THE TALKING SHOP 0PEN5. King Dick's Programme.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 209, 2 July 1904, Page 6

THE TALKING SHOP OPENS. King Dick's Programme.

PARLIAMENT has been opened with the usual pomp and pageant, and for the next four months Fuller's Entertainers and the other shows that come along will have formidable rivalry m the free performances in Molesworth-street The Speech from the Throne contained no dramatic surprises. Jving Dick's address to the electors at Newtown, on Saturday night, covered pretty well the whole ground, and gave a general exposition of his policy. The first thing about the Speech that may strike the civilian eye is the prominence given to the warlike element. Everyone will be prepared to heartily endorse the praise given to the cadet movement m the public schools. There cannot be any serious opposition to the hint about increasing New Zealand's subsidy for adequate naval defence It is notorious that our kinsmen in the Old Country are taxed heavily and disproportionately to provide our first and best line of defence, and there is mighty little patriotism and a great deal of meanness about us if we refuse to take our fair share of the burden • • « The reference, however, to the Bisley team is a challenge to criticism which is bound to be lifted. It is stated that the sending Home of that team of crack shots at the public expense is m accordance with a general desire, and is with a view of encouraging rifle-shooting Where was the "general desire" manifested ? We quite failed to note it Is there anyone so green as to believe that the sending of a dozen marksmen to England on a pot-hunting expedition will materially encourage rifle-shoot-ing m the colony Is it not far more likely that the expenditure of the same amount of money for prizes in the colony, or m some other form directly rewarding proficiency m shooting, would achieve infinitely greater results in the encouragement of shooting ? As it is, the benefits are restricted to Colonel Collins and the dozen old shots who get a pleasant holiday at the expense of the bleeding ratepayer • • • Perhaps, the passage m the Speech that excites the greatest amount of curiosity, and opens up the largest vista to the political seers, is the indication that the time has arrived for New Zealand to take pattern by her biff brother, Canada, and estab-

hsh a High Commissioner of her own in London. In view of the Premier's health, and the necessity for conserving his strength, people will naturally associate his name with this billet. Well, if his desires lean that way, who shall deny that his services have richly earned a reward of that kind ? Can even his strongest adversaries doubt that he would make a most excellent, resourceful, and enthusiastic and capable representative of the colony at the heart of the Empire If that appointment is in contemplation, it may help to explain why Imperial recognition of Mr. Seddon's services is deferred. The advent of the High Commissioner would be the opportune time for the Imperial reward • * * There is not much else that is new in the Governor's deliverance. Some tinkering with the constitution of the Legislative Council is foreshadowed. It is proposed to give a rise m salary to the Supreme Court judges, but not a word is said about the much meaner salaries of the magistrates who earn their salt under far more trying circumstances They should share in the scramble of good things Better provision is certainly needed for the inspection of public and private hospitals, and the Premier's promises about the nursing of the sick and the adoption of means to lower the high rate of infant mortality have excited general satisfaction The arrest of monopolies will be popular, and old friends like local govenment, teachers' superannuation, shops and offices hours, "and a host of others are well to the fore. • • * There are a few plums on hand, or in perspective. For instance, a Land Commission, which may put off the big battle on the freehold, and a few Parliamentary Under-Secretaryships. The most cheerful note of all m the Parliamentary overtuie is the statement that the finances are in as strong and healthy a condition as they have been at any time during the past twenty-five years, and that trade, commerce, and industry are flourishing. That being so, we may enter on the session with light hearts Parliament will run its four months after the usual fashion, and we don't anticipate anything that is likely to set the Thames on fire