The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, 1891.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 34, 17 September 1891, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, 1891.

The Wanganui Herald is not very complimentary to one of the members of the Ministry. Commenting on the Old Soldiers Land Bill our contemporary remarks that those whose claims to land or remission orders have been allowed, have been considerably perturbed owing to a clause having been inserted in the Bill now in course of passing through Parha ment, by which it was stipulated that the recipients of land orders under the Bill must comply with certain conditions as to settlement on the land. The clause was a foolish attempt on the part of the Minister of Lands to apply to the old soldiers and volunteers restrictions, which in the first instance were framed to deal with and put down dummyism. This is severe criticism on the unfortunate Minister, although doubtless perfectly well merited.

The appointment of Mr Perceval to the Age ut- Generals hip waa not made, it appears, because he was specially fitted to till the position, but because be was favored by the majority of the party to which he belongs, aud which keeps the Goyernmentou the Treasury bencht fl The real secret is disclosed by tJie new Zealand Times. By this appointment the billet of Chairmanship of Committees becomes vacant therefore " the majority j was worked up by the various aspirants to the Chairmanship of Committees. The wire-pullers love Mr Perceval because they love the Chairmanship of Committees more. An intrigue amongst these during the last few days brought the Government to the decision. A discreditable intrigue has been successful by reason of the weakness of the Government, which ought on these matters to have an opinion of its own. When a Government cannot insist on its own ideas of the matter of the Agent General, and the chief officer of the House of Representatives, its dissolution is uot far offi." When so bold aud hitherto uncompromising a supporter of the Ministry as the New Zealand Times has been, writes so plainly the case must be disgraceful indeed.

In connection with the declared intention of some of the locul storekeepers to keep their places open until teu o'clock at tnght, it was rumoured in town to-day that such action, would necessitate the hotel keepers making application, at the next sitting of the Licensing Bench, for an extension of tune from ten to twelve o'clock. We thiuk it would be well, under the circumstances, for all those interested to meet and effect an amicable compromise, because uobody can possibly benefit by tsuch long hours of business, while the employes must be made to suffer great hardship as well as mconvemenoo. Tho public, as a rule, can complete their shopping within the present hours, without any gi;fat effort.

A decision was given at the R.M. Court, Napier, on Monday last of considerable importance. The police had laid an information against a cabman for a breach of the Borough bye-laws. The solicitor for the defence contended that the council had no power to delegate the power of prosecution to police officers. For the prosecution the solicitor contended that the police had the right to lay such informations iupsinuch as they concerned Hie public safety, and in this opinion the R.M.. coocurreii.