The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1908. THE BAY OF PLENTY CONTEST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2360, 28 November 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1908. THE BAY OF PLENTY CONTEST.

Mr. J. B. Cow, who is contesting the Bay of Plenty seat in the second ballot, is a man with sound ideas on most matters of public concern, but if it wore only'for his attitude on the question of local government lie would be justly entitled to the support of the electors. Reform in this matter is one of the main planks in Mr. Cow’s platform, and on many occasions wo have pointed out the reasons why we consider this tlxo most pressing question in New Zealand politics at the present time. Under the system that has boon in vogue for many years, it has been the custom of the Parliament in Wellington to sanction works of a purely local nature which could be very much better handled by local authorities. Placed on the Public Works Estimates every session are hundreds of items representing expenditure of sums varying from £5 to £.5000, and totalling in the aggregate more than half a million sterling, and members are expected to criticise them. Naturally they can do nothing of the ’kind. They are not conversant with the merits of one-twentieth part of the items, and,, looking down a long list of figtires that convey nothing to them, they have no option but to accept the Ministerial statement on the matter and pass the lot. It is, of course, ridiculous to expect an Invercargill representative to have knowledge of the justice of a proposal for a road or bridge in the Poverty Bay district, whilst the Hon. Mr. Carroll will know nothing of the local works proposed to be undertaken outside his own constituency. Thus it ts that our representatives, whom wo fondly expect to keep a sharp watch upon every penny of public money that is expended, permit the passing of several hundreds of thousands of pounds in a few hours whilst practically blindfolded. Such a system as this opens the door to political jobbery, and tends to keep down the standard of our Parliamentary representatives by encouraging them to act as merely district delegates. - Very soon after his advent into the House, a member finds that the best way to ensure his retention of his seat is to get as many as possible of these local votes for his constituents. He cannot be sure of getting these without approaching the Ministers, and it is by their goodwill that, he gets the items placed upon the. Estimates. Once there they are pretty safe to go through, because as a general thing his fellow-members know nothing of the works suggested. Here again the system works out most perniciously l'or the public weal. The Ministers., in accepting the different items, weigh very carefully the probable effect of the proposed expenditure on the voting at .next election, and at the same time ma’ke the utmost use of the position to square the vote of the member making or supporting the application. There is no doubt that .a very great reform, would btv achieved Avere the law so amended that the AA'liole of the purely local Avorks in the Dominion Aver© attended to by local bodies Avhosc poAvers Avould luiA’O to be materially added to for that purpose, leaving Parliament in Wellington to devote its time and attention to national Avorks and .the broader issues that confront this young nation. Until such an alteration is made, our politics will continue in a parochial groove, and the status of our Parliament will remain distinctly mediocre.

On this most important of issues it is 'Aveil to contrast the position of the two candidates at present seeking election for the Bay of Plenty seat. Mr McDonald is the nominee of the present Government, which has steadily refused year after year to proceed with a local government reform, although Bills have been frequently on the Order Paper, .ajud the passing of the measure has been foreshadowed in many Governor’s speeches. The fact of the matter is the present Go Adornment finds* the existing system a most effective means of retaining its power, and it is safe to say that reform will never come from Sir Joseph Ward’s side of the House unless, perchance, the step be taken to prevent the Opposition from introducing it and scoring a big win in consequence. In the latter event M r ... McDonal d , time to his party pledges, Avould stand firm Avith Sir Joseph Ward, and if the Premier maintained liis present attitude, would obstruct tho. most desirable reform that could possibly come before Parliament. Mr. Goav, on the other hand, us an honest and progressive

politician, recognises the importance of the issue referred to, and has ardently advocated local government reform. We hear a great deal 'nowadays of these so-called “Liberals/ but the public is beginning to that true Liberalism is by no moans! confined to one section of the House/ and that men like Messrs Herries,| Herdman, and Goav, are quite as progressive and very much more capable; than tlio.se .individuals whose only, claim to . political knoAvlcdge is a re-' cognition of the many advantages that .accrue by following the party in power.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., two prohibition orders wero issued. A “Times” reporter was credibly informed yesterday that Mr. J. H. Martin intends to further add to the size of the Gisborne Hotel. Mr. T. Downs Avill lecture m Toavuley’s Ha.ll to-morrow evening, under the auspices of the Gisborne Spirit-nal-ist Society, on tlie subject oi Science and Spiritualism. A start Avas made at the beginning of this Aveek with the .laying of the wires in connection AA-itli the lighting of the town of Wairoa by electricity. Brigadier James Glover, of Wellington, will bo visiting Gisborne to conduct special meetings at the Salvation Army Citadel from December sth to the Stir. . The remanded case, an which one William Straker Jackson is charged with assault, causing actual bodily harm to William Harvey, Avail he heard at the S.M. Court this morning. . Rev. C. Griffin will preach both morning and evening to-morrow an Wesley Church. His subjects are: “Go, tell it 'to Jesus,” and “We belong to God.” The Young People’s Biblo Class meets in the afternoon. The Union Steamship. Company's Gisborne agency avas removed into their new offices in Childers Road yesterday. Everything is now complete in the neAV building, and the work of romoving AA-as carried out in a most expeditious manner. The meetings at the Salvation Army Citadel all day to-morrOAV Avill be conducted by Adjutant Dickens, assistedby a host of Salvationists. Meetings will be hold at II a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. A very hearty Avelcomo is extended to all . During the season of Advent tho vicar of Holy Trinity Church, the Rev. L. DaAAson Thomas, is to give a course of addresses on Sunday evenings on “Our Life After Death.’’ Written questions on points raised during the .addresses are .welcomed, and Avill be answered from the pulpit. A Avliarf laborer, Avbile engaged vesterdav in stacking timber, had the fingers of his left hand rather badly crushed between tAvo heavy flitches. The accident was a most painful one, but after having his hand dressed, the injured man Avas able to Be about again. Mr. Tlios. Farley writes to -state that through a typographical error his statement of the licensing returns in the Gisborne electoral contest at Mu-ri.AV.ai Avas made to appear ns: : — Continuance 39, reduction 9, No-lic-o.nso 2G ; Avhereas he had written : Con- ’ timvanco 38. reduction 9, No-license 2G.

The Avork of demolishing Messrs J. J. Niven’s old premises at the corner of Loavg Street and. Childers Road is now practically completed. Workmen are at present engaged in, removing the debris and erecting a fence round tho section, but it- is iinderstood that building operations avH 1 not be commenced for some little time.

At tho Baptist Tabernacle to-mor-row tho preacher. Rev. "W . Lamb, pvill take as "In's subject, .in the morning, “Anchored,” and in the evening “Why Ought I to be a Christian? — a Question for Thinking Men and Women.” At tho evening sendee Mr. Heathcote Avill sing “Nazareth,” with A'ioliii obligato accompaniment. The orchestra will play at ten minutes to seven.

A man .named William James Imrie AA’ho Avas arrested in Wairoa. early in -he week on a. charge of false pretences, was brought lin'to toAvn last night, by coach, in charge of Constable Torr. and will appear at the Police Court this morning, charged with, having on November 14th obtained from Mr. 11. J. Grieve the sum of £5 by means of a Aalueiess cheque. Tho AA'ork of dismantling and refitting the Gisborno Sheepfarmers’ Co.’s s.s. Nautilus is proceeding rapidly. It is intended to fit her AA'itli a powerful oil 1 engine, Avhiclwb expectcd to arrive from Auckland; shortly. Yesterday morning her old boiler and a large quantity of, old 1 ironwork Avero taken out to sea- on the s.s. Iyaroro and dumped OA'erboard in the vicinity of Tuamotu Island'.

Tlio scarcity of post office pillar boxes in the borough has many times been the subject of unfavorable comment by commercial men and others. The latest convenience of the kind to be provided is at Mr. Sparrow’s store at the corner of dcLau'tour and Graham Itoads, and it ;is understood that ian effort is being made to have one erected iat tho corner of Gladstone Road and /Peel -Street, near Mr. Robertson’s shop. There was only ia moderate attendance at the Masonic Hall last when Miss K. Bromring, M.A., delivered ia lecture on the subject of “Reincarnation.” Mr. Lockett occupied the chair, and the lecturer had a miost attentive hearing, and answered a number of questions at the close. Miss Browning is giving a series of lectures on different subjects, and will speak in tho same ball to-morrow, Tuesday, and next (Sunday. On Friday and Saturday next, December 4 and 5, a fairy extravaganza, “Violette nd Isidore,” written by Mrs. T. H. Wood, will be performed by children in His Majesty’s Theatre, in aid of the building fund of Holy Trinity Church. The performance Friday is to be in tho evening, when popular prices will he charged. On .Saturday afternoon' a matinee will ho .given,' commencing . at 3 o’clock. Seats may ho reserved* at Mr. Miller’s. Mr. Gi’tto s has kindly lent a pianoforte for the occeasion-. If Rockefeller, whoso income from the Standard Oil Trust is variously estimated at three to five millions sterling every year, were to apply in time, be would bo equally welcome witli others to buy a- kitchen set for nincpenco each- at Parnell’s Popular Saturday’--Sales, twenty-seventh inst. only. .

£ SS 0 p C , s Monday uc*xt b g'isiQ, , . __i Day, a.Bank holiday /will 'bo observed