PEARLS FROM PARLIAMENT

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 169, 26 September 1903, Page 22

PEARLS FROM PARLIAMENT

THE concentrated essenoe of wisdom is represented in our literary friend, Mr. Fisher.— Mr. T. Mackenzie's tribute to "our George." * * * I have been insured for twenty-two years, and never had a fire. — The Hon. Jeremiah Twomey. * # * Much as I honour the position, I am not so fond of the mystic letters M.H.R.— Mr. Millar. * * • If the Government pass the City Single Electorates Bill, it will serve them darned well right, if they fet licked. — Mr. Get>. Fisher. * * Sometimes the farmers of the colony are introduced and thrown on the floor of the House.— Mr. J. C. Thomson suggests Parliamentary wrestling. * * * I believe that it is the mamate destiny of man that vie functions of the State shall be extended until they embrace all industrial activities. — The Hon. J. Twomey's propbetae soul. * * * My oolleague, Mr. Aitken, the honourable member for Christohurch City (Mr. Taylor), and myself are men who are somewhat disliked by the Government,. — Mr. Duthie as the candid friend. * * * Did the young men who left their homes in New Zealand for the African veldt, to meet a hostile people — did they do it for 5s a day ?— The Hon. Mr. Bolt asks a question that is not yet •'settled." * *• * Mr. Lawry. — I venture to assert that there are honourable members in this House who have paid thousands of pound* to win city electorates. Mr. Tanner. — That is breaking the law. Mr. Lawry.- — What is the law made for? * * * You hear in the towns of one man being put in at the head of the poll, uke Mr. Bedford, with ten thousand votes, and the next time he goes before the electors for their suffrages, although he may have served them well and faithfvji'y, he will be bundled out altogether. — Mr. T. Mackenzie, on single electorates. * * * It has always seemed to me to be absolutely absurd, and the greatest political nonsense conceivable that I should have no more people to represent than the honourable member for the Bay of Plenty. I could go all round my district in half-an-hour and it would take him sevetn or eight weeks to go round his. — Mr. Lawry aches for more work. * * Every member who wanted information on some trifling ''tin-pot" matter spent five or ten minutes addressing liis constituents upon it, and on such occasions the Minister, in reply, felt in duty bound to go five minutes better in making an ambiguous stupid answer from which it was very difficult to extract any reason. — Mr. R. McKenzie. * * * One can imagine a nude savage in Central Africa, sitting under a tree gnawing a bone for his dinner, with the fire and cunning of the gorilla lighting his eyes, while near bj' his hungry wife sits., and, through her long tresses, looks at him and covets a piece of his dinner. That savage has never heard of Adam Smith, and knows nothing of "The Wealth of Nations" , but somehow, he has learned Smith's lesson perfectly well.— The Hon. Mr. Bolt's apt illustration of the prevailing cry, ■'Every man for himself." * * * lam prepared to admit there are only a few in this House who are reasonable men. I do not mean — because i+i would be unparliamentary — to describe this House as Carlyle described the bulk of the world. I may say there are millions in the world — mostly fools: being unparliamentary. I will rot apply it to this House. But it is truly said the truth lies with the minority. And who can doubt we are in a minority. — The adroitness of Mr. Baume.

This Government has had its growth and its maturity. It is now past its maturity, and seems to be in, its dechne. We cannot, somehow or another, get up a debate on a principle now at all. The policy of the Government is a policy of grope. — Mr. Bedford, Dunedin's veteran statesman.

The "Guide to New Zealand The Scenic Paradise of the World and Home of the Maori," i& the title of a really charming tourists' vade mecum which has just been, issued from the press. It k the cheapest thing out at its published price of *■ \\ o shillings. We have received a copy tlirough Messrs. S. and W. Mackay, of Lambton Quaj', and rise from a cursory inspection with feelings of much satisfaction.. The descriptive matter, which is the work of Mr. C. N. Baeyertz, is right up to date, supplies m terse, compendious form just the sort of information that the wunst esteems most useful, and is so systematically classified that you may turn up at a moment the particular district that you may happen to be "doing." * * * The illustrations are so copious that every page posssesses 1 its share, and they are of a very high class of pictorial merit. They are photographic reproductions, every one being a gem in its •nay and are all distinguished for singular clearness and softness of tone There ought to be a very extensive sale for this really admirable work. It may be had at any of the booksellers.