The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, September 5, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1039, 5 September 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, September 5, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The rate demand notices have been issued by the Town Clerk and ratepayers are looking upon their increased demands with mixed feelings. The borough has been re-valued and there has been a general levelling up of values. In the past a number of sections in the borough were not bearing their lair proportion of the burden of taxation, while the change to rating on the unimproved value, imposed an increase on grazing laud. The re-valuation, while putting the laud on a more equitable taxation basis, has in some cases been excessively high. Against these values, however, owners bad the right to lodge objections and if they failed to do so within the time specified, and of which they received due notice, then they must abide by the consequences until a fresh valuation is made. The result of the re-valuation shows an increase over that previous of ,£33,027, (previous valuation ,£68,000, present valuation ,£101,027,) It will be seen, therefore, that the revenue of the borough will be almost doubled. But what has struck ratepayers “all of a heap” is the gas works levy of in the £, and until the works show a considerable increase in gas consumption, ratepayers cannot expect any alleviation. The only way to reduce this rate is to connect up and become consumers. The result of the re-valuation will hit the speculator on a vital spot and should result in a number of properties changing hands.

At a representative meeting of electors of the Manawatu electorate, Mr Meldrum, solicitor, of Hunterville, was unanimously selected as the party candidate to wrest the seat from Mr Newman, sitting and Opposition member. Mr John Stevens, who contested the seat in the Government interest against Mr Newman at the last general election, decided not to be a contestant, and it was on his motion that Mr Meldrum was selected. We think the old veteran,

Mr Stevens, is wise in deciding not to again enter the political arena, not because he lacks grit and mental ability, but rather on account of physical disability. This handicap would not prejudice his chances to the same extent if the boundaries of the electorate had remained as they were, but, in new country and among strangers he could not hope to succeed. Further, the candidate with the party brand is not now the same powerful factor at the hustings that he was during the Seddon regime. Electors are now keeping their eye on the man rather than the party. There is a change coming over the political life of the Dominion in this respect. Mr Stevens’ successor will have in Mr Newman a foemau worthy of his steel and a man who has become extremely popular in the southern part of the Mauawatu, but he is a stranger at the northern end. But what applies to Mr Newman in the south applies equally to Mr Meldrum in the north. The latter is a well-known professional man and very popular in the Hunterville district. Mr Newman is essentially a farmers’ man in a farming constituency. Mr Meldrum is a lawyer—and some people are of opinion that there are already too many lawyers in the House. Anyhow, the contest will be a very keen one as the parties are fairly evenly divided.

We are pleased to note that the police are not giving publicity to sensational rumours concerning the escaped criminal, Pawelka. No good can result from such notoriety. When his escape went forth people exclaimed another “good thing” for the newspapers. It may be a good thing for papers which cater lor depraved tastes, but it certainly doesn’t assist law and order. It also inflames the imagination of the young people, to whose untaught minds the escaped convict is converted into a hero of the “ Deadwood Dick” type. Scare news also has a very bad effect upon nervous people. The public may rest assured that the police are doing their best to recapture the man, and it is only a question of time when the long arm of the law will again have Pawelka in its embrace.

While on this question, it is pleasing to know that the Government —through Sir John Findlay —is making a careful study of criminology, and is adopting reformative treatment in respect to criminals. Solitary confinement, chains, and other horrors of the bad old system, are giving place to more scientific and humanitarian ideas. We don’t want our prison system to make criminals more hardened by reason of their incarceration. In order to get the best results from the reformative treatment contemplated, warders specially trained in criminology, should only be employed.

Mr Sidev’s “ New Zealand Mean Time" Bill has again been discussed in the House, but as before, did not get near the Statute Book. Mr Sidey proposes that every summer, commencing in 19x2, and on the first Sunday in September in that year, all the timepieces in the Dominion be put back one hour. Sir Joseph Ward said last night that the daylight proposal was a good one, and the world at large would adopt the system proposed in time. So far as he could see, the adoption of the measure could inconvenience no one. He suggested that the House itself should adopt the principle of the Bill, and sit from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. He favoured daylight sittings of the House. Most of the rows in the House now arose after midnight, and that was simply a matter of nature asserting itself. The Bill should have a fair trial throughout the country. It the provisions of the Bill were adopted bv everyone, little or no inconvenience would be experienced. He did not support the Bill on sentimental grounds. It was a practical proposal.’ Mr Buchanan said the country at large would not approve of the Bill. Mr Hauan did not think the Bill would work in the country districts. He suggested that the member in charge of the Bill should refer it to the responsible authorities in the country districts, to see if they desired such a measure. Mr Isitt, who was applauded on making his first Parliamentary debut, said he was not afraid of getting people up early. The “ Rip van Winkles ” were not on his side. The Bill would be a very great benefit to a great number of people. The Bill was mercifully killed at 12.45 a.m., after members had enjoyed themselves hugely at its expense, a motion to report progress being carried by 32 votes to 29.