THE HUNTLY PRESS. PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT 1 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1914.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 17 April 1914, Page 2

THE HUNTLY PRESS. PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT 1 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1914.

The departure of “King,” Te THE Rata and the NATIVE “ ro f al ” P ar ‘y f to “ KINGSHIP." s ?, ek redress for alleged grievances from “the great white father ” in London —though it bora greater resemblance to a scene from Gilbertian opera than an episode in twentieth century life —shows that, like the English in the Stuart times, the native race is divided into two distinct parties : lone, imbued with the idea that the “King’s” word is laAv, that he is the law, and that when he speaks “ no dog should ope his mouth;” the other a democratic body, believing that the “King” is the subject of h s people, and that his will should be subservient to that of the majority. The conflicting ideas of medieval and modern monarchy found full vent at the recent meeting, and introduced a tendency to revolution on the part of tribes that hitherto have been thoroughly loyal to the kingite party. Whether tho difference of opinion will lead to disruption remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that the king’s departure will add to the ranks of the native party that is advocating one law and one king for the pakeha and for the Maori. Writing in the “nineteenth cenTAXING fury,” Dr. Douglas BACHELORS. COm T 6ntS ?“ c thG numbers ol fine, strong, good-looking girls to be seen in our streets, most of whom have absolutely no chance of marriage, though endowed by nature with every capacity for becoming happy and contented mothers. The article for its object the improvement of the state of those who, for no fault their own, are condemned to a life of single blessedness. The remission of taxation of so much - per head for each child is a first step that might be carried further by the total remission of taxation for ten years of income tax on all newly married men whose income is £3OO a year or l less, with half taxation for the . next five years, the loss to be , made good to the State by the j- imposition of a double tax on all , bachelors over thirty years of , age, with a supertax on them of all incomes over £SOO per annum. This method would offer a bonus to eligible bachelors, while it would penalise the selfish and unpatriotic who attempt to evade their duties as citizens, and, at , the same, improve the matrimonial chances of eligible spinsters. Dr. Douglas also advocates preference in appointments to young married men, or those about to marry. This is all well enough from one point of view; and leaves out of account the penalties to be imposed on spinsters who prefer t He freedom sacred to single blessedness to matrimonial bonds and matrimonial responsibilities. In the “ bad old days,” when the Ballot Act had ■ not found its way on to tho ■ Statute Book,votes had a consi- ■ derable intrinsic value, and theii ■ possessors regarded them as ■chattels which were easily and ■ readily marketable. Old times, ■as far as Great Britain and ■her colonies are concerned, have ■changed, and old customs have ■fallen into disrepute, while,by the ■advent, of women into the arena Hof politics, it is alleged that an ■Tera of purity has been introduced that will never admit the re-introduction of old, and, time dishonoured customs. While the barter of votes for a monetary consideration cr for a ■quid pro quo ill kind belongs, as far as British subjects are concerned, to the past, in America, where the advent of women into politics has resulted in a change in the manner, treating is still practised. Wo read«. that in Illinois, a candidate for the office of aiderman distributed during one evening no fewer than 1000 boxes of candy among the enfranchised women, while a lady candidate, Marion H. Drake, exchanged the beer, which was formerly the currency of the campaign, for the coffee which was ladled out free to all applicants.. There has been a change, undoubtedly, in giving sweets to the sweet; but the principle remains the same. The arrival of Amundsen at the Antarctic ® l out / 1 ?°J e .f 110 }. Exploration * he \ erolc 'l eath . of bcott and his party might have been expected to induce cessation —for a time at least—to Antarctic exploration. Sir Ernest ohackleton, however, holds a different opinion, and proposes to lead another expedition across the Great Southern Continent via the South Pole. One ship will leave Buenos Aires in October next for 78 degrees south latitude, where, if a good landing is made, and tho ice conditions prove favourable, the shore party will disembrrk and proceed across the continent without delay. A second ship will leave New Zealand, and land a party in Ross Sea to meet the trans-continental party, the members of which will return to this Dominion. Under favourable conditions Sir Ernest Shackleton thinks it possible to accomplish the long journey in five months, but in order to be ready for all eventualities a base will be prepared in the Waddell

Sea upon which the trans-conti-nental party will fall back, should the obstacles be insurmountable during the first season. Shackleton’s former experiences will prove most useful, and, with proper equipment, lie is likely to succeed in his arduous task. He will study the polar' region carefully, will bring back data of great scientific value, and, no doubt, will recover for Great Britain some of the prestige lost by the successes of Peary and Amundsen.