The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, September 23, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1047, 23 September 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, September 23, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

According to the railway lime table, the train which leaves Palmerston North on week days, except Saturdays, at 5.35 p.m, is due to arrive at the Foxton station at 7.5 p.m., but of late it has been arriving at from a quarter to half an hour after the scheduled time. The Railway Department notifies that it does not pledge itself as to the despatch or arrival ol trains at the exact time shown in the time tables, but surely it could get a little nearer the mark than is the case with this train. It has been suggested that the time table be altered to read that the train will arrive at Foxton at say 7.35 p.m. This would allow ample time for the somewhat obsolete type of engine which is at present being used, to make the journey, and residents of Foxton and passengers would have some idea when to expect the train. At present it a local resident is asked what time the train is expected to arrive, the answer usually is “Oh somewhere between seven and eight o’clock.” The reason given for the late arrival is the amount of time spent at Rangiotu in shunting, but this dots not seem to apply to the Foxton to Palmerston train, as it usually reaches there well up to time. There is something wrong somewhere. If it is a fact that the increasing goods traffic is responsible for the want of punctuality then surely it is time that steps were taken to run a mixed train at regular intervals. The convenience of passengers and the commercial interests of the people in this district have been neglected long enough by the Railway Department and it is time the present system was brought up to modern requirements.

It is very doubtful whether the Foxton Harbour Board's Bill will get through this session. No obstacle will be placed in the way so far as the Government is concerned, but certain local authorities in tne proposed rating area have instructed their Parliamentary representatives to block the measure, and this can easily be accomplished by moving unnecessary amendments. The Chairmau oi the Board intends to

proceed to Wellington to-day in order to look after the interests of the Bill.

Mr. Byron Brown, the unofficial Opposition candidate for the Otaki seat, publishes his itinerary elsewhere in this issue. It will be remembered that Mr Brown ran the sitting member very close for the honour of representing Otaki in Parliament at the last general election. He is a fearless speaker and a hard hitter—perhaps a little too prone to discharge a maxim where a pocket pistol would be more effective. Anyhow, to use a vulgarism, “he lets it go.” We shall have more to say about this candidate after he has delivered his message. We hope the public will not lose the opportunity of hearing Mr Brown, and will judge him on his merits. So far, the only candidate who has addressed a Foxton audience is the Labour candidate, who Is the nominee of the Flaxmills Employees’Union. When speaking here, Mr Robertson touched on the labour and land questions; and promised to deal with his full programme on a future occasion. Mr Robertson is a resident of Palmerston North, and came to the Dominion some years ago. He is the secretary of several unions, and is the chosen candidate for Otaki of the N.Z. Federation of Labour. By the way, there are two parties championing the cause of Labour in New Zealand, one to which Mr Robertson is allied, and the Trades and Labour Council. The latter party have engaged the services of Professor Mills, who has set himself the herculean task of cementing Labour into a united whole. The secretary of the Flaxmills Employees’ Union informs us that Mr Robertson’s chances of success are very rosy. We have heard similar optimistic opinions about the chances of other candidates, but a time comes when there is a rude awakening. Anyhow, at the risk ot being dubbed parochial, we think that this constituency should elect a representative from within its borders, and in this connection Mr Robertson is a rank outsider. It is open for any candidate other than a resident to contest any constituency, and we are cognisant of the arguments on broad lines in support of this, but the fact remains that a candidate, other things being equal, who lives, moves, and has his being within the constituency is the man who should command the greatest support at the polls. What applies to the Labour candidate also applies in a lesser degree to the sitting member, yet while Mr Field’s place of residence and business are in Wellington, he owns a farm in this electorate. Each electorate in these days of enlightenment should be able to produce suitable candidates, without having outsiders foisted upon them.

In connection with the forthcoming elections, we desire to make it known to candidates and their supporters that the spirit of fair play will be accorded them so far as this journal is concerned. We will not allow any anonymous correspondence, but fair criticism above the writer’s name will be welcomed.

Somk doubt has been expressed as to the age of the late Mr Henry Burling. A correspondent, writing to the Dominion, says ; “In the Dominion of Tuesday I read the biography of Grandfather Burling (as he is generally called). It is all quite correct except the venerable centenarian’s age, and that is incorrect, for bis age is no years. Mr Arthur Burling has proof of this in the shape of Henry Burliug’s marriage certificate, where it says that Henry Burliug’s father’s name was Thomas (not James, as stated in the Dominion). Mr Burling was married in Essex, at Christ Church, and in Essex there were relatives of the name of Burling, and probably the one you refer to is a cousin of Henry Burling, as this cousin’s lather's name was James. Mr and Mrs Arthur Burling are to celebrate their golden wedding on December 23rd of this year.”

A good deal of bungling has taken place in respect to the enrolling of electors, and there has been a shameful waste of public money on what has been done, or left undone, in connection with the electoral census. Such extravagance is bringing the Ward administration into disrepute. What with census enumerators and changes of boundaries, confusion has been worse confounded. Sir Joseph Ward has admitted that the electoral census has caused confusion. Pie stated in the House this week that the difficulty was that some persons had not received the notices, and their names had been struck off. The rolls were being over-purged, but they would be all right in time tor the elections. If this result was not possible he would ask the House to pass an amending clause to ensure that every person over twenty-one years of age qualified by residence should have a vote. He would propose the engagement of enough officials to enrol them all. We would urge upon electors who are doubtful as to whether they are enrobed to make the necessary enquiry before it is too late.