Newspaper Notions

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 50, 15 June 1901, Page 6

Newspaper Notions

THE rival kings — Seddon and Mahulu—have had their diplomatic engagement, and, as might have been expected, the Premier managed to assert himself again. — Thames "Advertiser.'' The dredging industry is only in its infancy, and we should not be dispirited by initial mistakes — Greymouth "Argus." « * * People who go to Wellington during the Duke's visit should be careful of their pockets, and how they wear watchchains, etc. — Levin "Farmer." * ♦ • Mr. Seddon, fortunately, is a clearheaded, practical man , he fools his followers to the top of their bent, but proceeds no further. — Dunedin "Star." * • * So far as this paper knows, the Duke of York has never been accused of loving the crawling subserviency of the grovelling toady. — Hobart ' Clipper." Indications point to the occurrence of several storms in Parliament as soon as the session opens, which not even the soothing effects of last year's £40 bribe will avail in averting. — Gore "Ensign." * » * The main end of the Women's Conference appears to be the admission of women to the Parliamentary benches. "Woman, lovely woman," wants the "breeks," and she's going to have 'em. — Stratford "Settler." ■* * « The Nelson City Council is averse to spending any money on an arch in Wellington, considering it would be an absolute waste of money. Titles are not expected Nelson way, that is quite evident. — Pahiatua "Herald." * * * Local government in New Zealand was once strong and vigorous , but it has been so "cribbed, cabined, and confined" by its task-master, the Government, that it scarcely retains a shred of independence. — Masterton "Times." * * • The Marlborough public is a particularly hard one to wake up. It has slept so long and so soundly as to require something akin to an earthquake to rouse it into action. The Fat Boy in "Pickwick" is its prototype — Picton "Press." * ♦ « The Trades Unions have had a very good innings it is tune that Parliament devoted greater attention to matters affecting the welfare of the farmers, and, amongst other things, embarked on a modified freetrade policy. — Inglewood "Record." * * * We believe, ourselves, that before long five thousand fanners m New Zealand, enrolled in "The New Zealand Farmers' Union," will speak to the Government m a way that our rulers are, as yet, unaccustomed.— Masterton "Times." * * * All this display, all this arch building, and illuminations, and address-giving, and all flummery of whatever kind is a wicked and wanton waste of public money and time, and a servile bending of the back quite unworthy of the democracy of a free country — Dunedin "Liberal." * * * To take the Otago men up to Christchurch, and then expect them on duty in Dunedin immediately afterwards, is too great a sacrifice to ask The employers, also, demand consideration We do not see any necessity for concentrating the troops at Christchurch. — Taien "Advocate." * * * The Government is infusing a spnit of militarism into the native race of New Zealand which is calculated to be productive of much injury. The Maori is not too fond of work at any time, but put him in khaki and he will not work at all. His chief occupation is dawdling, and drilling and drinking. — Masterton "Star." * ■* * Americans aie building and equipping and contiolling English traction lines, furnishing England with cash in return for bonds, providing the English nobility with wives, and sustaining an ancient aristocracy with their dowries Americans are now asked to submit plans for the great memorial to be erected to the late Queen Victoria. — Gisborne "Times."

New Zealand will, in due course, evolve the Trust, and follow the example of America, indeed, one Trust is already launched in this land. Combinations of capital naturally follow in the wake of combinations of labour. The Trust is the apotheosis of Seddoman legislation — Masterton "Times." * ¥■ * Arbitration and conciliation are fine sounding terms, but whatever may be said in favour of the principle® they represent there can be no doubt that the practical application, of those principles to the settlement of labour troubles in New Zealand has resulted in an abnormally large crop of hitherto _ unheard of disputes. — Wangantii "Chronicle." * * * We imagine the Northern Steamship Company will have no reason to regret the visit to Auckland of the Duke of York. From present indications about three-fourths of this settlement will proceed to Auckland to view His Royal Highness, and, as the remaining fourth will go to Rotorua, the township will probably be ticketed "To Let."— Opotiki "Herald." * * * A Southern paper that certainly does not know Barney Todd, D.5.0., tells us he has sent in his application for a "submission," in the event of another outbreak of contingents. The "Observer" happens to know the gallant captain, and it never knew him to submit to anything at all except the blandishments of the daughters of Eve. — Auckland "Observer." * • • It would be much better to try criminal cases before two judges trained to such work, as it would be a less costly and more satisfactory procedure than that of the jury system., which is recognised by all thinking people as a cumbrous and expensive system, by which frequent miscarriages of justice occur. — Wanganui "Yeoman." * * * It has been pointed out to the Teachers' Salaries Commission that they should deal honestly with the women teachers. There is no more cruel injustice to all New Zealand than the assessment of women's work at a lower value than that of men, and we trust that in this particular connection the anomaly will no longer be permitted to exist. — Thames "Advertiser." * * « If Australia is really to become affiliated with England, it must have more of a grip on the British Peerage , that is to say, if the Peerage is to be regarded as a permanent institution. Our fair proportion would be one Duke, one Marquis, three Earls, one Viscount, and half-a-dozen each of Barons and Baronets. Can we only get a foot on the bottom rung of the ladder pp — Melbourne "Punch." * * * We firmly believe that, given political, social, theological, or financial interests against him, a twentieth century Socrates would stand no more chance with an average jury, addressed by some persuasive advocate, than the original did against the Athenian patriots at three obols per day who — to make the parallel more complete — were chosen by ballot as our juries are. — Napier "Telegraph." * • • Ten years' hard labour, without the option of a fine, would be a fitting punishment for any proved attempt to influence a juryman. It has been stated that, not only was the panel at the recent Supreme Court trials at Wellington a small one, but a copy of the panel was obtained, so that the names of the juiymen could easily have been known. — Christchurch "Spectator." * * * When a member of one of the deputations that waited on Mr. Duncan at Oamaru was in the midst of his "few remarks" he proceeded to lay down his proposition thusly — "Now, Tom" — but at once realising that this, was a trifle too familiar, he made a strategic retreat, and came at the subject again in a more deferential manner. "Tom" never stood on his dignity a bit , only smiled. — Nelson l> Mail." * * * Notwithstanding that the North Island has outstripped the South in the march of population, we have in the Legislatn c Council only 18 membeis as against 46 in the other island. Equal representation is essential to a system of true democratic government, and the preponderating influence now w mlded by the South Island in the Legislative Council is inequitable and inexcusable. — Wanganui "Chronicle." * * * Quite a number of newspapers assert that there is growing up a very bitter feeling in the cities, more particularly in Wellington, that holiday-keeping is being done to death in this colony, and that the mania for frequent holidays is adversely affecting the community, dislocating trade, and making peoplo spenders instead of earners. — Petono "Chronicle."