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Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1920, Page 2

In 1914, the Government legislated in haste with regard to the election of the Legislative Council, and ha« been repenting at leisure ever since. The war intervening, and a Coalition or National Ministry going into power delayed ‘the coming into operation of the 1914 act. Under that measure the Council was to become elective in 1916, and machinery was provided for dividing the Dominion into large electorates, and electing the members on a scheme'of proportional representation. However, not only hn« the act been shelved meantime, but the National and Beform Governments have successively been making appointments by nomination, despite thp )u----chinery being provided for elections.. Now the Members of the Legislative Council have taken the unusual course i of requesting the Government not to proceed with the proposal for an elective Upper Chamber. It is to the credit of the Leader of the Council (Sir F. U. Bell) that he voiced strong opposition '<> Hon. Gow’s motion last week, but then seems to be something of a hint that the motion was invited by the Premier, who stated he would welcome discussion on the subject. This appears an unusual course, in view of the fact that an elective Upper House was not only a plank of the Beform policy -but ,the. law is there to give it effc-t <f the Government care to exercise it. So we get back to the legislation done in haste. Mr Massey now professes to have his doubt# about proportional representation. Very well, ho has the power in his own hands to remedy any defect in the' machinery he proposes .to use, but this need not

jeopardise the. settled policy on the question—an elective Chamber. Wliat is now taking place suggests doubts as ;o tlie sincerity of the Government. Certainly, Sir Francis Bell lias spoken 'n no uncertain vray, but the motion itself the trend the discussion took, and the almost unanimous support it had, suggests there must' be something more in the political situation affecting the position than meets the eye of the distant onlooker of the political game. I Having affirmed a. principle on the hustings and endorsed it by an act of , Parliament, it would be expected that , a Government, would have some respect for its legislation. But as to an elective Upper House, the Getrernment professes to see difficulties now, which as professing statesmen they should have 'seen before hoodwinking Ihe people at large with, their make believe legislation. The reform of the Upper House lias been long demanded, and when it was made elective it was hoped that demand would he met; but the Government not only hangs back, but, also, fails to offer any reasonable explanation of the situatior

which is culminating. An elective Chamber would bo more in toucli with the people, and would carry more weight Under the nominee system it can he made to endorse the policy of the reign ing Ministry. Legislative Councillors

who gain their seats by nomination, | have no claim for reappointment however brainy they might be, if they are not supporting the Government for the ,time being. This is not a situation which fits in with the ideas of democracy. If the Council is to exist, it should be composed of members placed there by the peoples’' will and not,at the whim of the Government. In -the latter event, they but re-echo the will of the Government in power, and this in view of the need for economy is an unnecessary expense. The virtues of a second Chamber can best be exampli- , fied by an independent body not beholden to any particular party for pow- , er. An enactment to avoid that eondi- . tion of affairs would remove one of the spoils which fall to the lot of the vie-

ors. An elective House would necesarily be a live House, and possess an nitiative which would be of advantage o the public weal. The principle of Section has been conceded by Mr Massey and the country will expect him ;o respect the law be lias made himself ind give it effect. iSome politicians are prone to forget promises by which they climb into power, and the Premier will be seriously guilty if he does not honor his pronounced promise to create an elective Upper House. Mr J. J. McKay of Hari gari, offers for immediately sale, purebred jersey calves. . The Secretary of the Hokitika Labour Party wishes to acknowledge the receipt of a cheque for £lO 10s from Butler Bros, of Ruatapu, for the distressed timber worker fund. A farewell social and dance will be tendered to Mr J. Haile, who is leaving for the North Island, at the Soutli Spit schoolroom on Tuesday evening. Sept. 21st at 8 o’clock. A/dmissior gents 2s, ladies Is. Excellent music and efficient M.C. Supper provided.— Advt.

A returned soldier, Joseph Stubbs, aged. 21, was found dead on Friday njght in a hut at Kpkiri, near Greymouth, with a wound in the heart, and a double barrelled gup alongside the body,

Replying to Mr Seddon in regard ro Greynionth railway facilities, the Minister of Railways said that it is intended to completely reorganise the station at Greymouth and lay it out. It may also /be possible to make some arrangement to rejieye thp difficulty pver timberstack ing Kijnv.ara. The Diggers Football C|,ul) hojd a presentation ball in

the the Drill Shed op Wednesday, evening when thp Southern pivis,iop'will present the Fowlep Challenge' Cup to the winners of the senior championship, Music by the popular orchestra.

Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, in the House on Friday asked if the Mining,, Amendment Rill would be introduced'"in addition to coal mine legislation. Mr Massey replied that the Coal Mines Bill >s in the stocks and will bo ready for presentation within a few days. The Mining Bill had not been started, but will come on this session.

Mr A. Dale County Roadman, leaves for South Westland to-morrow to join Mr R. Ritchie in exploring a new route for the Main South Road where i f crosses the Matakßaki Saddle at wliat is' kn,own as Slippery Face. As the name indicates, the roadway at the point referred to is liable to frequent slips. These have beep 'going on for years, with the result that t% road ; s now very steep and dangerous fop some distance, and to avoid the bad country a detour will be necessary, and to locate a suitable deviation route is now .the piisgidp gi fh.e party going soujth.

The Education D e J)or£ment has informed the GaptepbpFy Jjsdiieatfon Board thaf the increases to teachertj’ salaries will he distributed probably next month, and will date back to April Ist, Instalments of the cost pf living bonus that have been (JMribnfed are to be deducted from these increases. In view of this, the instalment of the cost of living bonus which would have beep paid at the end of the present month wil| n;»t be paid, as to do so would inyplyg. pa necessary clerical work.

The death took place on Saturday 3b South Beach, Greymouth, of a very old resident of the West Coast, in the person of Mt John Spencer, at the ripe old age of 85 years. Thp late Mr Spencer arrived in Melbourne from Ireland in 18G4, and after following the gold rushes at Ballarat and other parts of Victoria for two years, left for the West Coast rush, arriving at Hokitika in 18.GG. From there be came to Paroa and followed the occupation of a miner at the latter place and Welshmans, ultimately settling down on the South Beach, where he has resided for a period of 50 years. Deceased was a man of kindly disposition and always had a consoling word for those in trouble, and was highly respected by all who had the pleasure of .liis acquaintance. The late Mr Spencer leaves a widow and family of four, three daughters and one son, one of the daughters being Mi\s W. Glynn (Runanga). For influenza, take

Woods’ Great Peppermint .Cure 1/9 2/9.

The Wakaiti sailed for Okarito on Saturday night, arriving there at 1 Pmyesterday. Messrs W. McKay and Son offer a special discount of Is in the £ on all calicoes, sheetings, flannelettes, prints, etc., from to-day.

The St Mary’s euchre tournament and dance will be held to-morrow (Tuesday) evening. Good prizes are again offered for competition, and patrons can make sure of another good night’s entertainment. —Advt.

Every wearer of an H.B. hat endorses the fact that for quality and service, H.B. hats surpasses all others. Men’s fur lounge felts 2oj- to 39/6. Wool felt hats all sizes. from 12/6 at the New Zealand Clothing Factory.

An appeal has been made by the Women’s Benevolent Committee for left-off clothing and boots for children and adults. They are disappointed at no response and they now further appeal ,as these garments are urgently needed. Kindly leave them with Mrs Wood, lower Revell St.—Advt. The Government has decided that a bonus of 4d per lb will be paid on the production of the first 100,0001 b of gold, | marketable retorted quicksilver, free from all impurities, from any mine in I New Zealand, on condition that at least 40,0001 b is produced on or before March 31st, 1922, and the remaining 60,0001 b on or before March 31st, 1922.

The handsome silver Cup presented by Mr J. Fowler, to the Southern Division, is on view in Mr A. H. Lawn’s window. It will be presented at the Diggers presentation ball on Wednesday by Mr A. H. 'Lawn, Chairman of the Southern Division to the winners of the senior championship, the Diggers Football Club.

“There is plenty of good building timber ready for use oil the West Coast, declared the Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch, (Cr. J. W. Beanland), “but the millers are unable to procure shipping space to transport it to Lyttelton. One local merchant informs me that he has no less than 200,000 feet of timber awaiting shipment from the Coast, and cannot get a foot of it here on account of the shipping shortage.”

There is evidently money in old houses. In the course of the hearing of a claim for possession at the Magis* trate’s Court, Christchurch, an instance was mentioned of an old box of a house which had been condemned by the authorities. On the day on which it was condemned the owner set to work to “turn it into a bungalow,” as the city inspector, Mr L. Jiardie, put it, and it was sold shortly afterwards for £650, and was now let at 30s per week. “It’s what you might term an up-to-date bungalow now,” said Mr Hardie, amidst laughter, as lie left the witness-box.’

Dr Hay in his annual report on Mental Hospitals, says of the institution at Hokitika. —Visited February, June, f 920. A house planned .or a Medical Superintendent could not be proceeded with. I was unable to lease a suitable residence pear the institution, so, in the meantime, tiie old arrangement of a lay Superintendent and visiting medical officer has been continued. It is hoped that we (shall soon be i)f a position to place this institution op the same footing as Nelson. In saying this, one must give credit tp Mr Sellers foi the knowledge and energy he brings to hear in n]l departments of lps work, rendering the change over fp H ie piedi-cal-control system less urgent than it would otherwise nave been, and thank him for placing an extension of these services at the disposal of the Department, pending accommodation being provided in the near future for a Medical Superintendent.

Mr T. H. Hamer, formerly the principal Private to the late’Mr Seddon, afterwards TJ'nder-Seeretary of Mines, and later ill the High Commissioner’s Office" in Londoi), has severed his connection iyith flip New Zealand Government, Air Jlampr is returning to New Zealand by the “Wiltshire,” and is expected to visit the Coast shortly afte'r his arrival. Mr firmer is interested in mining in the Thames district, and will investigate a mining proposition at North Tcremakau, where the Hohonu Company has ajarge alluvial property. It is expected'this proposition will be taken up for development by a largo company to be promoted in England, and Mr Hamer will report in detail on the proposition. Additional areas of ground have been taken up lately by the Hohonu Company. CLINCHER CROSS MOTOR TYRES give the .longest life—wholly reliable in wear, in Ihe largest rubber manufactory in .the whole Empire .Allgarages can supply.

Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, For Coughs and Colds' never fails 1/9, 2/9. Linoleum! Linplgqjp J We have just landed a high quality linoleum' upVtodate patterns, at a reasonable price. Inspection is invited.—Schroder and Co. —Adyjt. For Bronchial poughg, tape Woflds' Grpajb Ppppprjpjpt Gpre 1 /9 2/9.. Afper theatre, dance pr PWty “NAZOL-” Prpvent§ chill from changing atmospheres. Convenient ipr pocket oj- beg- I s 6 d f£ » r 60 <to ses - j