POLITICAL PILOTS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 February 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL PILOTS.

A witty politician 'being asked, "When is an M.P. ferocious?" replied "When he inserts his claws into the Bill of another member." x x x The supporters of Cr. A. Nixon, of Devonpoi't (a candidate for Waitomata Electorate on the Democratic "ticket") are getting to work in tiie various districts of tiie countj, and no effort will .be spared to bring about his return at the next election. Mr J. E. Taylor, of Mangere, late of the Auckland Harbour Board, has been approached with a view to him standing for Parnell as a Democratic candidate at the next General Election and there is every likelihood of him consenting to contest the seat. x x x The Government want heaps ol! money yet and is making a big effort to get it. From the Ist of January last the maximum sum of which interest will be paid b} r the Post Office Savings Banks has been increased from £600 to £1,000. The private banks will not view the innovation very favourabty, for the Post Office banks will now be more popular than ever, paying as they do 4 per cen*;. on deposits whether they are fixed or not. XXX Joshua Williams, Eight Bouourable and Sir, won't have to economise when he takes up his unpaid billet as Privy Councillor. On retiring from his comfortable job as Judge of our Supreme Court he went on the pension list for a small amount of £1,200 a year. XXX The GHsborne papers announce that Mr K. de Lautour has definitely decid - ed to contest the Gisborne seat at the next general election. Mr de Lautf-ur is a well known cyan in Hawke's Bay and cm the face of it. it appears as though the Hon. James Carroll will need to gird up his loins, so to speak. AI: the last general election thft Hon. Jimmy was not opposed beo-iuse the lief jrin Party lacked thu organisation, while the Labour people also seemed indifferent about the matter Mr. de Lautour at that election contested the Bay of Plenty seat against Mr MacDonald and was lett behind by a majority of a,bout 500 votes.

A Hawke's Bay paper, referring to Mr Russell, tho member for Avon, writes thus: "Having failed by unctuous conciliation and flattery to prevent the nominees of the lied Federation contesting Liberal s-eats, the member for Avon is endeavouring to safeguard Liberal interests by creating a political scare." We seem to have a dim recollection that the present Government has boen known to try the same game.

Sir James Carroll, the member for Gisborne (who has been on a holiday tour, motoring with Mr Loekie Gannon), luib been asked by some of his Auckland friends to stand for the Waitemafca seat in the interest of the Liberal Party. (Should he consent, no doubt other candidates would have a foreman worthy of their steel. He has greatly improved in health during his stay at Rotorua, and made the trip up to Auckland by motor, bur, only re maiued in tho city a few days.

The Opposition leader puzzled Te Aroha with figures He explained that internal defence was costing £506,000, interest of sinking fund on the Dreadnought £140,000, and a contribution of £100,000, making £745, 000 por \ear to which we were committed. And that, he said, wat, only che beginning. Tn five years it would cost the country £1,4000,000, and then it would not be at the end of it. The country could Dot stand the strain and the farmers would be unable to boar the additional taxation. Good old Sir Joseph. Re makes nearly as good an Oppositionist as he did a leader and is already proving his worth m the art of pulling to pieces another man's policy. We seom to have a recollection though that Sir Joseph himself has no small share in the.items of expenditure alluded to. It was Joseph aud not William who gave a Dreadnought to the Old Country, And wasn't it Joseph, too, who so strongly advocated the putting of our defence forces on a better footing? He was a prime mover in these things once. It sounds a good deal like the old and historic stury of a utilitarian little pot calling a musical kettle black. We are quite well aware, of course, that politicians are not black. Such a thing is not to be thought of 'Bulletin,