The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, March 28, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1024, 28 March 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, March 28, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

There is a feeling in certain Labour circles that Messrs Robertson, Payne and Veitch, by attending the recent Liberal caucus and voting for a leader, have practically sacrificed their independence, and are now to all intents and purposes members of the Party. It is open for the Labour three and Independents to explain the difference between a “caucus” and a “conference,” — oi course there is a difference —and it will require explanation, but it should not be so complex an explanation as the “ spirit ” and the “ letter ” ot a broken pledge. Mr A. H. Hindmarsh, the Labour member who did not attend the caucus, makes no secret ot the attitude he takes up in the matter. He inlormed a pressman that he considered that his colleagues had made a mistake, but that he did not anticipate any breach in his working relations with them on that account. “ When a Labour member begins to consort too much with Liberals,” remarked Mr Hiudmarsh, “it tends to interfere with his freedom of criticism, I want to preserve my attitude of criticism of both parlies, looking to the time when the Labour party will be in office. If a man assists to elect the leader of another patty than his own it undoubtedly interferes with his freedom 10 criticise that party.” To another question Mr Hiudmarsh replied that he would consider it a profound mistake if any labour member accepted a portfolio in the new Cabinet- More than that, he considered it a mistake that would have to be actively resented by the Labour parly. All these points indicate that there is trouble looming ahead.

So.Mii time since we extended hospitality to a visiting pressman. During a ramble along out back, thorough lares, he noticed a depression in the nufonued tool way caused by the wind shitting the sand. A resident, in oulet to stop the drift, had deposited some ttibbish in the dcptesMou. The lynx-eyed visitoi look a mental note ot the tact, and saw m it some justification ot his visit to onr progressive town. When he returned, the journal with which he is connected, heaved the slab at us which we reprint below. We saw it pass from newspaper to newspaper, from one end of the Dominion to the other, but ignored it until a Tasmanian journal containing the item was brought to us yesterday. Here it is : Various instances of resource-

fulness on the part of municipal bodies occur from time to time, but for far reaching economy the medal should be awarded to Foxton. There, gravel is scarce and sand is plentiful; consequently the footpaths cannot stand much wear and tear. What is probably a unique method of repairing the thoroughfares has therefore been adopted. It consists of filling the depres-

sious with rubbish—common refuse of the rag and bone description. Apart from saving expense of procuring metal, it is understood that the system acts in a protective manner by inducing people to walk round instead ol over faulty portions ol the street.

To divulge the writer’s name to our city fathers, would be imposing upon the gentleman with the fertile brain a sentence as merciless as that enforced by the Black Hand Society.

Mr Parkinson, head teacher of the Wellington South School and secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute, came in for a severe mauling by a few members of the Wanganui Education Board at its last meeting. Mr Parkinson’s alleged offence was in publishing certain information be had been given in confidence by certain Boaid members and inspectors touching the Stagpoole appeal case, prior to its hearing. As is known the Educational Institute took up Stagpoole’s case, and appealed against the Board’s action iu dismissing him, and the appeal went against the Institute. It was Mr Parkinson’s duty to investigate and collect evideuce on behalf of the Institute. During such investigation certain information was obtained including the contents of letters which the Board’s chairman had received from one of Mr Stagpoole’s subordinates. Whether Mr Parkiusou is deserving of the condemnation he was subjected to at the Board meeting or not is open, under the circumstances, to question. Knowing Mr Parkinson as we do, we cannot conceive of him acting as other than a gentleman. As a tespousible and gifted teacher of many years standing, he has by precept and example both in and out of school, moulded the lives of hundreds of boys and girls, who as men and women are prepared to back Mr Parkinson’s code of honour against that of any Board member in the recent Stagpoole case.