Wairarapa Daily Times [ESTABLISHED 1878] SATURDAY, JULY 1892. THE ELECTORAL BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4160, 9 July 1892, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times [ESTABLISHED 1878]

SATURDAY, JULY 1892. THE ELECTORAL BILL.

BEINB TUB EXTENDED'TITLE OF THE Wairarapa Daily, with which it is IDBNTIOAL •

Recukr pour mieux muter is obviously the polioy of the Opposition at the present moment. Consequently the Government have been particularly fortunate in securing what lias looked like favourable consideration for their earlier Bills. Ministers are doubtless shaking hands all round among themselves at the prospect of carrying all, or nearly all, the Ministerial measures ; and we hear of various members of the Government patty who have been loudly proclaiming that before the overwhelming weight of right and reason in their Bills all opposition is being borne down. But an awakening is at hand; to come upon the Government, if we mistake not, when the Financial Statement is seriously discussed. If they escape destruction then, it will be-like the patriarch Job—with the skin of their teeth; and oven then the escape will be due to men's weariness of elections, and to the contemptuous willingness of colonists in general to pay out a little more ropotomen whose days of power are numbered. Meanwhile, all seems to go swimmingly. Take the debate on the second reading of the Electoral Bill, which discloses a remarkable moderation of tone, but an undercurrent of grave opposition notwithstanding, ensuring that some of the clauses which are as tbe apple of the Ministerial eye will get rough handling in Committee. We plead guilty to the oharge of being" behind the times" in some of our political views, We have never been able to advocate the popular principle of" one-man-one-vote." We must accept it, of course, as the expression,. of the opinion of the majoritybut we are still satisfied that the' reasoning is just which gives tho colonist a voice in the election of the legislature strictly proportioned to his own stake in the country. At the same time, Mr Rolleston is right when be says that tbis pet theory is far from being carried out in the city electorates as at present arranged, since every voter has as many votes as there are seats to be filled. The thing should at least be consistent] pive voter his one vote, and we may get some representation of minorities. Then again, no doubt Mr Eolleston is abstractedly right in what he said the other night about the relative importance of property and intelligence; but, as a matter of fact, tbe question of intelligence cannot be taken into account, while the question of property can, A man's interest in the good government of the country is practically greater if he has much to lose through maladministration ; and the instinct of selfpreservation will often make the dullwitted property-holder oast a wiser vote than the" clever" man whose roof is over his head when his hat is on.

Itißhardly worthwhile to insist that the proposal is monstroua which would make a mouth's residence a sufficient qualification for votingSpeaker after speaker pointed out the abuse to wbio|j such a provision would be liable—the hasty transfer of: ijjodies.of pore workin' men from point to point when ' by-relep.tionb 'afe pending. "}Ye are copMonf that this is one flf jth'e clauses ifiat w|H be turned insi.de out in Cppimiiteo. And to speak once about the Female Franobise, the cautioun and statesmanlike view of Mr Gladstone j has evidently impressed many of our]

representatives; for in every quarter his words are, being echoed—tbe country must be asked to decide so grave an issue. To convince a Government of error is an operation of difficult but necessary surgery; and it may be that nothing will avail in this imtanoe except the application of Suoh an heroic remedy as stonewalling, whioli we love little for its own sake.

With the propbsal to place Commercial travellers and shearers on the same footing as sailors we have- no- quarrel; but the idea of permitting proxies is too oldworldishin its retrogression to suit even such fossil Conservatives os we are considered to be, We take it that if a man oannot manage to be in the electorate "here lie is entitled to vote, he must be content to lose his chance lof voting. Voting; is > made easy enough, in all conscience; what with the multiplication of polling places and the proclamation of a publio holiday. To give more facilities than these is to pander beyond reason to colonial laziness.

Like Mr Saunders, who is known to be an enthusiast on the subject, we should ba glad (upon the whole) to see the introduction of the Hare ays* tem, which we hope to disouss "in these columns some other time. We do not see that it confines candidature to men of means, as has been alleged ; but we are inclined to think that it gives the advocates of whimsical theories—State Bank men and others—a chance of getting into the House and wasting the time of'the country. And we feel sure that it will bring about a serious loss of " copy" to newspaper men, since candidates will not make so many speeches. Whatever state the Electoral Bill may be in when it comes out of Committee, we realise unpleasantly that there is no sort of finality about it, Ab things move now, tinkering with tbe Act will take place every session, until the consummation of Liberalism has been reached—until, that is, the whole adult population of the Colony, male and female, European and Maori, independent and pensioner, shall have the same absolute right of casting a vote, irrespective of any ability to understand what it id voting about.

The Eketahuna Eoad Board borrowed £2040 last year. The Hon, Mr Miller has been appointed Speakor of the Legislative Council. The Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association havo been appointed -agents for Messrs A. and T. Price's Auckland Timber Jacks, a stock of which" will be kept at all the Association's depots. A Native fell down in a fit in a Masterton thoroughfare yesterday and a crowd quickly gathered around him. He was removed to an adjacent board-ing-house, where ho was resuscitated. A mass meeting of Unionists, under the auspices of the Trades and Labour i Council, is to bo held at Wellington this evening. Included in the speakers are a numbor of members of Parliament, but we notice that Mr 'Jerrymaundoring' Hogg is not on tho list. The man named William Thompson, who was charged in the Masterton R.M. Court yesterday morning with drunkenness, and was remauded for medical treatment, was sufficiently recovered to be brought before Messrs Renall and Gardiner, J.'sP,, in the afternoon. Being an old offender lie was sentenced to six weeks' hard labour in the Wellington Terrace Goal, The information charging John Oliver with the larceny of two coats, the pro--petty of William Karaitiana, was dismissed yesterday afternoon by Messrs A, \V. Kenall and J. Gardiner, J.P.'s. The accused stated that he had received money from Home, with which he purchased a quantity of clothing, and being under tho influence of liquor he had mistaken tho ooits of the informant for his own.

A well-attended meeting was held In the Oddfellows' Hall, Eketahuna, the other evening, for tho purpose of forub ling a public library and reading room. [Mr Jas. Jones was voted to the chair, The Kov, Mr Smith, the convenor of the meeting, explained tho advantage of having such an institution in Eketahuna. A committee of eight gentlemen was appointed to canvas the district. The Hev. Mr Smith was appointed secretary, pro km, The meeting then adjourned till the 14th inst.

Improvements in design, combined with astoniuhiug reduction of price, will work wonders for anything. It is not surprising, therefore, to learn that the modern lamp is quite equal to the sustaining of its reputation as the " Light of Aces," This especially strikes one as a bright idea after inspecting the admirable and extensive stock of lamps now on view at Messrs John Graham & Co's establishment in Queen-street, Masterton, They range in price and quality from tho modest illuminator costing eighteen-pence, to the handsome and powerful hangiug lamp at sixty shillings. Two special importations—the ' Duplex,' a writing or working lamp, and the' Banner,' both in nickle plate and in gilt,—call for espeoial notice. They givo a guaranteed forty-candle power light and cost only 12s 6d; or with a can of the very best kerosene oil, 255. Truly they are marvels of good value I

The following is the address of a communication jUBt received from Glasgow Mr The Editor Star, Hawera, Victoria, Australia, via Italy." Tho Napier News says There is one tiling certain: No man who has not a fairly good record need stand for Parliament when the women of the country have a vote, That will be an undoubted gain.

A member of a circus troupe who performed his duty as a good Catholio by attendine confession, waß so exhilarated by haviug unburdened himself of certain troubles which had sat heavy on his soul that he could not retrain,' as he retired' from throwing a baok somersault. A blushing damsel surveyed the gymnastic teat with dismay, and turning to the officiating Priest said: "Father, I hope you wont give we that performance, for I ap sure I could nover do it I."

Beef is now being retailed jn some parts of Queensland at a Id per pound. A man named Paplpy has been charged with threatening tp shooji Mr Trenwith, M. L. A. The defendant, pleaded that the gun would not shopt a rat,

The minds of Maßterfon tradesmen aro considerably exercised over the sudden departure of a ouftolpr who was a strong supporter of the' predit system.'

A writer in the Otajjo Wifiioss states that since tho Tarapaki team has abandoned its southern tour, the A|hambras (of Dunedin) will visit Masterton for certain towards the end of tho season, The Brewers' Association of Victoria hasgranted £SOO towards relieving the distress existingamongsttheunemployed in Melbourne.

Remember I Our big sale of Surplus Winter Drapery and Clothing, commencing oil Friday, July Ist, at Tc Aro House. Remember I If you want to receive wonderful bargains you should visit or send to tbe Gig Sale at To Aro House, Welling" ton, flemeinber!' There are wonderful bar* gains in every department suoli as make a trip to our Big Salo remunerative, Yon wilj save far more than your expenses by visiting the Big Sale 1, at Tc Aro House, Wellington; ■' 1 v '■' A ■■ • Bemembnr I S&lo Price lists will on application be forwarded posk'fe'e, "Pale lifers 15 days only, If a visit is impossißle, sjirii' your orders, enclising Cash, so that you may share in the good things going at the Bif! Sale, X? Aro Houee, Wellington,

A groat stooktakinj? bargain sale ha' commenced at the D. I. 0, Cooperative Stores, Wellington,-and viaitora to the Empire City ivould do well to pay it a Ivißit,

The 'Lyttloton Times' reports:—Ono lof tKe largest sales of fat sheep in one I line, off ono ostato, \m effected on Monday by Messrs Todhmitier and Jennings, auctioneers, of Ohnstohurch. They disposed of 2400 prime crossbred wethers for export at £1 0j Gd per head for prompt delivery. Mr E, 0' H. Canavan, who is well" known in tho Wairarapa, has severed his connection with the Marlborough Times; of which he has for soino time been part proprietor. Ho returns to the North Island.'

The Mayor of Wellington has withdrawn his proposal that the salary of bis successor bp increased from £lO5 to £3OO por annum,

Mr W, W. Collins, the freet'nought lecturer, has'challenged tho RevL. M. Isitt to debate with him the question whether Prohibition is favourable to the moral principles and to sooial interests.

The Mastertori Mutual Improvement Society held itß weekly meeting iu the Wealeyan t'ohoolroom last evening at which there :mB a fair attendance of memberß. The President (Rev. J. Dukes) occupied the chair. Short essays comprised the evening's business, the essayists being Messrs A. Burton, "A Trip to Muunt Holdsworth"; Arnold, "Tobacco" j Easthopo, " River Scenes" j and 0. Fraguell, "Phonography." Each essay was subsequently discussed and a very profitable evening was spent. A debate, " Will the Introduction of General Booth'B oversea colonists into New Zealand be conducive tu its moral and material welfare ?" takes place nextweek. MrHeyhoo supports the affirmative and Mr Candy the negative. The debate is one in which all classes of the community are interested, The meetings of the Sooiety are open to all. Judge Jonos recently decided an extraordinary case in the Bolton County Court, The plaintiff, a man named Housley, residing near Bolton, sued Dr. Wilkinson, junior house surgeon at the Bolton infirmary, for £lO, theyalue of one of the arms of his son, who was in* jured in an accident and had the limb amputated at the infirmary. After the operation had been carried out the plaintiff asked for the arm, but Dr. Wilkinson refused to allow him to take it away. Housley again yisiled the infirmary, however, bringing a box for the limb; but he again met with a refusal. A day or two later tho boy died, and a third time the father demanded to have his son's arm along with the body for burial. Mr Carlisle represented the plaintiff, and contended that his client had a right to the limb. Mr J. W. Hamilton for the defendant, submitted that there wbb no cause for action. His Honor said the plaintiff had no property in his soil or his son's body, and even a guardian was only a guardian during lifetime and not of tho dead body, and there was. no obligation to bury. Mr Carlisle contended that a father wis guilty ofmisdemeanor if he neglected to bury his son, and there should bo • a' corresponding right'to liavo the body. If the father had no property in tho arm of his son it was tho eon's when living,and tho father as the son's representative! could claim it. Mr Hamilton: "Have you taken out letters of administration ?" His Honour: " Will the arm form part of the estate 1" Mr Carlisle said that letters of administration had not boen taken out, and if his Honour was against him on the common law, and also in claiming as the representative of ilie deceased, .he could go no further. Mr Hamilton said tho plaintiff had already recovered £4O under Lord Campboll's" Act for the death of his , son. A vordict was given for the, defendant, with costs.