RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 589, 30 July 1913, Page 2

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker

The talking shop at Wellington is in full Blast and the members have had their opportunity, in tho Address-in-Reply debate of voicing the needs of their" respective districts. Needless to remark full advantage was taken oi.' the opportunity and there now reposes within the covers of Mansard much seless information oocenikig the various dist: icts of (he Dominion. The member for Tuumarunui in his speech covered wcMn'-ri'ul lot of ground,—but this i-; T.nle excisable considering the size of this electorate. His views on finance are well known, as are his opinions o:i backbllolck settlement. Mr Wilson did v.ot take long to acquire the knowledge that a backblock member's duty was chiefly concerned with roads and bridges, and his advocacy of the backblock needs is likely to be strengthened rather than diminished as time go.-s on.

The local Parliament has broken out in an entirely new place, an.l Irom playing the part of public instructor in matters political has adopted the lighter role of public entertainer. The breach of promise cas;i on Thursday and Friday last displayed the tact that dramatic talent of a high order was lying latent in the ranks of the Debating Society members. The public were evidently amu?ed for they filled the hall on both evenings, and there U now talk of a serious c-ifurt to stage a production which is to be written by a local author. For various reasons I sincerely hope the proposal will not. be persevered with* The lot of the humble journalist is not to be envied when the duty of criticia ing a local production has to be facr-d. The restraint exercised in reviewing the breach or promise case almost resulted in serious complications. When it comes to the case of a serious attempt at entertaining inhere is a risk of {restraint being thrown to the winds. Past experience of local productions in many lands leads me to enter an emphatic protest in the interests cf the fourth estate.

All roads lead to Wellington at the present time and the deputation craza has assumed such [proportions that it is now considered to be the duty of local politicians to lead a deputation tn the Minister at least once every session. Just now the Waiiomo County representatives are at the Em- | pire City advocating local require- j ments and any day we may awaken to : learn that at last a coroner has bean ! appointed,and the commission of pear,' has been extended. There are also certain other matters worthy oi attention,, such as subsidies to loan?. ! roading native lands, light railway?, j and the adoption of the metric system, j but doubtless these have already been ; placed before the authorise?. it is j rumoured that in consequent:: ot' a j recent brillnm perirrmance on dvs J part of the Debating Sodc-ly's doctor j representations an: to l>a mane. suggesting an addition H> the Health ! Departments sir.ii'. The popularity j of this doctor':: lymph is <aid ui _>>" : responsible for the manner m which his claims are being advocated. It is gratij'ying' to learnt hat a spe.'dy recovery ii predicted in the case ■ of ivlr C. 8. Brittain, of Te Kuiti. who i h at present undergoing treatment i-.t the Hamilton Hospital. Since his arrival in this district no:.i t'rcsoiuhj the genial "Dritt." has made hos-is of . friends, ar d even i:i his short stay j at the hospital ho will be missed. May j bis suffering be slight and Iris recov- | ery speedy is the genuine wish of all i thoja who have con;.: into contact j with the paten 1 :.

In bygone years ihe King Country acquired an unenviable ntme in cmnection with the liquor traffic, ihat the reputation was entirely unde served nobody will avow, and the old weakness for taking its liquor kindly appears to have remained undiminished in certain districts. There is a big iieid for argument on the staia of things which exists,and prohibitionists and moderates will contend according to their indiviudal convictions, as to whether the King Country capacity for liquor is the cause or the result of restriction. Personally I have a shrewd idea that the reason lies altogether apart from any such consideration;-. We are a young commun.ty. thinking youthful thoughts and doing youthful deeds. A little of the irresponsibility of youth enters into most King Country projects, and the sporting spirit dominates our actions. Liquor is a luxury, and as such is a desirable element in social lite. When iL becomes a fancied necessity to a person the only remedy is sackcloth and ashes and total abstinence. Having arrived at that stage a man is justified in denouncing the trailic, and in posing as the brand plucked from the burning. In any case it is good for us all to realise there is danger in the cjp, and to point out to our brother the mote which threatens to obscure his vision.

These remarks are the result 01 statistics compiled by an enthusiastic amateur from returns garnered from many sources of the amount-, of liquor imported to the district. One might pen a scathing article cm the subject pointing out the Haws in the system which allowed the distribution of

alcoholic poison in such quantities throughout a prohibited district. On the other hand one might indite a withering criticism of prohibition pointing' out its utter useleeaness in curbing the natural proclivities of mankind, and advocating the establishing of hotels, or stale control, or any of the svstems favoured by tao various sections of the community. However the promptings of duty do not inspire me to efforts on. either line of thought. I am lost in wonder, not uniningled with awe. at the colossa thirst uf the hardy pioneer, and intend devoting some time to arriving at a