Political. Pellets.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 31, 6 October 1911, Page 8

Political. Pellets.

&fvsai ~-r— . - aw-wiy The Hon. R. McKenzie declared that the Opposition would have been a rap-idly-dim ind&hing quantity as their leader "perambulated the country. He (the Minister) Avas asked to speak to the people of Tamaruunui, and Avas assured that their opinion of Mr. Massey was that he was a calamity howler, a Avet blanket, and the smallest and most aiarroAv-minded politician avlio had ever disturbed the country. * *' • » The licensing question is a difficult mie for most candidates for po"*"* 1 honours (says the Auckland Star ), but the Independent-Opposition candidate for Kaipara, Mr. E. Thurlow Field, disposes of it very promptly. At the close of his address at Rivcrhead he was asked, "Are you in favour of no-license?" He replied that this Avas a subject he left alone unless he was questioned; then his answer Avas always: "Mind your oavii business; I don't ask you how you are going to vote, and I don't tell people howl shall, but I belieA'e in the thrcc-fiiths majority."

New Zealand has 531,910 males and .476,558 females, including 1475 male baJf-castes.and 1404 female half-castes living as Europeans, 2512 Chinamen and 88 Chinese Avomeii. . * *

In order that the Opposition gam the Treasury benches at the next ejection it is necessary that they avui every one of their 27 seats and 13 of the Government seats to have a majority of one. Tho present position is: Government, 51; Opposition, 27; Independent, 1; Labor, 1.

The Premier denied in the House last week that the Leader of the Opposition and Mr. Allen had been, ofler«d Cabinet positions.

Massev stated that pressure had been brought'to bear on him from all parts of- N.Z., and by strong Government supporters, to throw in Ins lot with Ward. It was true that Ward; himself had never broached the subject. Of course, Joe Avouldn't.

Loans to the amount of £2,366,491 will mature during the financial year 1911-12.

Wellington City Empowering Bill, which aims to give the city the necessary power- to control its milk supply, is being vigorously opposed by the milk vendors. Herdman is voicing their claims. * * a

The Hon. C. M. Luke (Wellington) emphasised that there Avas a Avcakness in the land ballot system, though he did not see lioav discrimination could be effected. Perhaps it might bo well to discriminate between new _ arrivals and the old residents in Dominion. He believed that the GoArernment should buy land in advance of the railways, whatever it might cost.

G. M. O'Rorke has again introduced his divinity degrees measure, to enable N.Z. University to grant degrees in "divinity."

Buchanan, Oppositionist, speaking on the suggested alliance between the Government .and Opposition, said prominent supporters of the Goveruanent openly advocated the fusion as a means of keeping down the .single-taxcrs and Socialists. Things went so far as to name the tAvo gentlemen who Avere to enter the Ministry. No secret Avas made about it.

With members of the Employers' Federation belonging to both the Government and Opposition parties, the workers' duty is plainly to support -neither party. « * *

There is land hunger in Noav South Wales as avcll as in New Zealand. For 11 blocks made available in tho Richmond riA'-er district in the northern part of Noav South Wales last week, altogether no fewer than 1332 applications AA-e.rc received, Avith deposits totalling £1753 12s. * * *

Wellington pressmen, went on strike against !the continual chattering of nil-embers in the House last week. The din was such that it Avas almost impossible to hear what the speakers were saying. When it became. knoAvn the scribes had "struck," order A\a» speedily restored. An unreported speech Avould have been an awful catastrophe—to the member. IV * *

The Leader of the Opposition, speaking in the House last AA T eek, taunted the GoA'crmneiit Avith its indecision regarding the land problem. The Prime Minister had called the Opposition woak-knoed and vacillating, but such a remark could noA r er be applied by a Government which had dropped ono land bill after another as if it Avere ted-hot Avhen it encountered opposition. The Government had submitted a Leasehold Bill, which had been folio Aved by a half-and-half measure. The third Avas a Freehold Bill, and next oamo another leasehold Bill. No. man could .say what was the land policy of the Government.

There is in' Noav Zealand at the present time £175,000,000 of unimproved land values. a * *

New Zealand has spent over £43,----000,000 on railways, and as a result tho value of land has been raised to £100,000,000. The people Avho created tho values haven't got it—the landlords have seen to that.