RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 432, 20 January 1912, Page 3

RANDOM REMARKS.

By "Onlooker."

The meeting at Te Kuiti on Tuesday night in connection with the lighting question gave rise to some illuminating eloquence, and the ratepayers listened to facts, figures, and general statements calculated to give them food for thought during many a silent hour. Uonfurtunately, the time allowed in which to digest the information and form a decided opinion was short, and many a conscientious ratepayer when recording his vote must have felt in doubt as to whether he was using his voting privilege wisely. That he did use his vote is commendable considering all the cireumstancse. On the one hand he was face to face with the emphatic opinion of councillors that petrol gas was the illuminant that was to revolutionise th° gas trade of the world. On the other hand he was confronted with the emphatic opinion of councillors that without electricity the town could be numbered with the non-progreasive centres that were too spineless and indifferent to accept the gifts the gods offered them.

Mr Finlay, while eloquently advocating the cause of electricity in order to illustrate the difference between the ratepayers adopting electrical or petrol gas lighting, drew a vivid picture of a person buying teapots from a local store. The golden teapot is a familiar term in many nolicense districts. Quite frequently it is regarded with admiration, and numbers bow the knee to it as a fetish to be worshipped. Hardened citizens greet it with almost familiar affection, while respect of various brands is accorded it by those who live with it on terms of intimacy. Still, three thousand or even two thousand eight hundred pounds is a fairly substantial price for even the most precious of teapots which would require to pour molten metal from its spout for a considerable time in order to produce the price.

Original ideas are few and far between. Even those thoughts which come to people as inspirations and are thoroughly believed to be creations of the individual brain, are but the same thoughts, with variations according to cicumstance, as have come to man in all ages. Nobody, of course, would claim that the idea of federation be tween New Zealand and Australia was original. The proposition was turned down years ago by the late Mr Seddon and was never seriously entertained by the public of this country. It is asserted on good authority, however, that the present federation suggestions were inspired by quite a different set of circumstances to the last. The totalisator commission has been touring the country and has seen that it is good. The wowser element has kept an observant eye on the prohibition poll, and the gaming legislation and judged accordingly. The Australian cow man has long envied his New Zealand brother, while the climate of this country has always been regarded with wonder and awe by Australians in general.

All things have doubtless operated to make it desirable toAustralia to become more closely knit to "God's Own Country," and the urgency of obtaining New Zealand cricketers to assist in Test matches must be apparent to all. These are but a few of the social and industrial advantages to be derived from union from the Australian view point, and doubtless corresponding disadvantages could be advanced including the outstanding drawback of having to listen to speeches from some of our politicians. Still, they would be willing to bear even this for the sake of the incalculable advantage of securing the Ohura Valley for a site for the Federal capital. The insurpassable features of the valley referred to have frequently been referred to, and travelling Australians have been greatly impressed with the potentialities of the locality. Unfortunately, negotiations for federation would hang up the work on the railway and this dream of federal greatness must be allowed to pass.

Socialism is a wide term and may include in its breadth all sorts and conditions of people of every grade. "Cook's son, Dook's son, son of a belted earl," may each and all be firm and consistent believers in Socialism as it is viewed by each individually, the alluring feature of the doctrine being that it is merely a doctrine and not applicable to every-day conditions all at once. Like many other good things too numerous to mention, it has to be applied in small doses and not too frequently. As a matter of fact, the world is evolving towards a Socialism of its own despite the ebullitions of cranks, and the time is coming when the lion will lie down with the lamb in self protection. What the lion is and what may be the lamb, I leave for the reader to decide. There is nothing like leaving a question open in order to have it settled by popular vote. This remark is about as clear and definite as are the aspirations and logic of the average Socialist.