Colonial Politics.

Manawatu Herald, 21 October 1899, Page 2

Colonial Politics.

If the statement made in the Manawain Standard that Captain Russell has written to members of his party in Palmerston stating that as Mr Pirani was opposed to Mr Seddon he would do nothing to obstruct his return, is true, then the public has a fine insight into what a peculiar muddle politics have arrived at in this colony. At one time in our history we had men who banded themselves into parties to secure some permanent benefit to the State they represented, their views might not be acceptable to all, but they fought for a principle and not for a place. The present Opposition have not made it clear to anyone what difference they would make in the laws under which we are governed ; or whether they would reduce the taxation we have now to bear ; or whether they are in favonr of Free Trade or Protection. They declare it is not for them to formulate a policy until placed in a position of trust. Is this a very wise action to ask the voters to take ? to turn out men who have been ten years in power in order to replace them by men who have as long been out of office ! If Captain &ussell is really desirous of seeing Mr Pirani elected on the sole ground that he is opposed to Mr Seddon, what chance, every voter must consider) is thei'e of a successful administration being formed by Captain Russell if Mr Seddon should be defeated ? It is always wisest to look a bit ahead beI fore taking a leap, and if all the Op- ! position are interested in is merely to see men elected who will vote against the Premier, but who otherwise hold no views in common with the leader of the Opposition, the result will be farcical, as a new Ministry will only be selected to meet with as quick a defeat at the hands of those who lent a hand to defeat the present government. The people may desire a change but the change secured must show some likelihood of living a little longer than the white shirt Ministry, and to secure its longer lease of life the opponents of the present government must be actuated by a higher sense of their responsibility to the State, more than by the desire to see men returned with the one idea to destroy. Mr Pirani has been a useful member of the House in many ways, but it must be clear to all who have watched his actions that he would be as great a thorn in the side of Captain Russell as he is to Mr Seddon, unless, of course, he was muzzled with a portfolio. And here we come to the extraordinary suggestion of Captain Russell and Mr Pirani working together ! the question arises for how long would this be possible ? Captain Russell is a good Conservative and Mr Pirani considers he is a good labour member. We cannot understand what service Mr Pirani has done for the Opposition to warrant them from refraining t» secure a return of a member who would be heart and soul for them, and who would be of value both in placing them, and keeping fiem, in power, should their much desired end of defeating Mr Seddon be accomplished. To our mind there is something unfair and un-English in this desperate fighting against a single man, and the Opposition appear to need a record more unblemished than they own, to war against persons instead of deeds. We venture to think that the Opposition in such unreasonable action is paying Mr Seddon the highest compliment possible, as it tends to show that it is the capability of the Liberal Leader they fear and not the Acts which he has forced Parliament to pass. We do not hold with much of the labour legislation of the present government, holding the view that much of it was inimical to the object held in view, but here again we are met by the Opposition stating they had no intention to repeal any measures. If they intend to leave things as they are, what are the public to gain by turning Mr Seddon out ? If they do intend to amend the labour legislation why do they not announce the fact. From the ruling in this Palmerston case Captain Russell will have to withdraw all opposition to all ! Liberals who go to the poll with the intention of voting Mr Seddon out of power, if returned, and thus how much will the Opposition party be increased in strength ? It is very probable that Mr Pirani would be returned for Palmerston without Captain Russell's good offices, but that does not in anyway reduce the slight he has put upon the friends of his Party in the Palmerston electorate, which must be felt by many very keenly, as it certainly suggests that in the mind of the Leader of the Opposition, his party is anything but strong, though a nominee of the Premier's is prepared to contest the seat with Mr Pirani. We have here an instance of persons before measures again introduced to the voters. Captain Russell cares not who is elected or what his political views are so long as he will vote straight on a personal matter, even when the chances look particularly bright of a man of his own political faith slipping into the seat owing to the fight between two socalled Liberals. If Mr Seddon is to be blamed for his too great personality, surely Captain Russell is more to be blamed for throwing aside principles to secure such a short-lived result.

French-Canadians are enthusiastically joining the Dominion's contingent for the Transvaal.

The blossoms in the orchards promise a heavy crop of fruit, the plums and peaches looking better than they have done for a few years.

He : Well, my view is that there should always be give and take between husband and wife. — She : My idea exactly ! The husband should give and the wife take.

A German circular that arrived in London the other day had transscribed upon it, "1/ the receiver be dead, please do not send this on to him." The instructions were carried out.

The Queen's gift of £400 to the relatives of the French fisherman who was the victim of the Leda incident in the English Channel has touched the French nation^

In the neighbourhood of Pigeon Bay and further south towards Akaroa, a quantity of timber supposed to be wreckage has been picked up. There is nothing to show what it belonged to.

On Sunday afternoon at two o'clock the Rev. H. Leach will hold an evening service at the Wirokino ferryhouse. This we believe will be the first time public Divine worship has been held in that neighbourhood.

We publish to-day the programme of thd Fdxtori fading Club's Summer Meeting, which will be held on Saturday 20th and Monday 22nd January. The stakes are increased to the amount we particularised previously, and the races are so arranged that large nominations may surely be reckoned on.

The Mail says, we understand that Mr H. A. Field, M.H.R. for Otaki, is so sefiotfsly ill that his medical advisers have recommended him to withdraw from the election contest. Mr J. R. Stansell is mentioned as the Government candidate in the event of Mr Field withdrawing.

It is estimated that the British war vote of £10,000,000 will provide for 35,000 men beyond the number voted for.

A big meeting ot "coloured persons " has been held in Cape Colony, a*nd a petition was largely signed, and copies will also be forwarded to every part of the colony for signature. It expressed appreciation of the privileges enjoyed by coloured persons under Her Majesty's rule, and indignation at the withholding of any rights in the Tradsvaal.

Sounds very jolly! The first care of all commanding officers is the comfort of their men as far as circumstances will permit, but as a rule circumstances permit very little."

An extraordinary incident that occurred at the Spit the other day seems to justify the statement that a cat has nine lives. On a case from Dunedin, packed with brooms, being opened, a cat and three kittens, evidently born on the passage, emerged. In the course of the passage of the case it must have been turned over frequently, and met with the many vicissitudes of coastal cargo, and pussy's exploit is to be all the more admired. — Herald.

We (Otaki Mail) are informed that Messrs Swainson and Bevan have purchased Mr Hector Davidson's mill, and that the plant will be shifted up to the Kuku. Messrs Swainson and Bevaa have several fl ix cutters at work on the Mairau swamp, the flax being hauled from the Levin State farm by the traction engines. There will be five strippers at work at this Company's mills.

An interesting item from India is that the Maharaja of Kuch Behar has offered his services on the personal staff of Sir Redvers Buller, and that Lord Curzon is backing the application. If an Indian prince should actually fight with England in South Africa as a volunteer, it will be an interesting proof of the real solidarity of the apparently heterogeneous British Empire.

Gardening for the young. — Master Tommy : Oh, George, we went to tell you that you had better grow only new potatoes after this. They's ever so much better than the old kind.

Captain Lascelles, aide-de-camp to the Governor (Lord Tennyson) will shortly leave for the Cape to join his regiment — the City of London Regiment (the Royal Fusiliers).

Canada's volunteer brigade will embark for South Africa on the 27th instant. It comprises 1000 marksmen, under the command of a Canadian officer.

Refugees from Johannesburg declare that the Transvaalers rushed into the war only because they were buoyed up by the hope that the outbreak of hostilities would be the signal for a general rising of the Dutch in South Africa. Advices received from Pretoria pretend that President Kruger resisted the issue of the ultimatum to Great Britain, but was outvoted in the Executive Council.

It has transpired that the Governor (Sir Alfred Milner) forced the Premier (Mr Schreiner) to append his signature to the proclamation warning colonists against treason, by giving him the alternative that he must either sign the document or resign.

Father : Where is my meerschaum, dear ? I've been looking for it this half hour. — Daughter : On your desk, father in its case, where it belongs. — Father ; Oh, well ! if you're going to begin putting things where they belong, how do you ever expect me to find them ?

Jack Hellings, the Sydney swimmer, has won the 150 yds swimming championship of London in imin 46 3-ssec.

The case brought into Court on Thursday, for firing a gun within the precincts of the Borough, should prove a warning to many amateur sportsmen, who, under ths guise of shoaling rabbits, fire off guns in d?.n.?erou3 proximity to the roads, utterly regardless as to the safety of passers-bye, or the danger that might be done by h arses being frightened at the noise. No one desires to stop shooting within the Borough boundaries, but a little caution might save further complaints.

A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held on Monday night.

We regret that by some oversight the invitation issued to Mayors to attend the farewell to the N.Z. Contingent, has not been received by the Mayor of Foxton.

Mr Hillary invites applications for sub-leasing the Foxton Pound and cottage. Particulars can be seen at the office of this paper on Monday. Tenders close on Monday'at seven o'clock.

A strong lad is wanted at the Shannon ferry. Applications can be made to the office of this paper on Tuesday.

Mr Harold Jourdain, of Auckland, is going to South Africa as special war correspondent for the New Zealand Herald.

The Government have, we understand, prepared a map of South Africa for the Contingent, and as all who remain behind are very much interested, it would be a good plan if the Government had a number printed for sale, for they would be eagerly purchased.

Writing in the "Matin" on the recent outcry in France against the Dum Dum bullet, M. Emlle Gautier, the eminent scientist, declares that such a bullet, which only kills one man but does that effectually, is far more humane than one of the smallbore bullets, which pass through half-a-dozen men at one time and inflict ghastly wounds on each.

A report was Current in town on Thursday that a Native girl had been beaten to death, and Constable Forster and Dr Meares went out to Motuiti in the afternoon to ascertain the true particulars. A young woman, about 18 years of age named Wika, a daughter of Kahorlki died at that settlement, but, as was ascertained by the Constable from inquiries made, and by Dr Meares from a medical examination, not from any illtreatment, but from consumption. The father and relatives were naturally surprised at the visit paid them and were very anxious to know who had given such extraordinary information. It does seem to be a most peculiar rumour and we hope the father will sift the source from whence it sprang, and we sympathise with him in the matter.