POLITICAL NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 September 1901, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

The Opposition Game.

The -Hon. Mr Mills wa3 complaining that the gentlemen across the House, in not speaking on ihe Financial Statement, were neglecting their duty as Majesty s Opposition, but Mr Scddon interjected* with a chuckle, " They are all satisfied; they are praising it up, every one of them." Mr' Mills went on to say that the duty devolved upon the Opposition, and their constituents expected to hear them. Mr beddon—"They are playing the same game that the Boers are playing now."

The Farmers' Union

Mr Pirani, in referring to the Farmers' Union movement, says it will sound the death-knell of the present system of Government. The farmers, he says, will be found favouring an Elective Executive, and in this respect they will revolutionise politics, and prevent any one man being dictator in this country, as has been the case for somo years past. This will bo the means of bringing into the administration purity and a regard for honesty and an obedience to the law that does not exist at the present time. Mr Willis on Trusts.

"Trusts" and "Combines," says the member for Wanganui (Mr Willis) are already with us. He quoted coals and flour as two instances. The former wero in his town £2 10a per ton in small lots, as the result of this pernicious system. He regretted the formation of a flour "trust," and to show it operations he said a Wanganui miller had been told that if he did not take shares in the trust, the latter would take care that his mill would be undersold to such an extend that he could not stand. It meant that this miller would have to join or bo a ruined man.

Mr Hornsby interjected: "Tbey sont the same notice to every miller.''

The S. S. Finance.

Mr Masscy last week humorously followed up ihe Premier's nautical simils of the good steamer Finance with the telegraph showing ''Slow ahead," in place of ''Full steam./ The member for Franklin said iho boiler fires were being fed with short-dated debentures, and it was doubtful even then' whether she would reach port. The wily skipper, however, had his traps packed up, and at the first indication of danger he would make for Fiji or some other place, and abandon the ship of which ho had so long had charge to the underwriters and owners. (Laughter.) Mr Seddon—You should not forget that two or three of my supporters are going to play the rat.-