"Hanky-Panky" Government.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 193, 19 August 1904, Page 4

"Hanky-Panky" Government.

LOUD ROSEBERRY ON POLITICAL WHIG G LINO. (Daily Hail.) "I am almost afraid lliat this Government will go down to posterity as a hanky-panky Uovermineiit," said Lord Rosebery, on Saturday' The ex-Premier was addressing 10,000 Liberals at Lambtom Castle, wiwre a garden party was givcin by the Earl of Durham and Lady Anne Lam'bton. The speech was delivered from the castellated 'balcony of the castle, Lord Rosebery looking l down upon a large lawn sloping gradually upwards.: This formed uv ideal auditorium.

"I do not know really what hanky panky means," soiid his lordship. "I could not for the life of me give a definition of it, but I know that the Government represents to me the very absolute moaning of the words hanky panky. "When I tlvink of t'he way in which they got tile majority on which they live ; when I think of their wrigglings and doublings with to fiscal reform ; when I see their candidates going down as sipporters of Mr Chamberlain, to the by-elections, and as Soon as they have been twelve hours in the constituency declaring that they would fight rather than put a tax on food ; when 1 consider their documents which are not documents, amt their documents which are pamphlets, I am inclined to think that there is no •guUJernment in the world so justly entitled to the mysterious denomination of hanky-panky as the blessed administration under which we are privileged to live.

"You havo road that remarkable cry of despair which has appeared, in wivich the Prime Minister discloses liis views of the situation ; -aiiid ends hy saying pathetically that; they do 'lot hold ollieo for their own comfort or for their own .satisfaction. "TEN" MINUTE SERMON."

"The Government certainly does not hold ollice for the comfort or the satisfaction of the J louse of Commons, because, aa that manifesto says, the supporters of tJiisi Government cannot be induced to come to its succour in the voting lobby. It is not for t.lie comfort or the satisfaction of the country, because there I's no by-election which does not | allow the extreme discomfort awl disj satisfaction with which the country regards the Government.

'•'l.ain forced to the conclusion that this self-denying Government, that lives and suiters 'in ollice against iU own wishes, exists only for the comfort .and satisfaction of -Mr Chamberlain, and until he be ready to take up the burden and start the battle on the question of liscal reform."

Continuing what he described as a "ten minute sermon,' 1 ' JLond Roseberry protested against what he described as "the introduction of powerful attl corrupting interests under the system of protection which will control and poison the very sources jf our national life."

He gave as one illustration the case of the Licensing Hill. "This is intended to hand over additional wealth and additional security to what is already an enormously powerful interest," ho said. "You are going to hand over not to the publican who serves in the public-house, but to his great and ■swollen employers, three hundred millions sterling. Where does the value of „ license come -in ? It comes from the State.

'I "build a house costing £I2OO. I get a license giiven me by the State for nothing, but my property becomes worth £!)000, perhaps a great deal more, and the object of this bill of the Government is'to strengthen the night -qui property for all time, to -give up what is the free boon of the State, ami what is- the property of the State."

Mora Phantom Millions.

A GERMAN fflHO THOUGHT HE POSSESSED £500,000,000.

A German, described us a Kussian merchant, who appeared In the dock at Bow-street recently, believes himself to have inherited a fortune o' £500,000,000.

I Henry August ilessh»ehl, as he is named, was attired in an evening suit, in his lianid was tut opera hat. He was so dressed on the previous evening whan ho walked into the llor'w Shoe Hotel, Tottenham Court Koad. and order a 12s fid bottle of champagne.

Asked lo pay for it,, ho s>aid, " I have no money with me, but I am worth iniHions." As he could not discharge his debt, lie was arrested for obtaining credit on false pretences.

lividence was given to the effect that the man had served with distinction in the German' army. Then paralysis attacked his brain, and he became the victim of 'delusions. Extraordinary letters were written to a Frankfort banker, who was told that the prisoner had benefited by a will to the amount of five hundred millions.

The prisoner came to London and ordered goods of the most extravagant description'. The engagement of n carriage for two months wac a minor exploit. A few days ago he ordered four leather bags from a city firm, commissioning t'.em to work his initials c n th«m in diamonds.

When told that the cost would bo £-1000 he replied, "That is nothing to me. I have just come into fifteen millions sterling'. X will send my secretary to, pay the money." Although believing himself to l>e one oi the richest men in the world, Ilesshoeiil is now under treatment, in a workhouse infirmary. The magistrate ordered his removal there alter medical evidence had been given to the effect that he was not rerponsijble for his actions.