POLITICAL PILOTS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 April 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL PILOTS

Just a little Joke.

W. D. 8. McDonald, who was Minister of Lands in the Five Minntes i Ministry, at Helensville recently got off a little yarn. He told how an interrupter at a political meeting lay down on a seat at the back of the ball at every opportunity bleated out a question. After his nineteenth question the largest local cocky rose m wrath. "Mr Chairman," he asked, " is it right for a man to speak when he is lying ?" The man who reposed on the seat arose slowly, cleared his throat and waited for the applause to lie down. •' Mr Chairman," he asked, looking unspeakable things at that official, "Is it right that a :uan should lie when he is standing up V •%• # * Maori Representation. Like the pakeha neighbours, the Maoris in the Northern electorate are on the warpath in anticipation of the political battle at the end of this year. The present member, it is said, is not a universal favourite, and he lias announced that he will not seek reelection. There is to be au effort to concentrate the strength on one candidate, but the probability is that, as in the past, several districts will hold that the right man should be one of their own near neighbours.— Hauraki Manning will stand a good show. ■£,- *& **• Some Irish Stew. Quite a lot of concern has been shown by.that section of the Press which loudly " barracks " for " Lost " Liberalism in New Zealand, over the fact that one section of Labor, known as the Social Democratic Party, has publicly disavowed an alliance, secret or otherwise, with the Liberal Pai'ty. On the other hand, the organs of " Fat," those newspapers repiesentative of land monopoly and capitalism generally, are making the most of the fact that theaK Red-tot Laborites have " turned down " a proposal, said to have emanated from the Liberal Party, that there should be a secret undorstancling between the parties, and therefore, are encouraging the Red Feds, or Social Democrats, to wade in, nominate candidates whereveT possible^ thus splitting votes and assuring the return of the Reform nominees, arid, incidentally insuring a victory for Massey ism at the next election.". x a- * Changes His Tune. Mr W. H. Field, ex-member for Otaki. who supported tho Ward Ad~ ministration, has decided to contest the seat again at the ridxt election, and has made a statement which provides a further demmistnJtipn of the effective way in which Mr Massey is capturing old opponents. ll When I entered Parliament over 14 years ago," Mr Field states, " I joined the Liberal Party then led by the late Mr. Seddon At that time the Opposition was to a very large extent a conservative body, but as the yeirs have gone by they have become substantially Liberalised until recently the difference between the opposing sides lias been largely one of leadership. How widely their respective policips may diverge iv the future remains to be seen for the new Liberal policy is as yet undisclosed. i Jennings in Front. £ A meeting of supporters of the. Opposition Party decided that' the late it ember for Taumarunui, Mr W. T. Jennings, should be invited to contest the seat a f. the nexc election. He will stand alright. It wants Chloroform J. C. Thomesou, MP, who was lately at Ilelensville, paid a glowing tribute to the " refoms:' that Willie Hayfork and Co., had instituted. Are we not getting fall valu.e in Railway reform ? Of course 1 Mr Hjley has stopped the five minutes bell at rail way stations and removed the " smoking strictly prohibited " notices. Somebody moved a vote of confidence in Sir Joseph Ward as leader of the Liberal party. Then up rose Joe Rea, a riverside cow.engineer and for a whole bunch of years a " Shorei te." He paid his tribute to tha Massey Grovernmeut in a story. " Yes," said the interj ector to the Tory candidate, ''}our Government has given us reform. It has given us financial reform , railway reform, labour reform and other kinds of reform—what it wants now is chloroform !" Motion carried with acclamation.