The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1913 NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1175, 22 November 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1913 NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Tim Horticultural Society is to be heartily congratulated upon the success ol its Spring Show, which completed a two days exhibition last night. This institution has been full of vitality since its inauguration, some few years back, and the enthusiasm its executive has never waned. The progress it has made in its administration bears evidence ol careful study of the successes and failures of like institutions in other parts, with the result that its exhibitions now rank, in almost every particular, second to none. There are a few minor matters which yet require attention, and no doubt these will be ventilated at the proper time. It will be noticed by membeis that the proposal made some time ago to restrict the Show to one day would have been a retrograde step, as the linaucial results ot the second day at the recent Show practically equalled those of the first, without making any material difference to the condition of the exhibits. The second day euvolves a little extra time on the part of the stewards, but there is no complaint in this connection. A suggestion is to be made by the President to fix the date of the Spiing Show a little earlier, in order to catch the blooms in their first openings—to fit iu more correctly with the nature of the local soil and climate. A further suggestion is made in respect to the cookery classes for points prizes, i.e., that only oue entry iu each section be allowed. The fairness of this is self-evidect. The good work accomplished by the Society is evidenced iu the improved, cultivation of local garden plots, which adds to the beautifying of our town and creates a wholesome incentive for finer tastes and a closer acquaintanceship with the fascinating study of nature. Tong live the Horti cultural Society !

It will be remembered that last week Mr Robertson, member ior this electorate, was refused admission on the Wellington wharf by certain special police, acting under orders. Mr Robertson’s dignity was wounded. Mr Robertson, on that occasion, saw and heard Colonel Heard giving orders to special police. Without being certain of the identity of the acting commandant of the forces, Mr Robertson asked a question in the House touching the incident, which brought forth a flat denial from Colonel Heard, the reading of which created an undignified scene in Parliament —for which Mr Robertson’s impulsiveness and injured dignity were primarily responsible. Mr Robertson now finds he wrongfully accused Colonel Heard, and has been com pelled to tender that officer an apology in person and in the House. Mr Robertson still maintains that he heard an officer ot “equal rank” giving orders to specials on the wharf. Mr Robertson’s present humiliation should make him more careful in the future.

Everything is quiet in the four chief centres so far as the strike is concerned. At Auckland and Wellington the wharves present a very animated scene, shipping operations being in full swing. In both these cities named the hotels are closed. Cargo is now being forwarded between Wellington and Lyttelton. Over a thousand men have now joined the new Arbitration Waterside Workers Union in Wellington and 900 were on duty yesterday. Splendid work is being done by the workers. Trouble was anticipated from the strikers on Thursday, but everything passed off quietly. The strike leaders are making a brave endeavour to hearten up the men out, but the outlook for strikers and their dependents is very gloomy. There is some talk of sending strike emissaries to Australia to tell “the true facts” of the strike to the Australian workers, and incidentally to lift funds to prolong a struggle \yluch is daily becoming more hopeless. The men out are tiring of the dailyration business and are realising what a cruelly two-edged instrument the strike is. The day is not far distant when these men will curse the Red Federation for what it is—and give it such a burial that its resurrection will be impossible—at least in this country. Labour will never come into its own until it severs the shackles which bind it to revolt! tion and anarchy.