POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 242, 12 April 1912, Page 3

POLITICS.

THE HON. G. LAURKXSON'S CHALLENGE. There is a good deal of talk in town concerning Mr. f F. M. B. Fisher's acceptance of the "Hon. tt. Laurenson's challenge. The idea seems to be abroad that the 'Minister issued a challenge for a debate. (My notes do not bear this out. He said that certain charges had been made against t/he Government by the Opposition during the general election struggle. "He intended to come to Stratford in a Jew weeks, he said, and controvert those charges, and lie issued a challenge to Mr. Hine, or the best man the Opposition had got, to "answer any statement T may make," So probably the Minister will hold a meeting, make his speech, and leave 'Mr. Fisher to deal with it at a subsequent meeting.

STRATFORD GOLF CLUB. At the annual meeting of the Stratford Golf Club on Wednesday night, "Mr. A. W. Budge presided. The secretary (Mr. F. N. Fussell) reported that there was a debit balance on the year's working of £33 18s. The election of officers resulted as follows:—(President, Mr. A. W. Budge (reelected) ; vice-presidents, I>r. Carbery and Mr. I). F. Grant; secretary and treasurer, (Mr. S. Spence; captain, Mr. J. R. L. Stanford; committee, Messrs. Uniacke, Fussell and Spence, and Captain dampen; auditor, Mr. P. Skoglund. Thirteen new members were elected.

In returning thanks for his re-election, Mr. Burge said that trophies he had offered last season, and which had not been competed for, were still available for competition. The .President gave notice of intention to move that members living outside a radius of eight miles from Stratford be admitted at a yearly fee of £l, Mr. IF. W. ,Wake give notice to move that honary members be admitted at quarter subscriptions. It was decided to recommend the committee to arrange a short course for ladies, and to recommend the committee to arrange for the services of a professional. The appointment of Mr. Stanford to the local executive of the Sports Protection League was confirmed, and ia donation of a guinea to the League's funds was voted. A vote of t'hanks was passed to the president for the donation of two trophies for competition.

A GRIEVANCE. Mr. Arthur Cliff, secretary of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, has brought a grievance undeer the notice of the president of the Stratford A. & P. Association, and will .also communicate with the 'Minister of Railways on the matter. Mr. Cliff brought a couple of horses,down on Monday to compete at the gymkhana. A horse-box had been ordered at New 'Plymouth, but it did not come to hand, and he had to ship the horses in a cattle truck, first of all having to make it fit for use, it having been recently used and not cleaned out. Arrived in Stratford, he made arrangements to take his horses back in the same truck that evening, and ascertained t'he hour of loading, and so on. But by that time the-truck had disappeared. It had been sent down the line. A truck was not forthcoming by the next train, or the next, for both of which Mr. Cliff had his horses ready. But. he got away on Tuesday afternoon, having lost a day and been -put to considerable extra expense, owing to a mistake somewhere. Stock-owners will appreciate 'his position.

THE MAYORALTY There is a beautiful Uncertainty about the Mslyoral election: Nc( one' Seems to know for certain if tliere is to be a candidate at all. But this fact may be re]ied on—tha,t if either Mr. Kirkwood or. .Mr. llorison seeks election,he will not be elected unopposed.' , Jjist that much is said to be certain. In the words of th,e song, "There's a chance—for—us—yet.." , / . A DARK HORSE- IN THE RACE. •; "I say, Joe, ybu ought to know something atiout it. How do you stand for Rtayor?" . "Oh, you just stand, ahil if you get enough votes, you're Mayor. But what are you asking for"? Going to have a go'!" : "Never know, you know. ,Toe laughed "fit to kill." | "You needn't laifgli,. "There's fifty ilovely golden.fluidlets every, year in the job, ancj. there's nothing to do but take ' the chair at,meetings antl .see the borI ough overseer dpesn'.t overwork the horses. Dead simple, call it." The laughter went on, but Herodotus was serious. . "Look hqre. old chap. Why shouldn't I have a go? But I want to know how it's done." ,

"First, of all, .you tell your pals you're coming out." , "Yes." "Some of- 'cm 'll -laugh nt •'Of course, but only the fooU " 'Wait cm. Don't interrupt. Some will •say 'Go in and Win. old man.'" , . "Yes. tluit'S the talk" " ""'Keep (juiet till f finish. Yon don't take any notice o' i Why?" "tWeir, 'because all men are liars in some matter,-*." . "Well, how's a fellow to know whether to 'stand ?" '•Better have a yarn'with 'Phil Skoglund. or the Mayor .about it. But be careful. You may lose ten .'(juidlets,' as you call them., instead 0/ making fifty.' llerotodu.s is' walking about and wondering. He confided in me. He told me that, the job was going.begging. Xo one seemed to want it, and he reckoned it was a ease of -first- -come, first served. If he decided, why other likely aspirants, amongst whom are numbered Messrs. Kirkwood and Morisou, will have to look out, for "Hero-and-the-rest-of-it" is dangerous when he's going.

MORE LIGHT .Whilst we frequently hear stories of extravagant expenditure of public moneys by the general government. 110 one, I think, lias ever been heard to complain of any waste of electricity in the lighting arrangements at the Stratford railway station. This being a station at which north and south trains meet and pass several times a day, the passengej platform is of very considerable length; and a big part of it is not roofed in. No complaint is made, however, on that ' score. The nights are dark now when

the express train meets the south train hero. And it seems darker than usual on the railway platform, but that is only fancy. Tt rains sometimes in Stratford, and if there is a shower hanging around there is always a strong possibility of its choosing to fall just about when the evening trains are due. For about ten or fifteen minutes before the due time of arrival of these trains there i» necessity for the platform to be lighted up. (But it is not. People stand about, or push and bump one another in the darkness, until the train is just about to enter the station. Even if the train is an hour late there is no attempt to light the platform. till near the actual time of arrival. As the railway authorities do not send out messengers to interested persons announcing that the trains are running late, intending passengers and their friends who wish to see them off hie themselves to the station according to the scheduled time-table. And those wishing to meet friends naturally do likewise. All of these people are entitled to have the platform lit up about ten or fifteen minutes before the scheduled time of arrival. And, in passing, the lamps in use might well .be replaced by others of a greater candle-power. And it is not quite fair that the passenger who has just secured his luggage from the miscellaneous collection dumped down on the platform from the guard's van should be left in the darkness as soon as the train has drawn out of the station. . The other night the red lights on the guard's van of the mail train had not crossed . Regan street —which is -within a few i feet of the headlight of the engine as i.t takes its drink—when the lights were all switched off, and the passengers had to dodge a trolley or two, baggage, fellow passengers, and so on, in the dark. It is a very little matter, perhaps, but a little more consideration for the feelings and the shins of the people would not be amiss.

BERNARD'S PICTURES. Eider Haggard's marvellous mystery drama, "She," one of the most fascinating photo plays ever seen, is to be shown for the last time in Stratford to-night. Patrons of His Majesty's Theatre are loud in their praise of it. "It is never too late to' mend" isf a novel that most of us have read. Love and hatred play, their parts in the story, the former true, J unselfish, unswerving; the hatred intense, j devilishly cunning. We know the story of how John Meadows seeks to ruin George 'Fielding and to rob him of his sweetheart, Susan Merton. How, when George leaves for Australia, to win wealth in that far-off country, he compels the postmaster to hold back the man's letters to Susan; how, learning of George's intended return, a wealthy man. i he determines by underhand means U i prevent his return to claim his own. j We see some of the evils of the old J English convict system, by oue of whose j victims Susan and George at last are I brought together, John Meadows outi witted and disgraced at the very moment when he reckoned success and the girl , were within his grasp. Allowing for the necessary curtailment of some of the details of the book, the story is vividly depicted. In brief, so comes the word from the great centres where this thrilling picture has been screened, "It is j never too late to mend" will be diseovj ered m its condensed form to be a wonderful and telling romance of love, hate and adventure. The film will be shown for the first time in Stratford next Monday niglit at His Majesty's Theatre.

GENERAL NEWS. Miss Nora Crozier, of New Plymouth, has been engaged by Madame Bernard as piani&te in the Elite Orchestra at His Majesty's Picture Theatre, succeeding Miss Winnie Connell, who will leave at the end of thi» week. The Mounted Rifles are holding a parade to-day. Officers and men are certainly to be complimented on the splendid progress that is being made. Tke corps is, on the whole, well mounted, and the troopers are rapidly improving in their drill.

The following letter received by a very well-known figure 011 the New Plymouth to Hawera trains should nearfy explain itself: "Dear Mr. , five long-suffering neighbors have decided that the time has come to stop your dog's incessant bark. Will you be the sixth, and thus consummate our earnest desire for a little quietness in the evenings?— Yours faithfully, One of Them." The Whangamomona Liberals intend entertaining Mr. Joseph McCluggage at a banquet some time during the coming month. The date will be fixed, I'am told, to suit the convenience of the Prime Minister and the Hon. G. S. McDonald, Minister of Public Works.

It is stated that the Opunake railway commission will visit Stratford in the course of the next few weeks. The personnel of the commission is not disclosed.

On Wednesday evening the congregation of the Wesley Church wished "God speed" to their departing minister and his wife. The evening proved very enjoyable. Mr. J. Masters, the senior circuit steward,- in a few remarks pointed to the progress made by the church, both spiritually and financially, during the Rev. Harrison's term, and Mr. ,T. W. Boon, superintendent of the Sunday school, expressed the regret of the workers in that department 'of the church work, and also spoke on behalf of the Christian Endeavorers. Mr. F. W. Clemow, on behalf of the congregation, presented Mr. Harrison with a watch guard and gold shield and pendant, and, on behalf of the ladies' guild, Mrs. Riera presented to Mrs. Harrison a silver sugar | | and cream set. The Rev. Harrison, in re- | plying, said he had never before felt, such keen regret at leaving any circuit. Mrs. CI. Bond, Miss M. Hopkins, and Mr. H. J. Thompson contributed to the musical programme. At the police court this morning the. three men, Albert, Avling, Sydney Baker and Harry Williams, charged with breaking and entering and theft, were remanded till to-morrow (Friday), to be dealt with by the Magistrate. Mr. John Leydon. J.P., was on the bench. Mr. Tom Lawless is re-visiting Stratford-