WEEK-END COMMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3559, 12 August 1905, Page 2

WEEK-END COMMENT.

The “ New Liberals” have furnished a good deal of material for writers and speakers to sharpen their wit upon during the past week or two. A “ Record Premier ” is fast losing his laurels at the hands of a quartet of the “ New Liberals,” who have been making meteoric progresses up and down from the Bluff to the legislative halls in Wellington. The Taylor-Bedford-Fisher - Laurenson Political Serio-Comic Combination fairlv set staid old Dunedin Scotties by the ears, and caused the destruction of more public hall furniture, without the aid of a dmip of “ real Scotch” than had ever occurred within the memory of that veracious party the “ oldest inhabitant.” Then they proceeded to draw sufficient bawbies from the pockets 0’ the onco guid anes to pay for expenses and damages, and leave no less than £2O over. Christchurch people, renowned for their susceptibility to the effects of gentle excitement, responded right royally to the humour of the new fashion of paying for political entertainment, and now the advance agents are said to be busy billing towns in the North Island for the appearance of the company during off nights from the Empire City season.

Expectant gallerLs waited breathless on Wednesday afternoon for the promistxi denouement in the now notorious : voucher ” incident. Wellington City’s junior member, Mr F. M. B. Fisher, who had electrified tin- pUlhical atmosphere of the colony a fortnight ago, sought to reintroduce the subject by laying a letter to Mr Speaker on Lie table of the House, but after a lemphv debate this was defeated by 46 votes lo 21. The opening Mr Fisher had intended to avail himself of. in connection with the Estimates, passed during his absence b the South, and he will now have to wait until another Imprest Supply Bill is brought down. Me expresses confidence in bis amb tv to substantiate his charges ft' given an opportunity. fAu inquire has been granted since the above was written.]

What may have been members’ feelings on Wednesday afternoon when a mysterious scaled packet was placed in Mr Speaker’s possession is not recorded. Probably visions of bombs and

wrecked buildings flitted . before the mind’s eye of Some, but i fl * terest in the proceedings was.such that members of the House and the public Who could get in risked the chances and stayed, 'fo these the result probably was disappointing. No exciting incidents were recorded, although strong (Parliamentary) language was at times employed. The matter is, however, not yet ended, and so probably we shall hear of more exciting doings anon.

A MATTER of more than passing interest, but which, nevertheless, has probably not intruded oti the general public mind, is that of the timber industry as associated with the port of Foxton. The scow Whangaroa, now in the river, is loading a cargo of white pine which, it is stated, will be the last (for the time being) to be shipped from here. This is owing to the decision of Messrs Prouse Bros,, of the Shannon mills, to relinquish their Foxton yards and export by rail to Wellington and thence ship to Sydney. By so doing it is said freight charges can be reduced. The number of handlings necessary in sending the timber this way adds not a little to the charges.

But, it may be asked, why should not scows go right up to the mills ? We understand that no insuperable difficulties exist so far as the river is concerned, and the handling of timber would surely be reduced to a minimum. When a fine natural waterway is available it seems a pity full advantage should not be taken of it.