A Warning.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 143, 29 March 1909, Page 2

A Warning.

Sir, —Whether the present cacophlanous war-shriek is a pres--scare, that it may sell many papers; or. whether the "loyal oversea Bricor." awaking from an asrhixiatirg nightmare, seesagreat hairy snider creeping on the ceiling over-bee; or. whether said leva! Briton, dreaming that his o! el-folk it the homeland are verging on a seniie dedcerage, and in that vision, further, see lying on the Nation's asphalt a strip of German banana rind, ami in fear that said old-folk may tread therein, and slip, and break their ancient legs, rush in an illucid panic to the nearest neighbour's backyard, to borrow the housedame's clothes prop, to shove ■ aid ancients up, is not so much cf definite importance in this madness, as is the incissive lesson these narrowing imbecilities have taught us. viz. : That our paid servants contrary to ordinances, established as fundamental safeguards against reckless sruar.derage the public treasure cues: and weal, dare to pledge their master's credit to achieve a paltry popularity] A popularity, not of the prudent balanced citizen, but of a servile press and racehatred ° prejudice e;:;ited fiatulents! But levity apart, the time has come when our servants, certain bucolic tear stertorous and syco; hautie M.P.'s. and either kudos shunting or sav&ge- village mayors, must understand that they are not the nation or its voice; and that their unauthorised buff oonry and intemperate scares will not go unrebuked.and must be paid for out of their own cash register. And it behoves us wilderness outpickets of the good things yet to be — upon whom the wreckage of demented vagariits fails heaviset in roadless winterjdays —to keen a singularly steadfast eye upon our inmate:! servitors. And when as now they would exceed rules made and provided fer restraint, to protest against evem encroachment, however apparently minute-, upon their masters prerogatives. Because, the Press, especially the Press, does not represent the public pulse -; much, as the copies of the paper they can sell. Therefore it behoves us. further, to utilise our precints for defence, and bring up with a sudden jerk such blatant country M.'sP., who, "heartily endorse the actions" of said well paid pompous menials, without constituents consent. "Heartily endorse" forsooth! Who authorised you to endorse a criminal infraction of your land's prescripts? You are elected by the people to side with neither Pcmpey nor Caesar, but to uphold the statutes of the Commonwealth. Nor can you exculpate your airy ex officio banalities with the excuse : "The Nation is in danger! Let the standing orders be suspended!" You are unworthy guardians of the Nation's weal, if press inaugurated panics dement your puny senses into condoning wanton illegalities, and burden our children's children with unnecessary bondages, that certain would-be patriots mav eniov a kudos, we, the Nation,have to pay fori That this is demonstrably true in wiil an intention, why are these me-sage of approval from oversea and elsewhere addressed to eur head steward and pantry men, instead of the body of the people who must find the cash. Why are we, th ; people, whose consent for these foolish extravagancies has not been excluded from the mutual adulation club? Because such is the custom of demagogues: Whom the gods will to destroy they f.rst give poisons w r hich sterilise the brain! Would it not have redounded more to Australasia's youthful manhood ncbiilty, if, instead of permitting its head stewards and pantry men to abet the war lust of two old savages, to have united in one voice:—"Here. you rancorous hoodlums. : f ycu don't fling at each other's age-creased heads; and modify your execrating insults, we

shall close our pons .: you. that your bloated oversea trad- ■■:::'.'. be worthless!" This Yrou:d have ':.oer. c: rrore triumphant efficacy thar. ad the boast iof patriot a:/:' c r :--' o- DreadI nought, the grates: debt-rieder Nation ; upon earth could made. Shah v.-e per- | mit our stewards, pantry rrer, B.^ goods. v,-e .the reerde.r.ave rot ordered, bom children— Dominion upon earth. *' : '- Vs'.B. Te Kuiti.