Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 316, 4 July 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

i l-'vum it.:- '-v'shlent Reporter. THE EGMONT "PARLIAMENT." Tuesday night's debate was the best of the session to date. The Premier, Mr. 11. Masters, introduced a compulsory purchase of laud scheme, the idea bein<* that the State should acquire all estates comprising over 50U acres and of a capital value of £20,000, leasing them on a 00 years' renewable Jcase, to selectors by ballot, the rent to be 4</ 3 per jcent on the unimproved value. The ljill |further provided that the estates would lbe roaded before selection, and for the borrowing of £500,000 annually by the Government for the purposes of the Bill. In his speech Mr. Masters stated that< this method of satisfying the land hunger would be in the best interests ' of the Dominion, and would tend to a great increase of its export of primary i products. He was supported by Mr. ' O'Leary, Minister of Lands, who fur- j ther explained the measure; by the Rev. i A. Reader, Minister of Internal Affairs, J who made the finest speech yet delivered ] in the House on the benefits accruing from the leasehold and the evils of the freehold, stating that this Bill offered to the "man without a sou" a chancV of using the land, this being the only right of man to the land. Messrs. J. Masters J .and C. D. Sole also supported the Bill. The leader of the Opposition, Mr. Staples, scouted the idea that the oiferin<* of leasehold farm lands would ever meet the needs of the people, and urged that to deny a man the right to acquire the freehold was to rob him of the greatest incentive to make good use of the land. The Bill might commend itself i ito the country if the tenant were given j jthe right to acquire the freehold in the first term of 00 years. As presented it would appeal not to the men who knew and worked the land, but only to the land nationalisers and socialists and single-taxers. Mr. X. J. King vigorously attacked the ballot system, and said that men on the leasehold could not j get the financial accommodation so often 1 necessary in times of farming depression. Mr. R. Dingle compared various leasehold settlements with freehold, much to the disadvantage of the former. At this i stage the debate was adjourned till next Tuesday. There are several further speakers, and'the time limit will have to be rigidly enforced if the debate is to be finished'by 10 r>.m. -, It is hoped shortly to arrange,-a debate with a team from the New Plymouth Brotherhood, whilst a suggestion is also made that the Stratford and Egmont clubs might have a • irjal, of debating strength.

BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS

There was very little interest apparent in 'the Borough Council election, but two of the candidates had cars to bring electors .to the poll. There was-a srri'all gathering of people at- the- municipal buildings at night when Mr. P. Skoglund, the returning officer,' wlk> had made capital arrangement?:., announced the result at 7.45 p.m., a fairly smart piece of work. The figures.,wjerei'tToseph Honry Thompson 381, 287, William Ilorne Ilardgreavea"Young 282, Ernest A. Osborne 171. •■> Messrs. Thompson and Dingle 'Were -declaired. elected. Neither of the winning candU dates were present at the time, and, Mr. Young briefly thanked the electors on behalf of all the candidates, -for -the interest taken, and for the excellent spirit displayed. He extendecj his congratulations to the victors,, and tfhanKed his supporters at the poll. Subsequently, Mr. Thompson arrived and returned thanks to the electors who supported him that day. He .appreciated the honor conferred upon him by the electors in placing him at the head of the poll, especially against. «uch worthy opponents. He assured, the ratepayers that it was his earnest desire to serve the people in all parts of the borough, and he hoped to merit the confidence of many of those who had voted against him that day. He concluded by -thanking all those who had worked oin his behalf. . f ~ Three cheers were girei for Mr. Thompson.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS. "Jhe Denbigh road cribbage team, hitherto unbeaten this year, jwcnt down badly to a Stratford team on Tuesday night by 00 games to 31. Stratford lost at !one table, and drew at one 4 in, nine tables. ' "i,

The Parish Hall social on Tuesday night was really enjoyable. Mt. :and Mrj?. Chas. Penn. Mrs. Reira,' and', the Mioses Black, O'Leary and Middlqton supplied the' music. At the: next social there will be a book evening and games' before the serious business of dancing is indulged in.

At the Police Court yesterdayi morn' ingi a man named Frank CowelT, of Toko, wa£ charged with having obtained money by a false pretence. He pleaded guilty. Bergt. McXeely briefly gave the fact's, which were that (he accused had gorte to JMrs. Porter's boarding-house and 'requested lodging. On being informed that the terms -were ca'sli in advance) he gaye Mrs. Porter a cheque of his own for £X 10s, saying it was a good cheque. iNei't day he left, having obtained 25s [change. The cheque was worthless", the map's account at the bank haviiig been closed some time before. The sergeant 'said he had previously warned 'the acidised about writing cheques on an' account which he knew to be closed, but th!d warning was not heeded: It .was a veiy easy way, he remarked, for lazy mffi to get through the world easily at other people's expense. A fine of £5 wit}; indicted. He was further ordered tojjrefund to Mrs. Porter the 2.5s which jhfljhad wrongly obtained from her, and waf. given until to-day to do so.

,A good story is being told at the expense of a man who was fined on Tuesday for drunkenness. The police received a message from a man at Midhirst, asking tliem to come out, as there was work for them in connection with the recent burglary scare. The police promptly obeyed the call, and on arrival found their informant to be suffering from hallucinations horn of an oyqr-cargo of alcoholic refreshment. He was promptly arrested, and accommodated with a night's lodging in the lockup.

; BERNARD'S PICTURES. To-night is "change night" at' ITis Majesty's Theatre, and the management is "'starring" a dramatic film entitled "Crtrr's Regeneration." This film shows how an ungovernable temper was brought under control, or the regeneration of a brute in human form into a mail of gentleness and peace. John Oarr, wlio has been ill in hospital, is discharged as cured, and, throni'h a friend, secures a position in the Public Playgrounds. Tie is a veritable, "grouch,"' and fit associate for.neither man nor beast, hie ugly disposition putting him at odds with the whole world. Tie is disrespectful to the women who visit the grounds, and worse to the children, ;md when they find out what manner of man he is they manage to make his life still more miserable and disagreeable by uhying pranl.>- upon him. Naomi, a little cripple, tells Oarr of some of the boys' intended mischief, but the surlv brute even turns on her with abuse nnd vituperation. The child in turn complains to one of the good ladies interested in the park, and she reprimands him

at the same time calling his attention to the fact-that there is a frayed rope ,on the swing, which is a meimce to the safety of the children in their play. The man neglects the warning, with the result that when Naomi is in the swing it breaks, and she is badjy hurt. It is now that the man is sefJed with remorse, Iwil it is here that the cinematograph reveals in wondrous fashion the workings of his soul. Realising that the accident is due to his ugly temper and ln's disrespect f(}r others, his conscience asserts itself, tie tries to make amends by a complete regeneration, which he gradually brings about/, and we behold him a changed man, n*longer despised, kind to the children, and with a wholesome regard for the feelings and authority of others. The remainder of the programme includes some excellent pictures.

After Saturday night's programme the theatre will be closed down until July 18, to allow of extensive improvements being carried out. These include a new foyer, a new arcade balcony, a Dutch metal sheet to replace the present screen for the better production of the pictures, and the construction of a confectionery shop in the theatre buildings for the convenience of the public.