (your own choice (for one penny at Parnell’s Popular Saturday Sales, 3r4 inst. only.

At tho Magistrate'* Court yesterday morning, Mr. W. A. Bar Lon, S.M., gave judgment 1 for plaintiff by default in tlio following cases: Commissioner of Taxes v. James Henry Jamieson, amount claimed £2 15s, with costs 17s. In tho following judgment summons cases, orders lor immediate payment were made as follows: AY.- A. O’Meara (Mr. Coleman) ,v. Tlios. Sheen, order for immediate payment of amount claimed, £ls 7s sd, and costs, forthwith, in default 1(5 days’ imprisonment; AV. A. O’Meara (Mr. Hoi) v. John Henry Bell, order for immediate p lyinent of amount claimed, and costs £4 10s 9d, in default' five days’ 'imprisonment; same v. C. AV. Moore, for amount claimed and costs, £9 13s 6d, in default ton days’ imprisonment; same v. AV. C. Whitfield, for balance of amount- claimed and costs, £G 9s 9d, in default seven days’ imprisonment.

It is a significant commentary on Air A. L. D. Fraser’s dramatic display in the House on Friday, with the accompanying limelight effects by Sir Joseph Ward, that tho work of constructing the Napier baths is well in hand (says the “Daily 'Telegraph’.’.) It might be imagined by those who are not conversant with the actual position that the construction of the baths was dependent on Mr. Fraser’s impassioned appeal and (lie exorcise of a merciful indulgence on the part of the House. This is scarcely so, however. The contract for the bath bad already been let, and whether Parliament had allowed the Bill to be introduced this session or not, the construction would have been gone on with. The best evidence of this is tlio progress that has already been made. Of course, there is an explanation of the diverting little scene of dramatic heroics in tho House. Tho elections aro near at hand.