The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1916. MR. ASQUITH’S RESIGNATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 8 December 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1916. MR. ASQUITH’S RESIGNATION.

(with which is incorporated The Taibapc Post and Waimarino News).

The political crisis in England need not concern the people of (his Dominion, only in so far as it affects the military and naval conduct of the war. It need not he regarded so much as a surprise even, for the Cabinet’s real disintegration commenced from the very outbreak of the war. Before that time it was largely a Germanophile

Cabinet, and even the then Minister

lor War was encouraging (he formation of Germanophile institutions and societies. By this we mean organisations in B'ritain for cultivating friendliness and good feeling with the people (hat were then perfecting their machinery for springing the bloodiest massacre upon their would-be friends the world has any conception of. Such a Minister of War. had, of course, to resign immediately on the outbreak, but those who supported or tolerated hrs Germanophile leanings were left. The Liberal position was then saved by the formation cf a National Government. but the men who before August, 1914, could not believe that Germany contemplated war with England

1 remained. It is now this almost child--1 ish belief in such men as the King of Greece and the German Kaiser by the remaining Liberal Ministers, with the Premier at their head, that has brought about the complete collapse of the Ministry as a recognised Liberal institution. There is no doubt at all that if what has happened in Greece and in Roumania, and similarly in other places, was foreseen and urged upon the Government, no adequate measures were taken to prevent them. So it is that this almost sublime trust in everything happening for the best has landed the Allies at a stage where they must either »change drivers or ride to destruction. As a peace-time head of the Government it is doubtful whether Mr. Asquith has his equal in Britain, but, as Mr. Lloyd George has stated, he cannot attend the meetings of Parliament, lead the House, and also attend two meetings a day, perhaps more, of the I War Council. Mr. Asquith entirely I agreed that the present War Council . was too large and unwieldy, and he was satisfied that a smaller Council would be more effective; the point of vital difference was Mr. Asquith insisted that he must be chairman, while Mr. Lloyd George agreed that the Premier, as head of the Government, should have the right of veto, but that his other duties prevented him from being an effective and useful chairman. The old Cabinet was too Gladstonian in its war thought to fully realise the most tragic paradox of our time In pre-war days, that in almost every country one of the most prominent topics of Parliamentary debate was the enormous expenditure upon armaments. The British Premier admitted it and deplored it, but no country by itself was able to arrest it. He realised that we had every appearance of being in a vicious circle, but —and here the Gladstonian element is obtruded —he said, if the disposition of the people is peaceful, surely it ought not to be impossible for a more genial political atmosphere to diffuse itself and pervade the great countries of the world. It was perhaps Utopian to suggest such an idea but there were hopes that an understanding, written or unwritten, would come before long that would put an end to the wasteful and disastrous competition between Britain and Germany i n hostile preparations. Sir Edward Grey, in those days, spoke very much in the same strain of thought. To us, who have to experience the result of such fateful hopefulness, it is difficult to understand why the people of Britain did not perceive in this fevered rush for armaments all the elements of a

national situation of absolutely firstclass significance. The long prepared and scientifically organised effort which Germany made to build up her national trade was bound to carry her into the next stage. Here it is we arrive in the presence of war, and after two years of the bloodiest struggle the British Cabinet is so clogged in its efforts for the Empire's freedom, by the same old-time Gladstonian hope fulness. History is repeating itself and once more hope without vigorous action has to give way to more vigorous prosecution of the war to enable us to retain the feelings of hopeful confidence we have not yet altogether lost. The crisis has come in a somewhat sensational way, but from the very nature of things it was imperative that hope should be superseded by action. The new Government, although it is believed that nothing Liberal in it will remain, excepting Mr. Lloyd George’s presence, will have no significance from a political party point of view. The King sent for Mr. Bonar Law, and he will, in all probability be Premier, and his Ministers will be selected from those members who have demonstrated their adaptabil ity for organisation, and a prompt and vigorous dealing with military problems. The War Council is practically to consist of Mr. Lloyd George and Sir Edward Carson, both having shown their supreme fitness by their achievements in the very recent past. The changes are not to be regarded as political, as they have come about purely to meet the exigencies of war. About all we shall experience by the change in New Zealand will be greater animation and determination in dealing with the Empire’s enemies; or in other words the prosecution of the war will assume a much more lively a"interesting aspect.

In Hawke’s Bay harvesters are being offered 2s per hour for eight hours per day this season.

A lost silver wristlet watch is advertised for, A reward will be given to the finder.

At a stock sale in Poverty Bay last week a fine line of 120 ewes and lambs from Mr E. Murphy’s property at To Aria brought 52s 6d.

The income tax in Australia is to be increased to 25 per cent., and an entertainment tax will be levied on tickets indeed over 6d.

Mr. J. D. Archibold, president of the Standard Oil Company, with which he has been connected since 1875, is dead; aged 68.

At the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday a Chinese greengrocer Hung Lee, was fined £7 for having unstamped scales, which gave shortweight, in his possession.

Ratepayers in the Raugitikei County are notified that legal proceedings will be taken for the recovery of all rates that ar c outstanding on the 14th December, 1916.

Mr. J. H. Thurston, headmaster of the Taihape District High School, has returned home from the Wanganui Hospital, where he has been under treatment for the past three weeks. There has been a slight improvement in his health.

A constable bound on a summons-ser-ving expedition last week, had a rather unenviable experience. One of his blue papers was a summons against a young man for failing to attend drill. AMien he enquired at the address given, he discovered that the young man was killed in action twelve months ago.

Two English girls were watching some colonial soldiers. “That’s a fine-look-in’ chap, that there Canadian over there,” said one. “He ain’t no Canadian; he’s an Australian,” the other answered. “How can you toll?” ‘ ‘Why, don’t you see, he’s got a kangaroo feather in his hat!”

The deed of transfer of the property at Grcytown, valued at about £20,000, presented by Mr A. P. Whatman, of Masterton, to the Patriotic Association, for settlement by returned soldiers, lias now been prepared. The trustees in whom the land is vested intend visiting the property at an early date, with a view to cutting it up into suitable sections.

The many friend of Mr and Mrs AY. D. Livingstone, of Ruanui, will sympathise with them in the loss of their, third son, Charles, aged 17 years, who died at Masterton on the 3rd iust. Air and Mrs Livingstone’s two older sons are both at the front, and the one that has just died was looking forward to enlisting when of age. The Rev Catherwood, late of Taihape, conducted the funeral service at Masterton.

The lady auctioneer has arrived. Miss Rougette Radcliffe is now acting in that capacity at the Cattle Market at Chepstow, says an English paper. Before entering this profession Miss Radcliffe was war cook for half a year for the wounded soldiers in a Gloucestershire hospital, and for another six mouths acted as lady chauffeur. She is now filling up the position which was vacant owing to the auctioneer being called up for. military service.

Women conductors arc to bo appointed to act on the Invercargill tramcars. The proposal was discussed at the last meeting of the local Borough Council. Mr O’Byrne alone opposed the innovation, as he considered that there were plenty of unfit men available. Other councillors staunchy supported the cause, and expressed the opinion that women conductors would prove as good —and very probably better —than men.

The fine weather which has prevailed for some days has, unfortunately, come too late to save the strawberry crop, states the Auckland Herald. It is now definitely stated by growers that the season will be a very light one. Nearly all the early fruit has rotted on the beds through the constant rain, much of it never ripening at all. It is considered that the season will be at its best this week.

M. Maurice Maeterlinck, tlic Belgian author, has sent a message to the American people urging America to place herself at the head of a league of neutrals with a policy of action, not of protest, to force Germany to cease her inhuman policy of the deportation of civilians. He mentions that 40,000 Belgians, under, forced labour at the point of the bayonet, are digging German trenches at the back of Soissons. They work in the first lino of trenches under fire.

During the recent whaling season Mr J. Berano’s whaling party captured 34 whales, one of which was a valuable right whale. Prior to the war a whale of this species was valued at £SOO. The Baidick party was not so successful, capturing only seven whales, ail of which were humpback. The Peru no party had in use a now boat of .120 h.p., as well as two other smaller vessels, while Baidick ’a carried out operatbu.s I a two new boats, of (55 h.p. and s' h rosncetivclv.

A cable message says Hans Richter, the great German musician, is dead.

A fast machine shearer is open for engagement.

An owner for a bcardy sheep dog is advertised for.

A smart girl as an apprentice to the sales department is advertised for by Mr. Spence.

A fast machine-shearer wants -in engagement at once, as advertised in another column.

The owner of a lost dog —beardy with a white face —can recover the same by applying to E. Woolston, Wai marine, and paying expenses.

A cable announces that from the beginning of February the prices of illustrated magazines will be increased by one penny.

Persons intending to send Christmas greeting cable messages to soldiers for delivery in England and France should lodge the messages not later than 12th December.

Mr. P. J. Murphy, of Taihape, has received word that his second son, P. A. Murphy, has been wounded in the arm by shrapnel. This is the second wound Private Murphy has received. Mr. Murphy has two other boys at the front.