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Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1925, Page 2

Tup Exhibition at Dunedin has been launched with great success. Ihe preliminary reports ol the great display to he made were in no way exaggerated. and the outcome is a pleased and delighted stream of sightseers. Erom the reports which have IH'O II perused would appear that the Exhibition is practically Empire in character, Iho Motherland is there with a very notable and distinctive display. Canada and Australia, sister Dominions, lend their aid. and New Zealand, provin-i-jally. lias dime right well. The display is something to lie proud ol imperially. while the Dominion display is in every way creditable and conspicuous. It is almost a score of years in e the Exhibition promoted by 11 to Coveniineiil was held in Christchurch, that was held to l.e a wonderful exhibition in many respects. Hut, in the interval. New Zealand in trade and (onuneree. and development, has outstripped herself, anil the great result i- rellected In the present exhibit ion. which is epitomising pre-cut dav history of New Zealand arts and crafts. The variety and setting of the Exhibition promises to lie specially edneatii nal. and it would appear all who ran, should make their wav to Dunedin while the great display is open. The management is to he complimented on the completcne-s of the arrangements. Although the management has been rest rieted to one corner of New Zealand, as it were, there i- nothing lacking apparently in the fullness of H preparations. In each and every department there lias been the striving after what was best. Tn music alone a great expenditure lias ln'eii incurred in preparing lo cater for patrons along special lilies. The amusement park will be something nl a revelation to New Zealanders who have not visited a similar kind of display in outside countries. Those are all of the plea sure-giving order, but in the solid educational value of the display it may be fullv expected that Otago dim Lion is not lacking. The expansion. not to sa.v expensive, display is essentially educational, and visitors in this outpost of Empire will leant mostof the Great Empire to which they are attached. It is well that it i= so. There are times when the forming mind of our youth should be instructed as to the might and majesty of the Empire. and learn why it is so. and why it should be maintained. The Exhibition will play no menu part in useful instruction along those lines, and nil that account should find favor with all who love their country and are proud of it.

Tin-: revival of lire outbreaks i.f ail incomliansi nature ii causing much uneasiness. The two latest outbreaks seem to hear undoubted evidence of incendiarism. Hi both cases material ready to assist the spread of lire was used, pointing to a definite conclusion. The realisation c-f such an unpleasant visitation is tansing much uneasiness in the public mind, and something should 1 c done to allay it. T hose who sudor from the fires will he sympathised with, and there will he a genuine desire to bring the culprit to justice. Just what can If done in the matter is hard to say. Imt it would lie helpful to have the police force strengthened to enable the night patrol to he more complete and general. AYhal could ho done by the public in the wav of a vigilance committee might he considered also, and working, in conjunction with the police, probably much useful work could he done. It might be advisable for a time to maintain the street lights to a later Imttr to assist in any patrol work, and the question of keening open the telephone service as an auxiliary aid. is worth considering also. The whole matter might well he worth considering at a public meeting to assist in fo-itssing local efforts in sndi a way that the present menace will he stifled. Probably if all outbreaks of tire were the subject of a close public investigation, a useful purpose would ho served in bringing out all available facts for public information. This is an aspect which might well he considered in cases where the

circumstances are suspicions at times when properties are insured for large sums. But in cases such as those lately tinder notice where circumstances point to the work of a fire raiser, the fullest public enquiry would do a measure of good. As the experience goes at present, it is hard to guage whose property will be next. The fire fiend is apparently not any respecter of persons. for even a snored edifice is not safe. The destruction of school and other property is to he deplored, and if anything can he done to cheek the practice which is all too prevalent, the community will he relieved. There remains the question of offering a reward. and probablv with the assistance of the insurance companies a goodly amount might he mentioned as a reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons who are guilty.

Sin Frf.pftuck T.avo has given the Dominion the benefit of his opinion regarding the easting of the 'Returning Officer's vote where there is a tie. Sir Frederick was nop ft great- Speaker of

the House- of Representatives, in any .sense of ithe word, and we doubt whether his opinion will carry any great weight on the issue in question. However, Sir Frederick qualifies even his august opinion regarding Vest-land due to the doubt in Itis mind ns to whether the Returning tuncor should give a thought to the Parliamentary seniority of the gentlemen, whose political fate was at stake. We take it, therefore that Sir Frederick’s dictum is very much at a discount. However, there is the Legislature Act to decide the question. If Parliament wished the question of a tie decided by any rule of the thumb it would say so. But Parliament has left the casting of the vote to the sclo judgment of the Returning Officer. Any gentleman holding so responsible an office must he expected to have a mind of his own, or he would have a difficulty in conducting an election. Admitting, therefore, that ho is the sensible man he should lr<?, lie must ho credit- for mature judgment, and that condition of mind fits him eminently to discharge the duty Parliament hn.s left to him. So far as Westland is concerned, the Returning Officer voted as his deliberate vote would have gone had he voted in the election. Thai is the best- answer to explain his easting vote, for it was his honest effort to do the right thing. A* to Sir Frederick Lang’s interposition his good taste may he brought into question as also the value ol his opinion seeing that while he questions •in act. lie quote's a ciriuimstaiiee which might well be a deciding factor in giving the fairest- decision possible in all the circumstances.