Manamatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1894. The " Inevitable " Majority.

Manawatu Herald, 14 July 1894, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1894. The " Inevitable " Majority.

The book conc3rning Chicago which Mr W. T. Stead has just published, is, he tells us, applicable to all large towns, and apparently, to all communities. There comes a time when the senses of the respectable portion of a community get dulled and they become hopeless of effecting any improvement. When urged to arise and bestir themselves for the good of the common wealth they put off the work till public opinion is aroused, forgetting that they help to form that opinion. As it is in Chicago so ifc is in New Zealand, the majority, why termed the " inevitable " except from the hopelessness of the user, ifc is hard to understand, has crushed out the power of the Opposition in Parliament and in the country. We are not prepared to go so far as to say that the same tactics which bring victory to the Chicago ring are used here, as yet, but it must be evident to everyone that the retention of power becomes a passion and the determination to hold ifc at all hazard is soon decided upon. It is said by Mr Stead that the aldermen were in nine cases out of ten, disreputable and viscious vagabonds who could be bought and sold as hogs are bought and sold in the stockyards, yet when polling day came these men proved victorious, showing how strongly these men had cemented their power. A strong Opposition in Parliament and the country is our greatest safeguard, and when that gets weak we are only opening the door to opportunities that have been found in Chicago and acted upon.

The present Government are fortunately not so bad as the rulers of Chicago, and there is no need for ] them to be, but the power they possess is equal and it will be a wonderful thing if they do not get so accustomed to power and place as to turn the power entrusted to them to their own advantage. This is no far fetched H ca, move's the pity, as it must br* acknowledged that up to now thty have u.sed their position and their Parliamentary majority to very base uses, fo much so as to cause a few, very few however, of their supporters to rebel. This will trouble Ministers but slightly as long as too many of the " inevitable " majority do not go, aud for those who do, a punishment will surely be meted ont, just as surely as rewards :\-a1 favours have been distributed to those who are faithful. One course must follow the other or Ministerial power over their followers would be gone, and we are much interested in the fate awaiting the owners of some little conscience and independence. The law was made for tho people, not for Ministers, for, if necessary when they break any they have only to appeal to the majority to white-wash thetft by a, re_qliTtion or Bill. Last year Mr J. G. Wilson drew attention to the delay in publiahing the summary of the Public Account, and he has again called their attention to the breach of the Public Revenue's Act, but without avail, as at present it does not suit the Government to do so. Mr Wilson also brought under their notice that two other returns, one under the Post Office Act 1869 which states that a balance sheet of the Saving's bank must be laid' oh the table of the House within 14 days of the beginning of the Session, and one under the Native Lands Purchase Act which requires a return to be made within 20 days of the beginning of the Session, were not on the table. ,„ The Premjer instead of accepting this statement in a serious manner attempted -bluff with the Member, knowing he had a majority at his back. The majority cannot be " inevitable " if the law of tbe land is to be continually set at naught, members on the Government side must be credited with some fair share of common sense, and a repetition in wrong doing on the part of the Government cannot always command their forgiveness, and must eventually so strain rela*** tions as to snap their connection at any time. To dub the majority as " inevitable " is acquiessing in the hopelessness shown by the lovers of law and order in Chicago, and an acceptance of the present disgraceful state of public affairs until public opinion is aroused. We doubt very much whether the present majority is inevitable, we should be much more inclined to believe more fully in the membei'3 comprising that present majority and believe that before the Session is over the present numbers shown in divisions are unlikely to be anywhere near so great as they now are for the: Government. I

We are asked to state that there will be no Mass in Foxton on Sunday.

" The inhabitants of Levin indulged in a very pretty fancy dress ball on Thursday night, and many went to look on. One man unfortunately met with an unpleasant accident as when leaving the gallery he slipped on the stairs and fell heavily on his ribs, and not knowing the damage he telephoned to Mr Hamer of this town to go out. Though much bruised Mr Hamer was able to ease the patient's mind by. stating no bones were broken.

At the bottom of the third page will be found an advertisement from the Sydney Drapery and Clothing Company. They have just arrived and have opened this morning in Manchester House. The sale is for cash and to induce its expenditure the prices are marked on each article and will be found remarkably cheap. An inspection of the stock is advisable.

Whilst the Mayor was in Wellington, he made many attempts, with the assistance of Mr Wilson, to see the Premier re the plans for the bridges across the Manawatu, but owing to the Premier being so fully occupied he was riot successful. Mr Wilson has promised to see him the first chance he can get.

Last Saturday we published the first of a series of letters from Wellington written by a lady! Our correspondent touches interestingly and lightly upon the social doings in the Empire City with just a sketch of some of the costumes worn by the leaders of the fashion. We consider ourselves fortunate in securing suoh a correspondent and trust our readers may be also of that opinion. These we purpose publishing every Saturday, and the latest appears elsewhere.

We notice from our exchanges that owing to the resignation of the manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Marton it is mentioned that Mr F. J. Dignan, who some few years ago was in charge at Foxton, but is now at Temuka, will be hi*, successor. The Marton people will get a good banker and townsman when they get Mr Dignan.

In another column .Toe Tos advertises garden seeds for sale of his own growing, as well as fine samples of seed potatoes. As the price of these have, been fixed . very low, only threepence a pound being charged for garden* peas, the publio are likely to take prompt advantage of the reductions.

In a letter io the Daily Chronicle, Lon • don, Mr VV. T. Stead reports a decided success of the experiments made in curing half a dozen confirmed victims of drink by means of a new South American remedy. He states lhat the patients--three men and three women— have lost all craving for the drink, and loathe the sight or smell of it.

It is stated that the results which have followed the union in 1834 of the Methodist Churches in Canada have far exceeded the most sanguine expectations. At the time of the amalgamation, nine years ago, the membership of the various Methodist demoninations was 160,000, whilst the returns for the United Churches for this year show a membership of 250,---000, being an increase of 90,000.

The Mavylebone Cricket Club has unanimously decided that a side shall follow on if their score be 120 below their opponents' if a three days match, or 80 if a two days match. The new rule will come into operation next season, but the Club expects the Australian players will adopt it iv October.

Strike matters generally are quiet iv Queensland. Large reinforcements of police have been sent to' tho disaffected districts. James Martin, organiser of the Australian Labour Federation, was fully armed when arrested. The Pastoralists' Union have notified the shearers that uuless they sign an agreement befoie Monday, the Union will be compelled to engage new men from elsewhere, to whom they will give long terms of employment ; so that unless the strikers accept worknow they will be unlikely to gt*t any for some time.

A quantity of wreckage has been found between Paritutu and the Omata river. A spar which has beeu washed ashore evidently bolouged to a schooner of at least 100 tons, and the bulwarks and deokhouse tittiugs show that she was a fairly-sized vessel. There is nothing by which the wreckage can be identified, but it has ken in the. water fully 10 days, as barnacles were oin the spar.

Sixty-eight cases and packages of new and seasonable good for all departments have now been opened out for present season at the Bon Marche, and it is freely admitted that no such choice is obtainable in the district. Buyers are invited to make their selections early while first choice of this magnificent range of new goods is still obtainable at The Bon Marche. Ross and Sandford. — Advt.

Certainly the most effective medicine in the world is Sanders aud Son's Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effect in Coughs, Colds, Influenza ; the relief instantaneous. In serious cases and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds; burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy — no swellings — no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in Croup, Diphtheria, Bronchitis, Inflammation of the Lungs, Swellings, cfec, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Disease of the Kidneys and Urinary Organs. In use at all hospitals and medical clinics ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article and eject all others. — [advt.]

" It's an ill wind that blows nobody good " is a very ' old saying but none the less true. Whilst the great depression existing at Sydney at the present time, has caused a deplorable amount of misery, yet the people of Wellington and the sur rounding districts will reap a gigantic benefit. During his visit to Sydney recently, Mr James Smith purchased at absurdly low prices a large stock which is now being sold at the Wholesale Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, Wellington.

With a 'view of making this sale the event of the year, two special buyers were despatched from Te Aro House, one to attend the great sale of Edwards, Bennett & Cos. wholesale stock, and the other to pick out bargains from the manufactures of the well-known Kaiapoi Woollen Co. Both these gentlemen have returned after a most successful trip, and the total result of their efforts is to be seen in the astonishing bargains now being sold at the Wholesale Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, Wellington.

With all these advantages in purchasing, it would be strange indeed if the sale was not one to be remembered. Any attempt to enumerate even a tithe of the cheap lines now at the disposal of customers, would be worse than useless in the space at our command, but a price list which has been printed will be sent, post free, to the address of any person applying to the Wholesale Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, Wellington.

Everybody should subscribe to " Eaib Plat," the leading monthly magazine. Thirty slippages of reading matter and illustrations ; subscription, post free 6/6 per ye-r, payable in advance. McKee & Gambia, Publishers, WeJJingtoa.