THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 31 March 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Peace Celebration And Peace Memorial. These two important matters will be fully discussed at a public meeting, to to be held at Brights’ Theatre on Friday evening, convened by the chairman of the Otaki Patriotic Society. It is quite likely that the formal peace celebrations, .which will be hold simultaneously throughout the British Empire, will take place a few weeks hence, therefore there is no time to be lust, and it is quite time that preliminary arrangements were made, if wo are to have a celebration worthy of the occasion, and a credit to the district. The matter of the peace memorial is not so urgent, though in that matter also it would be well to have some definite object in view. A T arious suggestions have been made public, but most of these have lacked definiteness. A prominent member of the local Patriotic Society suggests that a prize be offered for the best suggested peace memorial. This step has been taken in sene districts, with excellent results. Not only have some splendid suggestions been made, but the publication of the competitors’ views has created considerable public interest in the whole question—a very desirable end. AVc would urge all who possibly can to attend Friday night's meeting, not only local ctizens, but any residents of the outlying centres who can make it convenient to be present, for these matters should be dealt with on a broad basis, and not be confined to Otaki.

A Sanitary Bonfire. In connection with peace celebrations, we commend to our readers the suggestion thrown out by Dr. AA'hitaker, of Palmerston North, in our correspondence columns of to-day’s issue. Dr. Whitaker's suggested bonfire has much to commend it. The bonfire itself, if properly managed, would be a fine spectacular display, while the destruction of 4 disease-laden refuse that is allowed to steadily accumulate in the bestregulated of households should go for to ensure an improvement in the sanitary condition of our homes. This gigantic spring-cleaning, if carried out in a thorough manner, would be a splendid thing for the whole Dominion, and we hope to see the matter not only discussed at Friday night’s meeting, but carried into effect.

The Chautauqua System. The Chautauqua system of conducting their visits does not appear to havcbeen altogether a success, in many parts of Australasia at any rate. In a considerable number of instances — Levin was a notable exception, the local organisation being excellent there, and the visit a great success—the Chautauqua visits were anything hut a financial success, and some little unpleasantness has been caused by the squeezing process that has been imposed on the guarantors to make good the deficit. Judging by some of the Australian newspapers, in near!}’ every instance the ventures in the country districts of New South Wales resulted in deficits. The ‘'Young Chronicle 5 -' (New South Wales) reports that the Young guarantors put in £4 fis each without a murmur to make good the, guaranteed £300: Cowdra guarantors had to pay in no less than £9 10s each. Mudgee £(5 each, Bathurst £5, Woollongong £3 13s lOd, Orange £3, Lithgow was £157 short, and Cowdra £197. In some instances the collection of the dc-iicit caused friction, and we read that at Mudgee the Chautauqua business representative in; ends Sto enforce payment, while the guarantors (acting under legal advice) state they will contest the claim. The “-Gosfortf Times " (N.S.W.), in commenting editorially on the matter, says:— ‘(Quite a number of ifudgee citizens will have long and painful remembrance;-of Chautauqua and their incursion into the * edueaf lions! uplift. 5 bm.ine*- s■ exploited by enterprising Yankee;."

Labour and Prohibition. It is significant that Labour is taking a keen interest in the forthcoming i licensing poll, and rightly so, for the 1 liquor Iraflic vitally affects the labouring classes. The “Maoriland "Worker,'' the official organ of the New Zealand Labour'Party, in its last issue, comes out as a straight-out advocate for Prohibition. In a forceful leading article on the question, it says:—“To vote out the traffic is the clear duty of all who have the best interests of Labour at heart, and we call upon Labour men and women to do their duty on April 10th by striking out the top lino and giving a dcatli-blow to one of the worst, forms of production for profit.'’ Such a pronouncement as the above naturally causes elation in the ranks of the Prohibitionists, and dismay in the Trade camps, for Labour is, a mighty power iu the land to-day, and this is the first time that the party has taken a definite stand in favour of Prohibition. That fact is sure to have a considerable effect on the poll to bo taken on April 10th. Prohibition with compensation is not a plank of the Labour platform, but the “Worker 1 • wisely takes up the attitude that half a loaf is better than no bread, and, failing the inclusion of this issue on the ballot paper, calls on its readers to vote the next best thing, viz., Prohibition with compensation.