THE Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1908. MR. MACDONALD AT ORMOND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2316, 8 October 1908, Page 2

THE Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1908. MR. MACDONALD AT ORMOND.

Of Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald as a settler, and also as a capablo and painstaking member of certain local bodies, wo have the highest esteem, and it is because of this fact that we regret to note tlio circumstances under which ho has chosen to> enter the larger arena of public life. Knowing the gentleman as we do, we should not liavo expected a blaze of rhetorical fireworks when lie essayed to place hie political views before tlio doctors, but ivc had reason to anticipate that his address would have contained a good deal of solid matter presented from the point of view of a shrewd, common-sense, practical farmer. Unfortunately, it would appear from tlio meeting at Ormond last night, that Mr. MacDonald, in dropping tlio independence that,' in common with most of his friends, wo looked upon as one of his strongest traits,, in return for Ministerial support, has also departed very considerably from the methods that have in the past gained for him a large amount of popularity. After reading :o his audience the somewhat fulso -e eulogy of the Minister of Native Affairs in wishing the Government can didate success, Mr. MacDonald contented himself with a parrot-liko recitation of the alleged virtues of l lie Liberal party. Taking his boa.-rt, back to the time of the Hon. Mr. Ballance, he claimed, as glibly as docs tlio most case-hardened ixilitic.il timeserver in Wellington, that prosperity lias gone liand-in-hand with the regime of the Liberal Government The time-worn theme sounds somewhat out of tune just at the present moment, when the Dominion is struggling against a particularly sharp reverse, but it would be just as ridi ;u lous to blame the Government for 'lie recent drop in the price of wool as it was to give it credit in the past for the long series of favorable prices i.ud seasons. Mr. MacDonald was quite justified in devoting special attention to the land ■ question, because of the -great part the production of agricultural and pastoral products play oi the welfare of the country, but l.e was not therefore condoned in ignoring almost every other political issue. Surely the electors of Ormond—-small though the meeting was—were entitled to hear from tlio cand'ditc something concerning the policy he is prepared to- support ff he should 1 e returned to Parliament. Yet boy-vn .1 a review of the Dominion’s land laws, a eulogy of the Hon. Mr. Carroll’s conduct of native land matters, and brief reference to local railways and roads, the candidate found nothing to say, and sat down at the expiration of an hour’s discourse. It is true, <-i course, that Mr. MacDonald, having given the necessary undertakings to the Premier, has been accepted ns the Ministerial candidate, and is being specially sponsored by the Native Minister, and as a proposed addition to- the Premier’s army of voting machines it doesn’t really matter what Ins own political views are, but it is just possible that the electors may insist upon having their curiosity satisfied in this respect. For instance, even on tlio land question, it is not clear from his speech whether or not Mr. MacDonald is in favor of Crown tenants being permitted to obtain the freehold ,of their lands. Tile inference to be drawn from his remarks is that lie is not in favor of the freehold, blit lie did not say so, and there are many settlers in the district who- will want a definite pronouncement on tlio point. Then we should like to know whether or not the candidate has any viewsi upon the vital questions of immigration, defence, and local government, whether he is prepared to accept the administration of our public services as the best the people can expect, whether he approves of the constantly increasing concentration of political power in the hands of the Government of the day, whether lie will’;' support the Ward Ministry should it. endeavor at any time in the future ,to re-introduce the tyrannous “gag clause” into the Second Ballot Act, in short, iwe should like to know if Mr. MacDonald lias any political views outside those of his party chief that he is willing to give expression to. Tile weakness of the candidate’s position an this respect was evidently realised by his secretary, who, with more courage than tact, rose in support of a confidence motion, and proceeded to say the tilings which he apparently considered should have been touched upon by the candidate. This young gentleman, who evidently suffered from inexperience, launched out in a violent tirade upon the Opposition, with some accompanying sneers at Mr. Gow’s candidature, and could only be persuaded to stop by the trite query of a member of the audience, “Are you another candidate?” Frankly, we are disappointed in Mr. MacDonald’s candidature, and we fancy the feeling of others is that lie lias allowed liis own admirable personality to be completely submerged in the political necessities of a “selected Government candidate.”

A wcll-altended unc'-iug of Mr. W. Lissant Clayton's --oiniiiitioo ivas held lust ovomng, when satisfactory reports were received, and a quantity of routine business was disposed oi.

Tlio following unclaimed letters arc lying at the Post Cilice: —Tom. Ball, ijic'k Bell, AV. Guy, Prank llazoll, J. Holloway, S. Johnston, J. Lamb, V. Leigh, T. Little, AV. B. Male, George Poole, Geo. Scott, Miss Myra Stack, C. W. Wallace.

At the Police Court, yesterday morning, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., Ueorge Pearson, tlio victim of the recent “lambing-down” case, was convicted of drunkenness and fined Li with 2s costs, or in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, lie was then called upon to show cause why lie should not be punished for contempt of the Court, by coming to give evidence tlio. previous day, in an intoxicated slate. His Worship said it was the second time such an occurrence had interrupted the proceedings of the Court, and he could not allow t-lie offence to go unpunished. Pearson would be filled Li with 2s costs, or 48 hours’ imprisonment.

A short meeting of tlio AVaiapu Licensing Committee was Hold yesterday at noon, when there were present, Messrs W. A. Barton, B.M. (chairman), G. Darton, J. Somervell, and D. Hepburn. It was reported by tlio Inspector that the drainage arrangements at the Wnerunga-a-liika Hotel had not been carried out, but Mr. J. W. Nolan, who appeared on behalf of the licensee, stated that- In. had received a letter stating that the work had been completed three weeks ago. The meeting was adjourned for a time to enable enquiries to be made, and later on it was discovered that the work had been satisfactorily completed. Mr. J. B. Hollier, licensee of the Bridge Hotel, was granted leave of absence, Mr. Walter Hollier to bo left in charge.

A somewhat unique ’’entertainment was given last evening in the Wesley Schoolroom by- the members of the Junior Christian Endeavor Society. Tlio attendance, considering the rough state of the weather, was very good. The first part consisted of songs, recitations, and a dialogue entitled “The Message of the Flowers, )} by eight girls. The contributors to this part of the programme were Miss Lois Saunders (recitaton), Master Willie Kennedy (song), Miss Hannah Hutton (recitation), and Master Georgic Chrisp (song). An action Being wasalso given by the smaller gills and boys. The second part was d.. voted to tlie building of a lighthouse, m which thirteen girls and boys gave recitations, interspersed with solo, trio, and choruses by the remaining children. At the conclusion a very hearty vote of thanks was passed 10 the children and to those who had instructed them, special mention being made of Airs. C. East -and the Misses Brolcensliirc and Spence, the opinion being expressed that the entertainment liad been most enjoyable, and reflecting great credit on the Junior Endeavor Band. During the evening a report of the progress of the society was read by Master Ben Ilawkius, the secretary, and. a collection was taken up in aid of tin* Endeavor Fund.