PEARLS FROM PARLIAMENT

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 7, 18 August 1900, Page 12

PEARLS FROM PARLIAMENT

ONLY once since it took office has the Seddon Government been in absolute danger of being turned out. That was several years ago, when Sir Eobert Stout was in the House. Sir Bobert was to have been Premier, and the agreement was that no other man who had held a portfolio should be in the Cabinet, and that no attempt should be made to turn the new Government out for twelve months. In view of the fact that Captain Russell was wholly ignored, and possibly because Tommy Taylor and G. J. Smith were to have become Ministers under this management, it was rejected by those with whom the decision rested. Nevertheless, the party would have had a working majority of the House. • * * The Secret Defence Committee, whose members consist of past and present officers of the volunteers who are now members of either House of Parliament, is composed of one major-general, two colonels, two majors, seven captains, seven lieutenants, and one (poor one!) first-class petty officer. * • • Ex-M.H.R. O'Regan, who is living quietly up at Wadestown and studying law, makes a good suggestion when he proposes that the Government should at once institute prospecting for new coal measures. Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent in assisting the gold-mining industry on " The Coast" — the only Coast, according to King Dick and West Coasters generally — but with the demand for coal as it is, and is bound to continue to be, there's more profit in the black diamonds than the yellow metal. # • • We do everything now by Act of Parliament. The very latest is a flag — all our own, too —by Act of Parliament, but such is the case. A flag, did I say ! Why, not one flag, but we are to have three flags all for ourselves by Mr Seddon's " New Zealand Ensign Bill." Firstly, we are to have the blue ensign of Her Majesty's fleet, with a white disc on the fly containing the Southern Cross, and this flag is to be reserved for the New Zealand Government ships — Tutanekai, Helen Ballance, Hinemoa, etc. Secondly, we are to have the red ensign of Her Majesty's fleet, which will be a counterpart of the first flag, except that it is to be a red ensign instead of a blue one, and this is for the use of merchant ships ; and, thirdly, we haye — for flying on shore — the blue ensign, but without the disc. * * V The Secret Defence Committee were taken over in the Helen Ballance to the Defence Works last Saturday morning to visit and inspect our defences, in order to enable them to better report to the House. By a pre-arranged plan, the Admiral went over at the same time in the launch of the Royal Arthur, so that we might have the joint wisdom of our general, colonels, captains, etc., of the Defence Committee and the Admiral all concentrated at the one time upon our forts. It is to be hoped the result of this will bring forth some practical benefit for the colony in regard to defence, for we need it. # # * " Whenever there is published in any newspaper any statement which injuriously affects the character, reputation, or commercial interests of any person, the proprietor of such newspaper shall at the request of the persons affected publish in any equally conspicuous place in the paper such reasonable answer, denial or explanation as the person so affected demands. If the proprietor fails to do so he shall be liable to a penalty of not less than J6lO or more than J650." These are the words of Mr George Fisher's new Libel Bill (No. 2.) This entitles the person whose name appears in the paper to be the judge of whether the paragraph injuriously affects him or not. Thus people can then insist on denials in the paper or that fines be inflicted on the proprietor. Poor newspaper men, when this becomes law you will have to enlarge your columns to publish frivolous objections every week from Tom, Dick and Harry, and the public revenue will be increased by fines on those of you who do not open your columns to all sorts of frivolity.

The junior member for Christchurch is perturbed in mind over the juvenile performer at the Exchange, who twists herself into even more contortions than the Premier is capable of. If Ell, who is youthful and very innocent, having been politically nurtured on state-bankism, Tommy Taylorism, and such like pap, knew anything about contortionists and acrobats, he would know that these people, both young and old, are amongst the healthiest class of folk on earth. # * *

The Ministerial Cup. — Latest Betting- " Pukaki " writes from the Parliamentary Library :— Latest betting as to the new Minister that is to be appointedHogg, 5 to 1 (taken) Mills, 10 to 1 (offered freely) Napier, 25 to 1 (offered) "Wilford, 30 to 1 (no takers) Hornsby, 40 to 1 (100 to 1 wanted) Fisher, 60 to 1 (taken — upward tendency) G. W. Bussell and Gilfedder, any price at all You will see I have put Charley Mills second. A week or two ago, however, he was first favourite, but the stable connection (Morrison and Co.) now palpably display a weakening of affection for the chances of the Wairau " steady- weight." Auckland City has had some supporters during the week, but he is looked upon as " a roarer," and more than likely to break down in training. " Suburbs " is regarded as a useful horse, but of no blood for a classic event ; and "Wairarapa is credited with a disposition to kick over the traces, and is not to be relied upon at the post. " The Lawyer" (by Greymouth out of West Coast) has also been mentioned, but it is understood that the Attorney-Generalship Stakes has been struck off the programme by the Cabinet stewards ; he is afc present sulking in his box, and is very fractious when approached in the paddock (lobby) by such Ministerial jockeys as McGowan, Caversham, and Parnell. " Wellington City" (third horse in the owner's string) has some friends who freely allege that he will be the final selection— the stable support is, however, very uncertain. Not a popular starter with the outside public, which considers he has not yet recovered old form, though undoubtedly improving.

The sixth annual general meeting of the "Wellington Athletic Park Co., Ltd., will be held at the Company's office, 20, Grey-street, next Wednesday, the 22nd inst., at 8 p.m. We must congratulate the Company on this year's work, which has been the most successful year of its existence. The directors and the Company's secretary, Mr J. W. Williams, deserve the thanks of the shareholders for the careful management, and the conscientious way the affairs of the Company have been administered. The balance sheet shows that the gross takings for the year just ended amounted to .£1216, of which £561 15s 7d went to the various clubs, and the balance, £654 4s 5d to the Company. The receipts from the grand stand alone amounted to £219 19s. To show how careful and economically the ground is worked, £636 13s 5d was all the expenditure that was incurred during the year. This amount included rent, wages, interest on grand stand debentures, and maintenance of ground, etc. The retiring directors are Messrs A. T. Bate and H. D. Bell, who offer themselves for reelection.