DISTRICT NEWS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 August 1911, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

EVENTS IN SHANNON. (Chronicled by our Resident Representative.l THE DEJUTTNG SOCIETY, The weekly meeting of the Shannon Literal-v ami Debating Society was held last night (Tuesday), lljo l?ev. M.cKcnaie (president) was in the chair. It was decided to meet next Monday week evening, instead of Tuesday.' Mr Ell, M.P.. will be present, and speak on a State Ba,nk. The order of the evening was for literary matter and impromptu spc'clios. , „ ~ Mr McMillan road from the Triad (bv "Selwyn Rider") an intcr-e-tiii'l - piece on the true secret enjoyment in which there appeared now and no-am some sparkling wit. Mr Selhv started humorously, hut soon gave'some sound advice as to the reading of literature. Ho said that in after life it would he a companion. Mr Traynor also spoke in a numerous strain. , , TV Rev. Mr Mclvonzie said it pained him to come across so many who had spent their life in giving too much, .attention to pleasure or attemptino- to make money. Ho complimented Mr McMillan on bringing the article forward. IMPROMPTU SPEECHES.

" The happiest time in my life,' bv Mrs Laurvig was neat and complimentary to Shannon. She said her happiest time was in this town. '•' That party insistency is carried to extremes," was spoken on by Hr Judd. He condemned the system in vogue to-day. Ho quoted political instances,' and of the threats against members who often voted according to their conscience but against their party. He thought it altogether a wrong principle. Special referenco was made' to Mr Field. M.P., who had voted conscientiously and lost preferment in consequence. Mr Selby said he thought party loyalty Was carried to extremes. Ho thought there should he more independent members. The parish pump member was not a very high stamp. Mr McMillan said we all agreed that our members were too loyal to party. The wish of party should not ho greater than the will of tho people. Mr Traynor said if we turned out the present dependents we would get other dependents. In parties men must sink their opinion for the good of their party. The great factor was eliciting men of integrity whom we could trust.

That ".Tack was not as good as bis master." by "MY TTensman, was controverted by the speaker. Ho said that if there had been no "Tack" there would have, been no master. •Tack bad created the wealth, 'but the master had got .hold of the greatest share. -Tack was a'Uvays a, working machine or n producing machine. ' Ho considered "Jack" equal if not superior to the master. It had often been argued that because the master held the greater portion of wealth he had tho most brains, but this was not so. Ho had known carpenters who had become employers because they wore not good tradesmen. Mr Gunning complimented Mr T-Tensniaii. Ho said, with "Pat," that "-lack was .a* good as his master and better." He contended that the master often had to do more work' than "Jack-, and had less to draw. Tn support ho quoted a year of the incomes of the dominion, and the relative wages.

Mr Selby agreed with _Mr Hensman theoretically, but in practice "Ja r k" was not as good as his master.

Mi- McMillan did not think Mr TTensman had put forward his side of the question seriously. Hut only for the- sake of causing the debate. He dwelt on tho responsibility of the master and the extra weight ho cjirric'l in management.

Mr Ti-iynor took the converse of Mr TTensman's argument, and said if there was no master there would be no workman.

The Rev. M'-ivr-nz'o said it -was like the puzzle: "Did the egg or the hen come first?" A man must prove himself and obtain wliat lie was worlfhv to be.

TIIIO POLITICAL PARTY QUESTION.

" That a change of party would be good for New Zealand'' was the next -discussion. Mr McMillan .said there was nothing to -argue about on this; in fact, everybody was in favour of it. He. stated the, land policy of the parties. He attacked the Civil Service appointments find what, he termed "the corruption therein."

Mr Selby said the title of the speech was not such a.s given by Mr MeMilla.il) but he thought the speaker had handled his subject well.

Mr Traynor said if a party was doing well for the country it dfd not matter how long it was in power, .a change might not he so advantageous. It was hotter to put up with the evils We had than lly to those wo knew not.

Mr Law, junr., debated "Who is going to be Sir Joseph Ward's successor?" He said he thought Mr Massey would be next Premier, but ho would not last long. Ho would soon be followed by a Radical party. Mr Gunning contended that it was a matter of "ins" and "outs." The electorates became "demoralised by grants." He would not express an opinion on what party should succeed at next election, but lie was sure if Sir Joseph Ward wont back it. would be with a reduced party.

Mr Selby was open for the job. Ho knew, but was not going to tell, who would he the .successor. Ho did not think Mr Massey would bo tho next Premier. Ho thought a, Radical party would come to power.

HKREDITAin: TITLES. Mr Tra.y-.ilor affirmed "That 'hereditary titles are relics of the Middle Ages, and should not ho introduced into Now Zealand." Ho stated a great cry had been raised when the cables announced that Sir J. Ward had been created a baronet. He had his doubts about hereditary titles, but was in accord with the bestowing of titles for merit. The descendants on whom hereditaiw titles would fall might bo worthless persons. He was against introducing hereditary titles into New Zealand. A title should only be awarded to a person distinguishing himself and not to his children or descon dents.

Mr Judtl fully agreed with Mr Traynor. Ho considered the system of hereditary titles was wrong.

Mr S,dby laid the blame on the ladies, .as it was thev who induced the men to accept a title. He quoted Bnrns's lines "A man's a man for a' that." Ho condemned hereditary titles for this democratic country.

Rev. Mr McKcnzie instanced democratic America and its hunt far titles. He was fairly pestered with titles in America. Nearly every man had a title such as captain, colonel or doctor. But there were some worthy descendants of noble families. Wo should look at hoth sides of the (juestion. He took the members to task for all in the one direction; viz.. to Sir Jos. Ward. This was a "parish pump" outlook. THE RIGHT HON. MR GARDINER. "What T shall do when I am Premier" was discussed by Mr Gardiner who said the first thine; he should do would be to provide his own salarv. Ho dwelt strongly against capital punishment. He would abolish the present law of industrial awards, as the wages were fixed for good and- indifferent tradesmen .--.', ." - ' • ™ <r- ! '" ■ -. * •■- JL '

nlike He would disfranchise % ladies. He would reduce the old ago pension age from 60 to .W. NOT ASCERTAINED.

The Rev. McKenzie was drawn to sneak on "The turning point of my career." Ho could not locate the turning point. He did not know where "it commenced and where it would end. There- wore two things whieh had made his life what it was: the first was "getting a billot" and tho second losing it. Mr Selby, with some humour, narrated an incident in the Sankey and: Moody meeting (which "fetched'' tho meeting). Ho followed this by another little experience in a Paris Opera House, which was a comolete "sell."