Grey River Argus and Blackball News WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 26th, 1911.

Grey River Argus, 26 April 1911, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 26th, 1911.

Perhaps the question •of the Referenda is one of the most exciting that ha.j divided public opinion in the Commonwealth since the adoption of the' Constitution. The question at issue is of such far-reaching importance that the result will be awaited with profound interest throughout the dependencies of the Empire. • A great constitutional principle is at stake, and^ there is a good, deal to be said on both sides of. the; argument. It has come to this already with the Australian Federation, as; happened with the 1 . Federal Government pi America in its earlier history. • - The Labour Government of the Commonwealth soon felt the restrictions placed upon . them by the .'Constitutional privileges of the different States, and they have made a bold attempt to secure ; supreme control by a direct appeal 7 ' to the class which placed them in power. It is the old. question of "state rights" revived, a battle-royal between the centralisation and .the dicentralisation of power. . New-, Zealand went through- a very similar, experience in the. battle -over the abolition of the system of provincial government. The same- general principle wasi involved that is now exercising the minds of the Australian people;, and ; public opinion seems to be fairly divided. While it must be admitted that, there should be an ultimate, power in every country, no matter how democratic it might -be, or how numerous the subordinate administrative bodies,, the. question arises- as to' the length the Federal Government is justified- in encroaching upon the rights, of the different . States. Forthey ought to be - endowed with '■ so'm c well-defined- nights in r order to> justify their existence. -If-, the- Federal Government is to claim the" power of over- <

riding 'or setting asidb ■ the powers of the States 'wh'eri it deems" such discriminatiipn' pe'cessaiy in- t!tc interests.

of the people, then there is no neces- " sity for the dual system. States without independent executive rights would be a useless and an absurd anachronism. It. is quite clear from the display of energy that is manifested on both sides and the amount of money being expended, that public opinion is divided into two great camps. Even Labour itself seems to be very much "divided. 'It appears that Mr. Peter Bowling has posed as the champion of the States having certain independent* powers of control in their own -sphere of action, and opposes the referenda proposals, which are intended to place power of all kinds— economical, ' political, and " industrial— in the hands of the Federal Government. 'Yet we are told that flic men who. made a hero of Bowling only a few weeks ago, now jeered and made a butt' of him. For the last month the country has been stumped most energetically for both sides of the .' question. Mr Hughes, the 7 Attorney-General for the- 'Commonwealth, declares' : that the * opposition to the' -Referenda is ' maintained in active operation by the money of the capitalistic class— the trusts and combines, and such like. This 1 may be so or not. At this distance we do not pretend to know. The great point to be decided is whether it is j safe or prudent to allow the Federal Government to strip the States of every shred of independent nower at one fell swoop" and by one enactmentAdmitting the vital necessity for a superior controlling power to deal with all questions that jnay be, considered vital to the existence of a free and ' indepndent nation, can it be considered reasonable or proper to invest the central power with all control over every industrial question that may arise? Some of these may be of such an essentially local character as to be entirely different from the trade conditions of any other State in the Federation, and for that reason unable ~to be' equitably made amenable to one general law. It would seem to' us that the'Commonwealth Government have been somewhat hasty 'in trying to (grasp all the power in, the Commonwealth. ' Even .if the interests of' the nation should eventually demonstrate the necessity of there being only one repository of power, the safer course in working to that end would be by degrees. Such a mode of procedure would be more in consonance with British methods. Go easy if you want to go far. The British Constitution has been the.

growth of ages and the experience thiat has come with changing circumstances. While we have no objection to endowing, the Federal Government with all the power that the interest and welfare of Australia. may require, we have a strong conviction that it would be a dangerous policy to allow the Federal Government to arrogate all the legislative powers of the nation at once. So long 1 as there are States in the Federation invested with the necessary powers that should property belong to self-contained and socially and industrially independent communities, those powers should not be forcibly taken away from them — at any rate not so ruthlessly as is contemplated by the referenda proposals. If", by experience, it:- has been demonstrated that the power of the Federal Government must be increased, let that increase ""come by Steps and as the additional endowment of' power has been proved to be necessary. To consent to the sweeping change in ; the Constitution of the Commonwealth by the . referenda 'proposals wouTd be studifying the intellectual ability and political experience of the great men who were responsible for the Constitution under which the - States, of Australia were federated. We are not very much concerned as to how this great appeal to 'the people may go; for in all such matter there is 1 the saving grace that -df a false step has been made it can be retraced. The people are bound eventually to .find out by experience what is the best course to follow, and they will act accordingly. Mankind is constantly wading through a morass of error in quest of the ever unattainable perfection. ! i. ■'

The long pending case of the St. George Gold Mining Company, Reefton," against "Robert 1 Woolho'use," of Wellington, for" ;£so due on calls, was decided by Mr A. X3robke, S.-M; , ' judgment beinjr: for plaintiff with costs. Mr Phillips appeared for plaintiff and Mr Guinness for defendant.

% Mr R. A. Home, the Christchurch manager of the Dresden Piano Company, a few ~ days' : ag6' underwent ah operation for appendicitis -at s Christ» church. His many . friends will be glati to learn that he^ is now making very good progress towards recovery.

At a meeting of the new School Committee ' Mr* A. C. Russell was unanimously 1 elected chairman, and Mr F. ;W. Keddell secretary to. the committee. -■ ■;;•'... ,- -.-.. ..- :.■■ .-. - •

''May- 1 have the pleasure of asking you, gentlemen, if you: would allow me to bell milk in the borough,'/ was the request preferred to the Petone Borough Council at its last meeting by a Tlocal resident. The "sauviter in modb" was a- success, for the-applica-tion was granted.

The Dominion in referring to the Wellington City Council election says : —"For those" ■persons" who 'are experiencing difficulty in "ichoosing- the fifteen they will, .select. for their support from the thirty : six candidates for seats on the City ' Councili it may be helpful to know; that'a" 'selection of 15 may -be made in 5,567,902^560 .different ways,. ;; ;,' . .>,.■.

An amusing disclosure, says the Lartcet , in .connection with the New York ' birth-rate, :is : the ■■ estimate of a telephone: company that' each birth causes on ■an average • 300 telephone cajls.

The, North Island papers recently reported ' the " 'existence: " of . a female tramp 1 ; on • %he -roads-.- • - A- : female sundowner, with a..hluey..and..billy (says -■ the ' 5-umaria Times) passed . through Kuma'ra' Ton ' Safufday " iasti* having-waJked-fqro;rT"Ghristchvirch,

There are rumours that a good reef has been struck at -KdrwanV Hill by Messrs J. Knight and party.

"If the workers of this country had only to work for those worth working for," remarked .Mr' E. Tregear, at the Trades and Labour Conference, in responding to the welcome'extended to him, "they could do their work in twenty hours a week.'* 1 Get it to-day — your new bike lamji — at WADE'S.

• All the North Island "oyster beds are to be thrown open for a short season from May Ist. Although a close season was preserved last year, the beds have not yet recovered sufficiently : to warrant the opening of them for the full six months. The ' Government inspector, will supervise the' picking, and only first-class oysters will be taken.

Bike lamps in endless- variety— at WADE'S. .■■-.-•

A movement is afoot to establish a co-operative butter, factory in Karamea. It is being taken lip enthusiastically. It is the , intention of the promoters to ask the Agricultural Department to send an expert to advise suppliers, on methods, machinery, etc., to be adopted. ;. .. . :

Select your Bobby Dodger to-day — at WADE'S. '■-■■

Leutenant Miles Blake, who has just finished a long term of service in the Chinese Imperial Army, and who controlled 14,000 men, discredits the persistent rumor that General Hector Macdonald is still alive, and in China.

Some seventy residents of Waiuta have been summoned for playing two-up, and- we (Times) hear that a resident has been summoned for selling grog. The cases will foe heard at Ahaura.

Messrs Cameron and Hessey, the owners of the Boatman? s Dredge and who -are interested in prospecting at Victoria Range -are visiting Reef ton.

Mr E. W. Spencer, late general manager of the ' Consolidated Group of Mines, is in Reefton.

The 'W«st Coast Coursing Club's programmes for their meeting on June 3rd and oth are issued.

The usual weekly meeting- of Mutual Improvement Society will be held this (Wednesday) evening, at 8 o\clock sharp. Debate : Would Britain Benefit by Becoming a Republic.

Bobby Dodgers from 2s 6d— at WADE'S.

The valuable freehold hotel property which is advertised for sale ;by tender in our advertising columns is a splendid investment and well worth looking- into by speculators. The time for the closing of tenders has been extended till Saturday, April 29th.

£148 makes a liberal total for the 49 prizes offered this year by the Proprietors of Tonkings' Linseed Emulsion, particulars of which will be found in another column. The competitions are attractive and- do not appear to unduly difficult. , Some of our readers should be among- the prize winners. Then there is the public prize. We hope to see some worthy object, in this district win the £100. Teddy came home late from school,

Gave a horrid sneeze. Had a tickling- in his throat,

Soon began to wheeze. Mother took his* temperature,

Put him straight to bed, Gave him Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.

"Bosker stuff!" said Ted

The second, lot of new 'Autumn hats just to hand. Aspecial lu<ky purchase .bought by our London buyer Trimmed Pans models los bd up. Semi trimmed ieady ■ tc > wear h?ts 4s. 6d, 5s 6d, 75. 6 d. Children's mllinery a special lot 4s 6d, ss . bd up to 9s 6d. Is in the £ discount W McKay and Son, leading- drapers, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth and Hokitika. —^Advt

The new furs and blouses for Autumn wear, single furs 2s 6d, 3s 6d up. Fur sets, the new kind from 35s to £12 the set. Blouses in plain and the new knitted .kind 5s 6d, 6s 6d and 8s 6d. Is in the £ discount. W. McKay and Son, the leadmff drapers and clothiers, Greymouth and Hokitika. — Advt.

Alex. Lenaie is still at the Club.--A Ivt. -

White Week at the Thomas and Mcßeath State. Sale-prices for white blankets, white quilts, hundreds" of white articles laid out for white week at sale prices ending- April 29tK, 1911. The Thomas and Mcßeath Store.— Advt.

Another . shipment of Frister and Rbssmann's famous sewing- machines just landed. We secured double the quantity this time. Special' prices for the next two weeks. Hand machines 655, the gpod v 'tfeadle machines from £5 15s. Time payments arranged. W.. McKay and Son, Leading Drapers. — Advt. ■

White Week at the Thomas and Mceßath's Store. Spotless white blankets, white towels, white quilts, and rrvens' spotless .'white shirts. The whole of our centre tables set out with the white bargains for one week enly. Wihte week ends on Saturday, April 29th. The Thomas and McBeath Store.— Advt .

S. I. Beton, to clear his- summer stock, will offer over 1000 bargains at; prices that will surprise everyone. The first that come will secure the pick of this great bargain sale. S. I. Beton, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth. —Advt.

Duke of (Edinburgh Hotel— so rooms, newly fitted throughout ; accommodation second ( - to , none on the Coast ; tariff 6s a -day ! arrangement by the week. J. J. O'Brien, proprietor; — Advt. T~ • .

Aitken and Peters- have : just landed direct from England all th • now season's goods for winter wear, llrs smartest goods in ladies 'dress skirt v iraderskirts, dress goods, blousings, furs and muffs, -Norfolk -'jerseys, blouses, hosiery, etc., a really*-splen-did display in all fashionable winter goods. Aitken and Peters, Up-to-d^ 1 *' drapers. — Advt. ; ■-■'•'■; v • •

/ The furnishing of a home grrnerallv 'entails the expenditure' of much tune and much money. To lessen the 'oi mer, to assist everyone to* make ; a satisfactory choice ' and, to furnish economically, Ballahtynes ! have '\ie pared a catalogue of pic hi ted carpets, bedsteads and eveiy i^*^^j: ; y•ti6li. of .soft goods furnishings. I "bis yvill be sent you on request, and rr.?y be the instrument wKi'ch^ will ive ioK time, trouble ?and money. From it you tell us- what you ■ Hke--"and we buy fi i< for you ; or we send- 'pattenis and estimates, taking the whole iii.X/ As all purchases are returnable it ■•• not approved of, country patrons thus shop with almdst the'^airie Vd'fantages as, their city neigh6 y 6urs at Ballantynes, Cbristchurch.— Advt,.

The new furs and blouses ior Autumn wear, single furs 2s 6d, 3s fld up. Fur sets, the new kind from 35s to £12 the set. Blouses in plain and the new knitted .kind 5s Bd,'.6s Gd and' Bs 6d. Is in the £ discount.; W: ' McKay and Son; the leading drapers and clothiers, Gr«y mnuih and Hnkitika. — Advt.

"Lest you forget," let us remind you that the range of dress goods which Tjrathen and Co. are now showing are a sound reality and no fable. Dress tweeds in all colourings from Is 9d to 2s 6d per yard. , . Navy serges 42in. wide Is ; 9d to 3s 9d. Navy coatinks 64in. wide 3s 3d. 4s ,9d, 5s and lid per yard: Cream radianta, unshrinkable and splendid washin.tr material 2s 6d and 2s lid per yard. Alsn n fine ran ere of ready-to-wear tweed costumes from 21s to 70s each. Note address: Trathen and Co., Boundary Street. — Advt. .

Our new season's ladies paletots and tweed coats for beauty and style, altogether excell our previous showing . in these goods, which wo always specialise in. We have just, received about ninety or one hundred different coats to select from, direct from, the best English manufacturers, 'bought at bedrock prices and are to be sold at much lottst prices than we could do them for :f bought in the Dominion. We cordially invite inspection of our new season's importations. Aitken -•■? Peters, general drapers, Mackay St. Advt.