Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 111, 26 September 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From our resilient reporter. OUR " PARLIAMENT." It lias been decided that the interelnfc debate on October 10 shall conclude the Egmout Club Parliament's 1912 session. The meetings have provided a , wholesome pastime for the members, besides having an educational tendency, and encouraging members to put their thoughts into English. Several speakers have made iheir maiden ell'ons this session. and have become quite proficient, whilst many of the older members have benefited by the debates, whilst all should now have a better idea of how meetings should be conducted. The .Speaker, .Air. It. McK. Morison, has not had altogether a bed of roses, for some of the hardened Parliamentarians have at. times put to the test all his tact and his knowledge of the rules of debate.

It is questionable whether the elective exeeutive system lias been productive of the best results. The Premier usually likes to have a say in the formation of his Cabinet, with the object of placing in office men who an: likely to attend assiduously to their duties and who can be depended upon to uphold the policy of their chief. Under the elective executive system men have been somtimes pitch- i forked into o/liee, and have let it rest at that. In the old days, when the Premier gathered around him the members of a Cabinet, they were impressed .vith a sense of responsibility, and came pre- , ' pared to support their leader. j With some speakers, too, there has been a tendency to depend upon pre- s ceding speakers for their material, in-

stead of hunting up matter for themselves, and thus contributing to the fullness of the argument. It would not be ' surprising to see an attempt made to revert to the old constitution of the House, doing away with the elective executive. The last debate in the club buildings will be held on October 8. Next Tuesday the Hon. J. MacMahon will introduce an important Bill, to set up a Biological Department and appoint a Dominioh Biological College and staff. Members are specially requested to attend in large numbers. Several members of the Government are preparing speeches on the matter, and scientific farming will be dealt with. The Ministry is fully prepared to stand or fall by the tion. so a good debate is assured, tiun a good debate is assured.

COMMERCIAL MR. XEWTOX KIXG'S STRATFORD WEEKf,Y REPORT. At the Itaymarket on Saturday last pigs were penned in moderate numbers. There was a good demand for all classes, all lines being cleared at advanced rates. I quote weancrs llis to 24s (id, small stores 2.3s to 28s (id, medium do. 29s fld to 3(Ss. calves from 2s to 20s, plough £6 l<!s. At the Mart: Poultry, hens Is 9d, roosters 2s 3d to 2s fid, geese 4s 3d, potatoes lis (Id ewt, seed potatoes, sales during the week as follows: Up-to-date 8s to/9s fid, Earlv Rose l.")s, Beauty of Hebron 12s Od to 14s. White Elephant 9s to 14s, White Rock l;ss, Gamekeeper 12s (id. all at per cwt. Quantity of furniture and sundries selling at prices in favor of buyers.

THE REFORM LEAGUE A meeting had been convened to be held last night for the purpose of forming a branch of the Reform League in Stratford electorate. The weather had »ot reformed, 'however, and the rain came down m torrents; consequently only ten attended. Mr. T. C. Fookef presided, and after he and Mr. Lindegreen (organiser) had addressed the fathering the meeting adjourned for a fortnight. Mr. Geo. Bond was appointed secretary pro tern, and an endeavor will be made to have the next meeting representative of the whole electorate. PERSONAL At the Egmont Club Parliamentary Union on Tuesday evening reference was made by the Speaker to the death of Mr. W. G. Beckett, at one time a member of the Stratford Parliamentary Union.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS The Rev. A. Reader and Messrs. C. D. Sole, J. .McAllister and J. MacMahon will represent the Egmont Club Parliament in the debate with the Xew Plymouth Brotherhood at Stratford on October 10. the subject being "State Control v. Prohibition." the Xew Plymouth team to affirm that State control is the better way of dealing with the licensing question. Messrs. H. Wilson, S. Ward, 0. Jackson, R. Masters and J. J. Staples have been appointed a committee to make suitable arrangements for the reception and entertainment of the visitors. The debate will be held in one of the smaller halls, and will be open to members of the elnh and their friends. It was decided to ask Dr. Carbcry to act as referee, and Messrs. W. G. KenTsck. S.M., and F. A. Tyrer as umpires in the debate.

It is reported that Mr. Frank Rhodes, formerly licensee of the Stratford Hotel, has purchased a hotel in Timaru. The Stratford Rifle Club intends opening the season shortly. The annual meeting of the Stratford Bowling Club will be'held to-night.

Mr. J. B. Campbell, stationmaater, who is on sick leave, left for Hastings yesterday morning. His friends wish him a

•;>eedy return to good health. Some l-'il- who were driving from Stratford (•. r: iiian- the other day in a brake had what they termed "a lark" with some stray pigs. Two or three of the. pigs were caught and lifted into the brake, and afterwards heaved out again, as the result of which manly and kindly act one of (he pigs had its back broki it. More will be heard of the matter. Is there need here for the establishment of a branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals? One of the boys was heard to say yesterthat no one with any sense, or any heart, would have done such a mean action.

Tin; automatic penny-iii-tho-slot .stamp, machine, for the convenience of people wanting stamps, lias arrived, and is being put in order, [t will be very useful to ilie .public, and will save tlie postal counter clerks a <jood ileal of time Tt will be particularly bandy bere. where the ]w-t office closes between 5 and 7 o'clock, and <doses for the night at S o'clock.- Tt is often a mailer of dillicnlty to get a postage si amp in the evenings.

Weeks and weeks ago. our local drapers and clothiers put in ''spring" windows. Their well-moaning attempts to force flip season have been in vain. Tin- Min discreetly hides himself from view. A cold southerly is nothing to him. but if is distinctly unpleasant for us. The weather is unseasonable, but someone says that unseasonable weather is seasonable in Stratford, and that a ?mark of really seasonable weather would come as a shock. The Horticultural 'Society holds its daffodil show to-day.

'Sinhaci. the Sailor." is going to have a big house on Saturday. The dress circle is already fully booked, and a good portion of the body of the hall also. "Who's William?" Nobody cares, but

the crowd that tried to find out on Tuesday night fairly rocked with laughter for a couple of hours. At a special meeting of (he Borough Council on Wednesday night Mr. J. Coley was appointed engine-driver of the Borough Council's new steam roller. THE TARANAKI ROAD RACE PICTURE The film of -the Taranaki Circular Cycle Road Race will he one of the most interesting items to be'shown at His Majesty's Theatre to-night. .The picture includes -views of Mount Egmont, the committee, the Britannia Challenge Cup, getting ready for the start, limit men depart on the long journey, crowds lining the route as the scratch men start, at the racecourse, awaiting the return, five-mile motor cycle race sensational spills, the winneV'(T. C. Collins), fastest time (\ T . Wadham). In addition to the local film, a complete new programme will be shown. A 3000-footer is included in the programme, entitled "The Flower of the Mormon City," and, as the title implies, this picture* deals with a phase of life that is at present occupying the attention of public and politicians alike. The picture deals with those times in Utah when the elders of the Mormon Church had the lives of their followers in their hands. All that is long passed away, but it provides material for a stirring and interesting drama. Other films arc: '-Historical Warwickshire" (scenic), ''When Kings were the Law" (drama). "Wonkey's Wager" (comic), "Potters of the Nile" (scenic and industrial), ''How States are Made" (drama), "Helen's Marriage" (comedy), Gaumont Graphic (topical), and "Goutran, Child Stealer" (comic). Matinee on Saturday at 2.39.