The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 12, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1018, 12 March 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 12, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Licensing Committee election is being held to day. The polling booth is situated in the Masonic Hall. All persons whose names appear on the Otaki electoral roll, and who voted at the general election, are entitled to record their votes at this poll. There are eight nominations, and voters are entitled to vote for any number up to five. The poll closes at 6 p.m. We regret to state that very little interest is being evinced in the election at Foxton, but electors in the southern end ol the electorate are taking a livelier interest in the poll. It is a pity that electors do not realise the privileges they enjoy, for even in general elections many of them refuse to record their votes unless a conveyance is sent for them. Yet such people are ready enough to complain about maladministration and so forth, and what can they expect if they are too indifferent to even walk across the road to record a vote for the election of suitable men to administer their laws ? Our' people are blessed with the widest trauchise —a privilege which other countries are shedding their blood to obtain and yet many ol us are indifferent as to whether we exercise these privileges. It is hoped that Foxton will not record the lowest vote in the electorate at to-day’s poll, as they have the opportunity of placing a local representative on the Licensing Bench.

Ok the four national saints that adorn the glory and romance of the English nation—it is St. George, that stands out preeminently the saint of the people of England. As patron of the greatest nation of the world, St. George stands out for chivalry, honour, manhood —the characteristics of the people that hail him as cheir guardian saint. In the Old Country to-day the memory of Englishmen is quickened, for here and there Christian folk meet to thank God for the example of His glorious martyr —his banner is borne in procession, his flag floats from the church towers, and the devotion of England to her patron saint is recalled. We venture to suggest that if any public holiday is observed locally it should be this year on St. George’s Day. East year we were glad to note such holiday was observed on St. Patrick’s Day, and so this year it would be well to make the 23rd April a national observance of England's hero-saint. St. George reminds us of England and her greatness. In the 13th century the Red Cross of St. George was displayed upon the royal banner of the English Kings, and to-day the Union Jack, the national flag of Great Britiau and Ireland, consists of a union of the crosses of St. George, St. Patrick and St. Andrew. “St. George for Merrie England ” was the rallying cry of Englishmen on many a hard fought battle —and to observe St. George’s Day would be to inspire a greater enthusiasm in us who owe so much to the Motherland and her glorious past.