AN ADAPTABLE MINISTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2680, 9 December 1909, Page 4

AN ADAPTABLE MINISTER.

It is to be hoped that the general public will give some passing attention to the discussion on the Land ' Bill which is at present taking place in Parliament. In the first place the provisions of the. Act are .sufficiently revolutionary to merit the concern of everyone and in the second place they throw a bright light upon the methods of the gentlemen who lead the so-called Liberal party. A startling illustration in this connection is provided >by the Hon. Mr Millar, whose speech in the House is printed in thi s issue. The Minister of Railways has always been recognised as a staunch leaseholder and those who support this form of tenure were naturally indignant that a Ministry of which he is a prominent member should have stolen the Opposition policy and declared for the freehold. During the discussion in Committee the Hon. gentleman preserved a steady silence, but ultimately the taunts and jibes of the leaseholders proved too much and in vulgar parlance he “opened out.” As will be seen by his speech the Minister for Railways can advocate the cause of the freehold quite as ardently as Mr Massey or any other of the Opposition leaders who have for years •made it a chief plank in their political creed. Unfortunately, whilst we know where to find Mr Massey on any of the chief public issues it is quite impossible to say where Mr Millar or his associates can be found a year lienc© or even six months hence. The only thing that is certain is that a mere changing of policy" will not be allowed to stand in the way of their retention of office. To-day we find the Minister of Railways fervently justifying a freehold bill; let us note his attitude four years ago. Speaking in the House on October 9, 1905, he said: I must say that it'comes as a surprise to me to hear that any member on the Government benches would give the freehold at all. And again: So far as I am concerned, I do not intend, at any time, so long as I retain a seat in this House, by a vote of mine to allow one acre of land to be sold. Curiously enough we find that in the same speech Mr Millar likewise used these words : “Each man [in the House] is looking to his own seat, and doing what he believes will keep him in his seat, irrespective of the interests of the .people.” Under the circumstances it is not surprising that the Minister’s “explanation was received with something approaching derision by the House, as is shown in the subsequent extracts from the debate : Mr Millar: If the settlers did not take advantage of the provision in the Act [within two years] the land would remain leasehold for ever. Mr Taylor: That is a great reso- . lution. Mr Millar: It is. , Mr Taylor: But. . . . you will throw it overboard when you think it advisable. ** ■ * Mr Millar went on to say that the nine millions of National Endowment land was intended to be kept as leasehold for all time. ■ Mr Poole: Are you sure? Mr Millar: As far as we are concerned. Mr Taylor: Until the pressure is sufficient. « * • . Mr Millar next remarked that under the proposals it was proposed to acquire Native land to the extent of half a million a year. ’ Mr Russell: Will you ever give the freehold of that? Mr Millar: Only the back sections: Mr Taylor: We shall see. It is evident that - whilst the provisions of the Land Bill now! before Parliament provide gratifying, evidence of the .splendid work accomplished by the Opposition, it has likewise had the effect of lowering very materially the estimation in : which the present Ministry is held ' by the members of Parliament and by the country.

: Mr. and Mrs. C. A. deLautourreturned from Auckland yesterday afternoon. A social, under the auspices of the Gisborne branch of _ the Young .Party, will be held in Holy Trinity Schoolroom this evening.

The Rev. W. Mawson, missionary from China, who has been lecturing in Gisborne and district during the past ten days was a passenger tor boutn by the Waikare last evening. ’ In conversation with a “Southland News” reporter a gentleman connected with the cheese industry said that the current season promised to surpass a others in production. The ratepayers of the Wadestown portion of the Wellington borough (says a Press Association telegram) jesterday voted on a proposal to borrow £33,000 for electric trams to that sunurb. The proposal was carried by iol votes to 17. ( „ A Press Association telegram from Wellington last night states that the West Coasters residing m Wellington entertained the Hon. It. McKenzie, Minister of Mines and Public Works, last night, and presented him with an illuminated address. Mrs. McKenzie was presented with a gold bangle. The annual meeting of the Gisborne branch of the Women's Christian Ternjierance Union will be held in the Presbyterian Schoolroom' at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Afternoon tea is to be served at 3.30 p.m., and members are requested to bring or send plates of cakes for use thereat.

In the course of bis Christchurch address, Mr Will Ciooks told many anecdotes, humorous and pathetic. He told of the .little boy to whom a visiting doctor remarked, 'when lie cried for hunger, “Cheer up, my boy. You know that God never makes mouths without bread to go i.nto them.” “Yes.” .replied the boy, “I know that. God .spuds the mouths to our house and the bread to yours.''

Mr. E. G. Loton, agricultural instructor under the Hawke's Pay Education Board, arrived from the South yesterday morning, and will meet the tow-n school teachers on Friday afternoon at 3.30 p.m. in the Gisborne school, and the country teachers the same evenin' - at Matawnero at 7 p.m. The subject of the lectures will be “Soil moisture and the relationship between plants and soil moisture.” --m subject at the Saturday morning chemistry class will be “Elementary Oxygen ; its preparation, characteristic?, and relation towards agriculture.” At the end of this week the Gisborne Itifles will bold a week-end cam]) at the Island. Colonel Hislop, officer coinmanding the battalion, wdio is to arrive from the South on Saturday morning, will be in attendance at the camp, and make his inspection. The members of the company are to leave the Drill Hall at 2.15 p.m. on Saturday, proceeding straight to the c-amp. During Saturday evening field firing by night will be practised, and on Sunday, w'eather conditions proving favorable, « scheme, drawn up by Captain Beere.(if repelling a surprise landing at the Island, will be undertaken. The company returns cn Sunday evening. Artliur Thomas, alias Voar. who. toquote Ills own words, had “never had a- chance,” was brought up at the -Police Court yesterday morning charged with vagrancy. His w'ords were apparently borne out in this particular instance, as he had had the misfortune to accost a constable in plain clothes and endeavored to raise a couple of shillings. Before Mr. Lysnar, J.P.. the man made a long statement that he had just w r alked from Napier, and wanted a chance to reform, but in view of a long list of previous convictions, including three of vagrancy in different towns, and one of breaking and entering, tlie Justice rejected the man’s application for leniency, and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment. Staff-Sergeant-Major McNair arrived from South yesterday morning. In the morning he inspected, and put through drill, members of the Public School Cadets. and in the evening met the noncommissioned officers of the Gisborne Rifles and Defence Cadets in the orderly room in the Garrison Hall, and instructed them in semaphore signalling, bayonet fighting, and physical drill. This and to-morrow afternoon the Ser-geant-Major inspects - different corps of the Public School Cadets, and this evening he takes recruits of the volunteers and examines them as to their efficiency in drill. To-morrow evening an inspection will be made of the Defence Cadets. The Sergeant-Major will be in attendance at the week-end camp of the Gisborne Rifles, returning to Gisborne on Sunday afternoon in'time to catch the boat for South. * A writer in the' “New Zealand Herald” states that in Auckland one day last week lie saw a highly-respectablo-looking man handcuffed, accompanied by a gaol warder, marched right up the whole length of Grafton Road a little after five o’clock, to be stared at by scores of men, women and children. He made inquiries as to who the man -was, aucl learnt that he was a respectable member of society who, a§ it turns out by the finding of the jury, was wrongly accused of cattle-stealing. “Surely,” says the writer, “an untried man, and therefore, in law, an innocent man, should not be subjected to such humiliation. His sufferings must have been sufficiently acute without the addition of this further indignity. This is a barbarous practice and should nat be allowed. It has been ruled, that a man cannot he photographed by prison authorities until lie is found guilty, and one therefore fails to see why he should be publicly paraded in irons, wAen lie could have been taken in a covered conveyance to and fro.”A sensational runaway, fortunately free from any. 1 disastrous results, took place yesterday morning. The horses in Messrs Langford and Hogan’s landau, which were standing unattended in the alley-way beside the Albion Hotel, became frightened and started off up Gladstone Road. A pedestrian caught hold of the reins and managed to retard the progress of the horses somewhat, but when opposite the Bank of New Zealand the landau was dragged on the kerbing, and he had to re- 1 lease his hold. The horses continued their career up Gladstone Road, and when a little way past the Peel Street corner collided with Mr. G. Brocldebank’s express and did some slight damage to it. Continuing, ’the horses proceeded iip Gladstone Road and turned round tlie Coliden Street corner, in the direction of the Presbyterian Church, and ivent on till they collided with the gate of Mrs. Carroll’s residence, and wore brought to a standstill. Although the gate was completely smashed, the pole of the landau broken, and damage done to the springs and axle, the horses escaped injury. At the beginning of the bolt it looked as if a serious accident was likely to take place, as four or five landaus were in position on the stand in Gladstone Road, and the horses, disturbed by the commotion, started to 'play up.' Fortunately the drivers were in their seats, and managed to quiet them.

*°U Is estimated that the two recent Jt is cs-ixn* resu i t m au wool sales JSapmr. miUion to the increase of a quartor « wealth of Hawke’s Bay. Tl.tt nets of Scottish fishermen afte S ia colored nets catch moat fish The aggregate balance-sheet of the published in this issue, of the Gisborne Times.” The following passcngcrshadlwoffi.d ldict evening by Messrs Redstone anu Sets’ coaches, leaving For Tokomam, Miss MclntosU, Waioiro Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Messrs BulSiai and Dalian ; for AVliangaroa, Mri. Douglas; for Tologa, Messrs .Sugar and Toogood. ; Gisborne growers are n? tal( ?" e deploring damage from blight potatoes. The "Napier telegraph says. The showery steamy weather has led to the appearance of blight m potatoes, Hi a sad change has come over the patches about Napier residences which had such a healthy appearance-a couple of weeks ago.

At the Police Court' yesterday morning, before Mr. \Y. D. Lysnar, J J. Elsie Olsen pleaded guilty to drunkenness, having been previously convicted in May- A fine of 5s with costs 2s was inflicted, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Graham Steele, on a similar charge, did not appear, and was convie ted. and tho amount of his bail, —d, estreated.

Gisborne people were made better acquainted with the new science of aviation than they have yet been by the realistic film of “The Great YYeek of Aviation at Rheims,” presented by the pat-lie Pictures at His Majesty s theatre last night. Quite a weird sensation was experienced as the flight of these huge bats of the air was followed with breathless interest. Tlie v sight was a novel and exciting one, and will not bo readily forgotten by those who had tho good fortune to witness it- Tonight will.be the last occasion on which this magnificent film will be shown.

The" first express train to come through to Wellington since the alteration of the timetable arrived in Napier on Monday night at 9.15, being thus smin early. Tlie number of passengers who came by this train was not large, nor was there any unusual crowd on tlie platform awaiting its arrival. Outside the station, however, was a s cene of activity, with numerous cabs and luggage vans in waiting. A well-known cab-driver, speaking to a “Herald” representative, expressed the opinion that the late express would be good for their business, as many would be inclined to take a cab at that hour •who would walk if they came by an earlier train.

One herald is proclaiming in a displeasing manner that Christmas is approaching. (says the_ Wellington “Post.”) His proclamation takes the form of a reminder that at this season of the year there is an increasing demand and a good market for poultry. Suburban residents in general, and Ivarori householders in particular, on counting their hens in the morning have learned this to their sorrow. It is reported that the depredations have been on a wholesale scale. In Karori it is said that as many as a- score of poultry have been taken from a roost in one night, and in some cases the *-'chicken-stealer’ ’ has paid a ..return visit.

Bro. W. L. File, district secretary of the local Foresters' Court, returned by the Monowai yesterday morning from the triennial district meeting of the A.0.F., held at Picton at the beginning of this month. Over 60 delegates were present at the meeting, which lasted nearly three days, and matters of vital importance to the order were discussed, and several important amendments to the rules were carried. It was decided to adopt a more severe system of auditing accounts throughout the Wellington district. which includes Gisborne. While the delegates were in Picton, they were entertained by tlie Mayor, and spenta very enjoyable time, being taken for a special trip round the Sounds. In connection with the Gisborne Court, nominations for officers for tfie ensuing term have been received, and the election will take place at the Court meeting on Monday week.