THE PEOPLE’S VERDICT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2357, 25 November 1908, Page 4

THE PEOPLE’S VERDICT

The lesson of the polls can be learned very easily by a reference to the results of the second ballots published in this issue, considered in conjunction Avith those Avliich Aver© made aA'ailable a iveek ago. The people of the Dominion luiA'e stated clearly that they intend to have a change. Their collective AOte appears to endorse the legislative policy of the Government-, for Sir Joseph W ard has still been given a good Avorking majority Avitli which to carry on the- affairs of the country. At the same time it is evident that the old-time prejudice against Mr. Massey and liis followers, on the ground that- they had no policy or if they had that it Avas entirely Conservative, is dying out, and a very large section of tho people Avould bo quite prepared to entrust the Leader of the Opposition Avith the reins of government. The most gratifying feature, however, of the people’s verdict is the plain indication that the country has had enough of the dumbdog type of politician, the individual avlio Avas satisfied to bo a mere votereeording machine. BetAveen 16 and 17 sitting members haA’e been displaced chiefly by Opposition or Independent candidates, and even Avhere one Government members is replaced by another supporter of tho Ward Ministry, the fact that a change Avas made betokens a commendable spirit of unrest on the part of the community. The new Parliament Avail be incomparably superior to the old one. Many of the old time-serving brigade have been dropped out, and their places taken by men avlio are likely to bring some virility, originality and independence of thought to replace the miserable subservience and painful mediocrity of their predecessors. Mr. Massey, Avho has for years carried on a brave but. hopeless fight against unequalled odds, has had his ranks so materially strengthened, that lie Avill have to be reckoned Avitli all the time that Parliamentary business is going on. As a matter of fact, the Opposition and Independent votes combined Avi.ll total about 30, wliilst the Government folloAvers will probably roach 47, from which it will be recognised that any attempted abuses of its position by the Ministry Avill be met Avith by opposition strong enough numerically to be effective. Generally speaking, it may be claimed that the new Parliament will contain a higher average of intelligence and a good deal more independence of thought than the old, Avliiist the marked infusion of neAV blood should- make for the welfare of the Dominion. Sir Joseph Ward will commence his 1909 session Avith -a greatly reduced majority, and as a result will be compelled to oxerciso the greatest care in the conduct of public business. Thus the country .has reasonable grounds for hoping that future legislation will bo more carefully considered, and the administration of the public services placed at a higher, -standard than has been the case in , recent years.

* Tho organiser of the New Zealand f.ection of tho Thcosophical Society, Miss K. Browning, M.A. (Girton College, Dublin), will arrive by the s-s. Waikare this morning. She is to leave for India in- January next. Tho latest addition to the telephone exchange is:—377, Steele, Mrs. T., Montrose House. Amended: 498, McKenzie, F. (two long rings); .499, Herbert, J . (one long, one short ring).

Despite the Avet weather quite a considerable number of people gathered in the streets last night awaiting the result of the pell. Everything passed oft in a quiet and orderly fashion, and although there Avas a certain amount of horse-play amongst a few larrikins, tho police did not find it necessary to make a single arrest.

A facetious interrogator, representing “The Society for the Preventation of Cruelty to Fieldmen,” sent- up the folloAving question to Mr O. Boxshall at one of liis meetings in • Christchurch: —“Will you support tho passing of legislation to abolish left-hand-ed batting on sultry days?” The candidate’s ans Aver Avas not recorded. The - Avell-knoAvn shark “Kruger,” Avhich for a number of -years past has made his .apiiearance during the summer months in the vicinity of Sponge Bay, has again turned up in that locality. A party lias been organised to endeavor to capture “Kruger” at an early date. On previous occasions tho monster lias been alone, but this year two or three other smaller sharks have been noticed.

Readers of fiction, and espically the admirers of Marie Corelli’s Avorks, will Aveloome her new novel “Holy Orders,” a story dealing Avitli the drink question in England. The authoress treats of the vices of the “submerged classes”and the Avork of a young A'icar avlio endeavours to lead them to better things. The book may be obtained from Mr. T. Adams, bookseller. While leading some horses on Tyrone station, at Motu, on Monday afternoon, Mr. William Little slipped on a stump of a tree. At first he did not pay any attention to the pain in the leg caused by the fall, hut during the night the calf of liis leg began to swell and he came into Gisborne yesterday for surgical advice. It was then found out that the small bone of the Jog had been broken. In our advertising columns this morning Mr W. D. S. MacDonald, who stands -at the .head of the poll in the first ballot for the Bay of Plenty seat, solicits the confidence of the electors of the district. Mr MacDonald is a Liberal and Progressive candidate and is > supporter of the present- -administration. He' Avill be unable to A r isit this portion of the electorate before polling day (Tuesday next) and asks -all his friends and supporters to hear that in. mind and go to the poll. , A party of ladies while proceeding to record their votes at Whinray’s JtLlal yesterday had a narrow escape from serious injury. They avcfc dn\--ing along -at a fairly rapid pace, when, by some unaccountable means the greater part of the harness became detached and fell off the horse. One of the shafts came perilously near to the ground, but fortunately the horse instead of bolting stood stock still, and after the harness had been adjusted the party proceeded merrily on their Avay. Quite a number of complaints haA'e been made recently regarding the dangerous practice of driving mobs of horses through the streets at other than a walking pace. A fcAV cA’cnings ago some tAA'onty horses were drh’en across tho Kaiti bridge at a fairly sharp pace to the imminent danger of a couple of pedestrians and a cyclist, who Averc using the bridge at the same time. The time Avas only about 4.30 p.m., and it has been pointed oait that the practice is contrary to the by-IaAV, Avhich provides that' horses shall not be driven at other than a Avalking pace, or until after 5.30 p.m., between the months of September and April. - The vagaries of an “unbroken” heifer, which ay a-s being led along one of the principal streets of Devonport, Auckland, on Wednesday last, caused more excitement in the township than tho general election of the previous day had done. When in the vicinity of the business portion of Victoria Street, the animal Avrencked itself away from the man avlio Avas holding the leading rope, .and immediately dashed into a reserve. From there it made its Avay into a fruiterer’s shop, from which it Avas expelled with considerable difficulty. When in tho street again, tho animal dashed towards the beach, and, taking to the water on the Avcstern side of the Victoria Wharf; swam out toAvards the yachts that are moored some distance out. After getting out a considerable distance, the bovine turned sliorewards again, and landed near the cable jetty, a distance of about 300 yards from Avhere it entered the water. Some trouble was experienced in securing it, the services of a horseman being eventually requisitioned to ride into the sea. The long SAvim in no Avay subdued the heifer, and an additional assistant Avas obtained to help in forcing tho animal to its destination.

Mr Alfred Booth, of Hawarden, Carterton, had a rather startling .accident the other evening (says the “AVairarapa Daily NeAvs”), whereby the Government of New Zealand was put to tho expense of *a aiew telegraph polo near Camp Corner, Featherston. Mr Booth, in company with Messrs Buchanan and AV. Howard Booth, each in a motor car, were returning from'Featherston, -Mix Alfred Bootli closely folloAving Mr. Howard Booth’s car, which kicked up so much dust that it partially blinded Mr. Alfred Bootli, and being unable to see the -road he followed tlio dimly visible lights of the car. Suddenly he found himself off tho road, over the side of a marrow culvert, and carceiv ang along famously till the car Avas forcibly stopped by a massive telegraph polo, Avhich cracked and tumbled doAvn as if struck by lightning. The radiator of .the car Avas crumpled like paper, but beyond this practically no damage was done. Mr Booth escaped scot free.

If Rockefeller, Avliose income from tho Standard Oil Trust is variously estimated at three to five millions sterling every year, Avero to apply m time, lie Avould be equally welcome with others to buy a kitchen set tor ninepenco each at Parnell s Populai Saturday Sales, twenty-seventh mst. only. .

An interesting feature in connee- j tion with the Manukaii lwonsng H 1 j is the inclusion of returns iioiu i a- ( katoa Island. This is the isolated , spot whereon the Salvation Arm\ » • home for inebriates is established. Ino j fewer than 30 declared for continuance, nine voted for I>.eduetion, whilst 12 plumped for No-license. It would ho interesting to know how many of the votes against license were cast by officers of the Army, and how many converts on the liquor question the poll represents, feingulanly enough, the respective votes given for the three Parliamentary candidates—Messrs Lang, Morton and Creamer —were exactly the same—oO, 9, and 12.

It is an oft repeated cry in northern cities (says the ‘‘Otago Dai.y Times”) that Dunedin has lallen away considerably as an industrial centie, but a comparison of the relative positions of trade at the present time as between Dunedin and Wellington, for instance, shows the Otago capital in a much more favorable light. At ihe present time, as is well known, tiade matters in Wellington, particularly m regard to building, are exceedingly bad • and one result of that condition of affairs is that quite a number pi tradesmen —among whom are a lair section of builders—have found their way to Dunedin, It is satisfactory to know that ready employment has been found for these men principally owing to the existence of a very nealthy state of things in the building (me.

Two of the men employed by Mr Mouat on bridge construction had a thrilling experience a few days ago, says the “Grey River Argus.” A young man named James Fitzgerald was working on a cliff overhanging hold’s creelc- in a most precarious position. One of his mates, who was working some ten or twelve feet above him, missed his footing, and was being precipitated head. first down a nearly perpendicular incline, when, just at the critical moment, as he was going past, young Fitzgerald grabbed him by the ankle and held him till a rope was_ obtained and both were rescued. Young Fitzgerald deserves the highest praise for his plucky action in saving his mate from certain death -at the imminent risk of his- own life.

Mr. Jack London, the American novelist, accompanied by his wife, was a passenger for Sydney by the R.M.S. Makamba, which arrived at Brisbane on the 12th inst. In the course of an interview Mr. London stated that their yacht drifted on a reef at Malaita, Solomon Islands, and they were surrounded by cannibals. The object of the cruise, he said, was simply to satisfy a personal gratification, because he loved the sea. A good number of men sailed round the globe in what he called freak boats, mere canoes, and it was his object to make a tour of the world, not in a freak boat, but in the smallest vessel which could make the trip with the least discomfort in 18 months. The Snark visited the Hawaiian Islands, Formosa, Tahiti, Society Islands, Samoa, Fiji, New Hebrides, and the Solomons. They left the Snark at- Gauda’ernar, and joined the recruiting vessel Minota, commanded by Captain Jensen, as they desired to see as much of the islands" as possible.

“I believe South Australia to be the. happiest, most contented, and most prosperous State in Australasia,” said Mr Alwyn Fischer, J.P., of Adelaide, to a ••Dominion” reporter on Friday. Being the bearer of a cheap home scheme for the workers, ho admitted that he had a tough problem in Wellington, where the rents were so high, and such extraordinary values existed. "I cannot see for the life of me where the value is, and I believe you people will realise it one of these days. In Adelaide a working man can buy liis land and erect a decent cottage for £3OO, and that not so far away from the city proper.” It was explained to him that many residents would believe that he was romancing, as double that made very little showing •here, land being sold as though it were “good payable dirt,” and the price of timber and building labor being so heavy. Adelaide, of course, could spread over another fifty square miles -without being asked to climb a hill. H