"THE RATA BLOSSOM."

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 111, 16 August 1902, Page 22

"THE RATA BLOSSOM."

It seemed tha.t most men from the AVest Coast when dismissed from the Force got into a pubhchouse. — Mr. Monk. * • • Sir, to have to answei fifty-five speeches in a speech of half-an-hour is an achievement I do not care much about.— Sir J. G. Ward How many of them (troopeis), now, could have a good wholesome wash in half a cupful of water. It can be done, and I have done it. — Mr. J. Hutcheson. • * * I have been informed that there is no such thing as bad beer. My informant said it is all good beer, and that the only difficult'" is that he cannot get enough of it. — Hon. J. Rigg, on "Tied Houses." ♦ • • I believe that it the honourable gentleman were in the Queensland Parliament, and in opposition, he would get up and declare that tbjp Queensland Government were responsible for the disastrous drought which has resulted in such a huge deficit in that country. I believe if the honourable gentleman were in a political paradise he would quarrel with every angel, unless he cuold be an archangel and conduct the wholei proceedings. — Mr Lawn 7 on Mr Pirami .

I am hapnv to notice that the Ministry welcome oandid and honest criticism. That is as it should be. A member of the House should neither be a "dumb dog" nor a graphophone of the gentlemen who sit on the Government benches. — Mr. Meredith. *■ * * A prisoner whoi was committed for trial, but who had not been found guilty, was, by the regulations, allowed a less ration than was the man who had been found guilty of a crime. He had letters in which men awaiting trial had actually begged to be put on to hard labour in order that they might receive thei full ration. — Mr. Wilford. - * Speaking as a smoker, he did not think any member of the House would regard smoking as a great educational institution or as a moral inculcator. If they were to> have an innovation in the gaials, w hy should it not be in the direction of elevating the prisoners, or, at any rate, be as the reward of good behaviour — Mr. Collins. •+ # * I find the measure (Tied Houses Bill) refers to the supposition , which may b* real or may not be. that the brewers charge a higher price for the beer supplied to tied houses than they do to other houses. That is all I have heard in favour of the Bill. Ido not know

whether that is true. It is a sub]ect I have little knowldge of. —Hon. Mr. J. Twomey. ♦ * * The honourable member should constantly bear m mind the responsibility Ins position carries with it. The honourable geneltman is not the leader of the Opposition, but he is, we are led to believe, a probationer for that position, and I am afraid that if he is not more accurate in his statements he will not be found among the elect. —Mr. Fisher tilts at Mr. J. Allen. -f * •* Now, I ask the honourable gentleman, is it reasonable to suppose for a moment that,, knowing that fact, if a brewer or a wine and spirit merchant had bad liquor —l contend they never have bad liquor—he would send'it to be soJd at a house that, as everybody in the town knows, se!ls the goods of that rcrv brewer or wine and spirit merchant and no other?— Th- Hon. Mr. Loiusson against the "Tied Houses Bill." * • ♦ Mr. Graham. —The colony is m the position of the backer of a bill. Ido not like the backing of bills myself, in fact, I have never done so m my private business. I would sooner lend a man the money than back his bill. Mr. Wilford.—Oh' Mr. Graham. —The honourable member for "Wellington Suburbs may doubt it, but let him come and ask me to back his bill and see whether I would do it.

Penny Postage has proved a great boon, Ever since it has come into force, Such benefits can't reach us too soon, Though bound to arrive in due course. It is time we took care of our pence, And likewise our health I am sure, So he, with a cough and good sense, Takes Woods' Grea.t Peppermint Cube.