Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 310, 27 June 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

I From our Resident Reporter. EGMONT CLUB PARLIAMENT. On Tuesday night the politics of the "Egmont Club dominion were again likened unto those of the much-novelised South American republics, without the pistol and the assassin. The Government was "outed" on its first measure. The Premier, Mr. Staples, brought down an Old Age Pensions Bill,, to discuss j which it was necessary to suppose that I New Zealand had not yet provided for j the indigent aged folks. The Bill was modelled on the Xew Zealand Act, and ' was briefly explained in tiie ojje,i..i O ' speech. Mr. C. D. Sole, leader of the Opposition, attacked the clauses which exempted naturalised Asiatics from the benefits to be derived, and also considered the age limit of 05 years was too high. Mr. Crawshaw, Minister of Justice, strongly supported the Bill, in a carefully prepared speech, and Mr.' Bowler, Minister of Internal Affairs, met the objection of", the leader of the Opposition that no provision had been made for the issue of pensions to, applicants whose property exceeded in value £260. Mr. Hewitt opposed 'the measure, believing in the English system of workhouses and almshouses, as tend-: ing to keep men off the publie charity | purse. Old age pensions, he said, would I encourage laziness, whilst a horror of the almshouses developed thrift. Mr; S. Ward opposed the Bill, and Mr. J. Masters supported it. Mr. R. Masters, leading the "left wing," introduced an amendment that no Bill of the kind under discussion would meet the ap- ! proval of the House unless introduced by |an elected Ministry. The debate on the i amendment was spirited. Just after ten | o'clock the previous question was moved. I The Premier rose to a point of order, J pointing out that by the standing orders it was decreed that no business could be taken after ten o'clock. Mr. Hewitt, an old .Parliamentarian, supported this view, but the Acting-Speaker (Mr. W. Rogers) ruled otherwise, and the question was ! put. The amendment was carried by an I overwhelming majority, and the Bill was killed. ' In committee of supply it .wa« | decided that no member who is not iii his seat at 9.15 p.m. should be allowed to vote, this being aimed at the too energetic "whipping-in" for the division; The House .elected the new Ministry, as follows: Premier and. Minister pf Finance. Mr. R. Masters; Railways, Mr. R. G. Harkness; Justice, Mr. J).- J. Malone; Public Works, Mr. R. Booh; Internal Affair's,, and in charge of the Public Health department, Dr. 'Steven ;', Education and Tourists, Mr. A. Gorton; Commerce, Rev. A. Reader; Agriculture and j Lands, Mr. A. H. O'Leary. No member ; of the Ministry has previously held j Cabinet rank. At the conclusion of the | session a meeting of the Ministry was held, and it waß decided to bring down I at next Tuesday's session a Bill under j which the State is empowered to resume j all first-class lands, which shall be leased' in small areas on a 66 years' renewable I lease. The Premier states that ; the / Cabinet will run on non-party lines, and > any member of the Ministry, may pppose J. this measure. The attendance on Tues- j day was a record. v i

GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY On Tuesday evening Miss : Wilson, secretary of the New Plymouth' branch of the Girls' Friendly Society; > met -a good gathering at the Parish HftlJ,-'and gave information which would be-of value to the promoters of the Stratlord. branch. Miss Wilson's address'took the form "of a chat, and was interesting :&nd. full; of information. The " speaker,-: • explained that a branch should c6n6ist ,qi associates, members and candidate?/.'Associates might be working associates or honorary;, but must be members of: the Church of England, although there might be helpers belonging- any denomination. In addition to arranging for meetings and deciding upon what should be done at them, each working associate would look after a. certain number of members, visiting. th,em,,'helping in any way, advising when' necessary, and recommending the. member to another branch should she go away, so that she might readily find suitable friends and companions in the new place. Meetings. at regular intervals would be devoted to both, work and.recreation, and the spirit of fellowship, and. mutual aid i fostered. Members, of the society might belong to any religious denomination. . At the conclusion of Miss Wilson's remarks, three ladies expressed their willingness to become honorary associates and six working associates. There were sixteen prospective candidates for membership. It was decided to admit candidates as members after three months' probation. Mrs. C. Penn . aiid Miss O'Leary consented to act as secretary and assistant secretary. The first meeting of the branch will be held On Tuesday, July 9, when the names of new candidates will be received, and further information given to any who' desire it.

FOOTBALL STRATFORD v. CLIFTON. Stratford and Clifton meet this afternoon on the Show grounds, and a hard game is expected. The Stratford forwards have been strengthened, and, if they have been training; which many seem to doubt, they must give a good account of themselves against the Waitara men. Individually the Stratford team is a good one, and no one will be surprised if the Red and Blacks defeat Clifton. The match is practically the northern division final, and will be well worth watching. I STRAY PARAGRAPHS.

■ The tunnel which runs under Broadway central is. still in a had way, and the water is welling up from somewhere into the backyards of shops. The demand for electric radiators is keen and growing. Mr. Tom Robson, who was operated upon a day or two ago for appendicitis, is progressing well. The word "appendicitis" has hcen changed by a local wag into "pinus insignus." Don't wonder what he means if he springs the joke on you. There is a simmering agitation to have the Patea bridge widened if repair? have to be made to the structure. Southenders reckon that with the bridge the full width of the street business beyond the bridge would improve. Mr. Robert Sinclair, of New Plymouth. in conversation yesterday, remarked that he had received a cablegram that his son "Jim," not so long ago the most popular liny, the best athlete, and one of the finest scholars in the New Plymouth High School, will return to the Dominion acting on medical advice. "IT.M.S. Pinafore" is going splendidly, I nnd the local amateurs deserve packed [ houses when the piece is staged.

"THE GIRL AND THE SHERIFF." Life in the mountains of Tenressee is so vastly different from our own that a picture of this kind, giving us an insight into the manners and customs, as well as the nature of the people, is always heralded with a warm welcome. This film is strikingly dramatic in the tenseftcss of its exciting situations and the pressure of its moments of suggested dangers and result, which are happily eluded. A young girl of the mountain's

is suddenly confronted by a young mountaineer, who hastily announces iliat he has been shot and is being pursued by the sheriff of the county. She hastily dresses his wound, cutting of! the sleeve of his shirt to get at the injury more readily. While thus engaged the young people fall in love with one another, and the precious moments slip by until at length the, sheriff is seen approaching. She induces the young man to hide in a closet. The sheriff enters, she gives him a veil-filled glass of liquor, which soon goes to his head. He asks her to get out her banjo and entertain a few tunes, and whilst she is getting <(he banjo he picks up the discarded sleeve. The girl, however, has his revolver, having borrowed it to crack some nuts, and she deftly withdraws the cartridges. The sheriff attempts undue' familiarity, and the young man in the closet, unable to bear it any longer, bursts into the room. Now the sheriff discovered that his revolver was not loaded, and pays the penalty, whilst the lovers escape together. There are on the present programme three other fine dramas. The latest "Australian Gazette," "Nature in Winter Clothes," and the Oxford v.- Cambridge boat race, are •11 flae films, and the comic pictures are exceptionally good.