The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1909. SHIRKING LEGISLATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2683, 13 December 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1909. SHIRKING LEGISLATION.

Reports from AVellington indicate an increasing probability that Parliament will adjourn before Christmas and will not meet again until the middle of next year. That this will involve a shameful neglect of duty on the part of our legislators is apparent. Not on a half of the policy measures of the Government are likely to be dealt with oy that time unless they are rushed through with indecent haste and consequently placed upon the Statute Book in. a crude and unsatisfactory condition. Scores of useful measures, all demanding careful consideration, will most certainly be shelved for the year, simply because our legislators are disinclined to do the work for which they are paid and which they promised before election would receive their utmost energies. AVTiat makes the position worse is the fact that the Budget speech of the Premier gave such excellent promise of really important matters being discussed; and it is all the more deplorable to witness so pitiable an outcome. The session has been a short one, hut there has been ample time for transacting a largo quantity of business had members chosen to settle down to work. Instead they have to a large extent wasted their own time and that of the country in comparatively trivial discussion. Not until •last week was any real disposition apparent to get ahead with business, and since then the opposite .extreme has been reached. Badgered by the Premier, the House has been slumming Bills through at a great rate. Thirty local Bills dealt with at a sitting, bare quorums, and members sleeping on th‘e lounges are facts which evidence a most undesirable state of affairs. Apparently the important Land Bill is to be dropped,- and we can scarcely hope that the great question of Native lands will’ be adequately dealt with if the session is really to close before Christmas." ThO AVellington ‘“Post” in a recent article on this subject put the position so forcibly that we reprint the concluding portion as follows:—Some members need to be again reminded that they are paid to do the work of the country and not to enjoy themselves, and that the course suggested will lay them reasonably open to the charge of getting money on false pretences. Let them look their duty fairly and squarely in the face and elect to do it. To do other-' wise would be a public scandal of the first dimensions which should make them strangers to public lifo for ever after, and to pass measure after measure without looking at them or understanding them would be. an equally shameful betrayal of their trust. As the Leader of the (House, the Premier would have to bear a large share of the responsibility for the performance. The duty, of preventing it, therefore, falls primarily upon him. By a plain statement to the House or to another caucus of his party lie had better clear up the position at once. Of course, he cannot control the vagaries of the Opposition, but he can once and for all put a'stop to this monstrous talk about shutting down at Christinas so that mefnbers may have a six months’ holiday in which to recover from the effects of neglecting their duty during one of the shortest sessions on record. If Sir Joseph Ward will assert himself as a leader should, .he cai\, insist that the business of Parliament shall be done, and decently done, and that, whatever a wicked Opposition may do towards prolonging the agony, the session shall' -continue until the work is finished. 1 ■ ;; .. •

A meeting of the Freezers’ Union is to he held in Townley’s Hall tliis even•ing. .- 1 ■■ r ■' The ratepayers of Gisborne are reminded that the poll in connection with the thorough loan proposals is to ta'ke place on Monday next. The first prize ticket in the art union in connection with the art and' curio exhibition, No. 884, is believed to belong to Mr. Peter Gavin. The* tender of Mr. A. Zachariah has been accepted by the (Gisborne Fire' Board for supplying _ twenty-five uniforms for the Fire Brigade. The price is £3 each. Six tenders were received. The dramatic students of the Young Men’s Catholic Club will produce the emotional drama. “Unjustly Accused in His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday next, December 20th. It is notified-that all creditors of the Poverty Bay Co-operative Supply Association, in liquidation, . must prove their claims at the office of Messrs Kirk. Burnard, and Sievwright, before January 14th, 1910Constable Pratt left for Napier Iqst evening, taking three prisoners, a woman and two men, who had been sentenced to Napier gaol, the woman for two and the men for two and three months’ imprisonment respectively. The following Customs revenue was received at the Customs House last week: Customs duties (ordinary) £896 3s 4d, surtax £22 8s sd; beer efuty £45 12s; light dues £lO 2s 4d ; shipping fees £1 6s 9d; total, £975 12s 10a. The Gisborne Harbor Board, by advertisement in this issue, notifies _ its intention of taking Tuahino Point, under the Public Works Act, 1908, for the purposes of a lighthouse site. Objections must be sent in, in writing, to the Harbor Board, on or before January 25th, 1910. Miss Amy Currie, M.A., of Wanganui, has been appointed an asistant mistress at the Yvellington Girls’ College. Miss Currie was educated at the Wanganui Girls’ College, where she Avas dux in 1906. She studied at Wellington Training College. She gained her M.A., at Victoria College, with honors in Latin and German. The question of camp canteens was discussed, at the Gisborne Rifles’ camp yesterday. The commanding officer, Lieut.-Col. Hislop, expressed the opinion that tne stnuing out or the canteen clause in the Derence Bill would, by no means, abolish drinking in camps. On the other hand he thought that it would be extremely hard to detect liquor being brought into a camp, and the position would be worse by tbe tact of tne liquor not being under control. Tlk? Presbyterian and Methodist Church choirs, which tied for first nlace at the art, curio, and industrial exhibition contest, have agreed to sing otf for first prize in the Methodist Scnoolrooin on Thursday evening next. The contest will form part of tbe Christmas Tree and Fair programme, to be held the same evening. As the Rev. F. W. Cliatterton is leaving Gisborne on Wednesday. it will be necessary to appoint another judge in his place to act with Messrs M. L. Foster and L. T. Brown in making the award. Arrangements are well forward for the Nuhaka A. and P. Society’s annual show, to be held at Nuhaka on New Year’s Day, and everything points to the show being the most successful yet held by the Society. Entries ■ for all events close with the Mr. J. S. Cooper, Morere, on Saturday next, 18th inst. Mr. Northcote, of Feilding, has been appointed judge of horses; Mr. Short, of Waituna West, Feilding, judge of stud sheep and cattle; Mr. C. A. Fenwick, of Gisborne, judge of fat sheep; and Mr. D. Pryd-e, of Wairoa, judge of dogs. The following passengers had booked last evening by Messrs Redstone and Sons’ coaches, leaving this morning— For Tatapouri, Mr. Hugh Telford) Miss McMillan; for Hauiti. Miss Willison; for Tologa, Father Lane; for Morere, Mrs. Muir and children, Mr. Holdford ; for Wharerata, Miss Ed Avar ds; for Wairoa, Mr. Sutherland; for Te Puia, Mr. and Master lies, Mr. OA rerton ; for Waipare, Mr. and Mrs. Jones; for Waipiro, Mrs. Pettie, Mr. Stevens, Mr. McCulloch; for Frasertown, Mrs" Forsyth and tAVO children; for Hangaroa, Miss BradAvell; for Waerenga-o-luiri, Mr. Thompson. v Special children’s anniversary service Avas held at the Salvation Army Citadel yesterday. There Avas a good attendance in the morning, Avhen special singing AA r as given by the children. In the evening, a service of song, entitled “True as Step],” Avas gi\ r en and greatly appreciated. Mrs Melksham had worked hard to make the service a success, and her labors Avere Avell rewarded. On Wednesday e\ r ening next, by special request, tho “Flo Aver Queen’s Court'* Avifl he given by the children, and the Citadel should be crowded as this is one of the finest things ever given in Gisborne. Next Sunday will be the corps anniversary, when Staff-Sergeant Moore will be in attendance, and on Tuesday Aveek the annual tea will be held. Morse is the sole agent for the farfamed “Parasene” hair restorer. Paraesne is no local concoction, but is imported direct from the manufacturer, E. Holland, Melbourne. We give a guarantee with “Parasene,” and have numbers' of local testimonials from doctors and leading citizens. C. Morse, Tobacconist and Hairdresser, Gladstone Road. The leading sports depot in Poverty Bay.* • A man needs to he very cautious and shrewd when he takes the ripe fruit of his brain to' market. The prime necessity of success, given a good idea, is to make your patent a. sure thing. We have correspondents and sub-agents everywhere, and our reputation for scrunions dealing gives our clients full security.—Ogilvy and Co., land agents, Gisborne.'