Newsspaper Notions

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 84, 8 February 1902, Page 7

Newsspaper Notions

AT piesent. tor every pound we gi\ c to Geimanv. Germany gives two in leturn, and it's poor legislation that saves a pound and loses two in the piocess. — Wailu 'Daily Telegraph" If the Gothenburg Licensing System were honestly applied to this town alone, a few shoit yeais would suffice to make Rotoiua the Homburg of the Southern Hemispheie. — Rotorua ' Chronicle " It is a pity Toby Barton doefe not take a leaf out of the book of Dick Seddon in respect of maailv straightforwardness. — Sydney ' Airow." * * * We are bringing into existence the very worst class of consumers — the soldier of short-service discharged while stiLl 1 youthful. Truly, the price of Empire is very costly' — Nelson "Mail." * • * It is a noticeable fact that most of the men who are ready to return to Africa have not even yet obtained permanent employment. Which shows how lucky Seddon is, being about to clear out a thousand men, at the cost of the Imperial Government. — Chnstchurch "Spectator." When the war in South Africa was about to commence, Mr. Stead sent a circular to prominent persons, asking "Shall we shoot our Brother Boer?" Some one should now circulate another inquiry in England, viz , "Shall we shoot oui Brother Stead — or, merely rope's-end him 3" — Sydney "Sunday Times." * * * Short shrift after the Atkinson "disloyalty" episode for the politician who cannot or w ill not sing at the Premier's bidding, for nevermore shall he be able to class himself with people who mouth their loyalty as they do their professions of charity and political honest\ , but never practice them in any other way — Palmerston "Standard " * • • To assert that English as spoken in America will become the standard throughout the w orld is to say that a retrograde movement will be made for certainly that would be a retrograde movement which should make the strident tones and monotonous inflection of the American the standard of English speech. — Philadelphia "Times " ■* * * Such cruelty as is piactised in connection with Butish operations against the Boers is a part of present British policy, and Clipper does not seek to palliate Britain's offence relative to the ghastly concentration camps and other bad matters , but the sudden humanity of France and Germany is merelj ludicrous. — Hobart "Clipper " Tom Mann, the ex-labour leader, has arrived in New Zealand. This is not the best period vi politics in New Zea^land for imported labour leaders to come to the front, and our advice to Thomas h to try and get into a nice quiet little public-house* in the suburbs until Seddon's temper cools dow n a bit — say after the Coronation. — Sydney 'Newsletter" * *■ * If Mr. Jackson Palmer should be in South Africa when the elections take place, we are satisfied that the people will le-elect their soldier member to his seat, and not give it away to some local tuft-hunter who would not scruple to take advantage of the absence of oui member, and his inability to fight the election, to dispossess him. — Waihi "Daily Telegraph." * * * Effort is being made in every harsh and brutal way to 'Germanize" the Polish provinces of the Kingdom, so that the "Polemizing" movement may not make headway. Great Bntain is called to account' by a nation whose continued barbarity has only served to instil hatred and widen the breach between herself and her conquered Polish countries — Onehunga 'Chronicle " * » ♦ It is a lamentable thing that the once honourable office of Justice of the Peace should have fallen to so low a point in the public esteom the result of the haphazard manner in winch they are appointed, many being chosen on almost an other grounds than tho«e which should rule supieme in such a matter viz., their mental, moral, and educational aptitude for the position. — Tauranga ' Times "

Seddou u ill be a hi^jgvi Coronation stai than the shift y li,n ton.— Sydney Auou A quartoi of a million smplus built on umodeomed engagements, will be a disgrace, latlio-r than a credit, to the Government — Mastorton 'Times " Certaanh, at Grej mouth Sir Joseph Ward had little eLse to say, but ' Let us eat, dunk, and be merry, for to-moi i o\\ " — will take care of itself. — Haw era ' Star." * * * Boycotting is- un-Bntish but tanffs either favoured nations or otherwise, aie matters of statecraft. The Piemier know s there are more w ays than one to secure the same ends. — Thames "Star. *■ * * The nationalisation of the drink business is indeed so full of tempting piomise that it is marvellous that no enteipnsmg politician has started to stump the country with it as a platform. — Sydney "Bulletin " In a young country like ours, with such extensive demands for the prosecution of public works, it is impossible to cease borrowing without bringing about commercial and industrial stagnation. — Stratford "Settler " * * * The only rational criterion for the Ninth should be — -Is the man sound in wind and limb ? Can he ride and shoot ? If so, however scant his inches or his pounds avoirdupois, take him and be thankful. — Dunedin "Witness." * * * Talk of a happy coincidence ' A widower on an outback station, up North, recently got married again, and leceived by the same steamer bride-cake for No 2 and a tombstone for the grave of No. I.— Sydney "Bulletin." * * # During the last six months the war has been Bannerman's war. He is as truly the exciting cause of the useless bloodshed of that period as he is of the German Anglophobia which is able to excuse itself bv quoting from his speeches — Napier "Telegraph." * * * The need of the time is a great panBritannic league, the people of the Mother Country and its colonies and dependencies banding themselves together to> mutually support one another morally and practically, giving preference to those of the one household. — Nelson ' Colonist " * # • It is noticeable that though Mr Barclay makes out members of the English Ministry to be a mixture of idiots and criminals, he carefully avoids using that kind of language tow aids Mr Seddon who, in these matters, is as sane and whole-hearted a patriot as Mr. Chamberlain himself — Naseby ' Chronicle " * * # This recent world-wide tootling of Dick Seddon's fame just because New Zealand sends a few troops to the war i 5 getting a bit overdone. Seddon is one of the greatest political poseis on earth, and he's been bitten very badly w ith that infernal Imperialistic .lingo mania of which colonial politicians cannot be too shy. — Sydney "Newsletter " ?■ *■ * If the accusation of disloyalty is to lest against Mi. Atkinson, of Wellington, on no moie sufficient ground than that he was silent when the National Anthem was sung, the crowds at public gatherings who are accustomed to seize their hats and hustle for the doois at the first strains of the National Anthem will lequire to be careful — Auckland ' Obson er "