SUGGESTIONS FOR ELECTION TIME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2174, 25 April 1908, Page 4

SUGGESTIONS FOR ELECTION TIME.

In a recent issue of the “Dominion," the following contribution appeared over the signature “A Mnoriinnder” :

Permit mo to suggest that Discussion Clubs ami New- Zealand Native Associations discuss the following suggestions as the elections are approaching:— A White New Zealand, free from the Oriental race. The election of tiro Upper House by the people. . The Referendum; voters to record their votes by post or voting by mad through the medium of the- Post 01ficc. The restriction of borrowing by the Government. The onuses of the asserted sterility of the race and growth of divorce. To affirm the leasehold tenure. More smaller land holdings wanted in 10 to 10 acre blocks; special terms to men with families. The,stopning of women being allowed to* servo liquor in hotels unless thev are wives of owners or owners themselves." The Government should give five years' notice to abolish barmaids.

.State control of liyuor. If any district which at present is “dry" or No-license revokes same or votes license, the Government shall open State liquor depots in that district.

Free trade in all foodstuffs. Free trade in Oregon American timber. An export duty on kauri timber. Reciprocity with Australia and Canada. This will open up large, near markets for our products. Education.—,(a) Our pupil teachers should be encouraged, to spend three rears in American schools to widen their knowledge. (b) An American or an English education expert or inspector might bo got to spend two years here to brighten us up. (c) Inspectors should be changed from one district to another, (d) ’Bookkeeping, typewriting, articulation should be taught. (e) Savings-banks to be established at schools, .(f) Special attention to the teaching of agricultural and pastoral pursuits to boys, and domestic economy to girls. (g) Encourage our scholars to correspond with 'scholars in rural British districts. All kitchens where women work should come under the Factor- Act, to see that the sinks and ventilation arc adequate and good. Domestic workers should be encouraged to form unions on purpose to raise their status and popularise a womanly vocation.

Are all these /Socialistic experiments advancing and developing Alaoriland? .Do they not tend to kill tho initiative in the unit or individual?

All laws to protect, the health of the individual are good,

It is unwise for the State to compete with private enterprise. More population: A. New Zealand immigrant representative should be in every large city in Great Britain. The expensive High Commissioner and establishment- in London should be curtailed.

A map of New Zealand, with photographs of street scenes, and table of steamer fares,_ and other information on tho margin, should be sent to every public school in the country districts of England, Ireland, and Scotland. Less money should bo spent upon touting for the floating tourist, and free immigration of farm hands and domestic servants should be adopted. Norwegians, Danes, and Germans should be allowed to come in without an education ite6t, as they make thrifty, industrious settlers. • As our fellow-citizens ,the Roman Catholics, -who number 127,000 of the population, are educating, at thenown expense, some 12.000 children, saving the Government about £44,000 per year, surely wc New Zealanders should not allow such a large section of the community to suffer disability through religious convictions. They should receive pound for pound from the Government as a subsidy. . To protest against any alteration of the present licensing legislation, public sentiment being too much in favor of Prohibition. Decentralisation of Government: As there is- too much work dono by the Government, larger powers should be granted to local bodies. Is that tunnel through to the .West Coast, which is so well served by steamers, really a necessity? Have we labor', flour, timber, and Steamer trusts in this Maoriland, the gem of tho Pacific? Owing to the increase of juvenile crime and disrespect for the aged, our educational system is not complete without definite moral instruction, and as the Bible is the best textbook of morals, besides being our greatest English classic, our State schools should be opened every morning by the reading of a portion of the Bible, tho teacher to supervise. 11l the majority of the American States, Europe, and the British colonies, the Bible is read in the schools. Headers are urged to strive for above reforms' or criticise same.