POLITICAL POINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 83, 16 July 1910, Page 5

POLITICAL POINTS.

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.)

Wellington, Last Nignt. THE KSY'VETT CASK.

The principal subject of talk to-day is the Knyvett case, which is regarded as dead as Julius Caesar. It is the side lights which interest the gossips, first, there is the fact that by reading die papers and notes the Prime Minister got injg couple of hours' speech in the very teeth of the time limit. At the same time, all admit that the very wet proves that it ought to be permitted, as the matter could not possibly have been got through in less time.

In this connection it is explained that with good sub-editing the speecn oi the Premier and the notes and papers might have been greatly cut down, but people who talk that are only fit for Utopia. Premiers do not usually carry subeditons about with them, and if you are to begin to pile up sub-editors, where are you going to end? Any now the discussion makes lively talk in the lobbies.

Secondly, it is on the tip 'of all tongues that Mr. T. E. Taylor is coming further out of his shell every day. In this debate ho repeated his performance of the "Smith" incident by whitewashing the Government with emphasis, and delivered himself with a vigor and plainness about military service which all may not agree with, but all must admire. There is, morever, a good meal to be said for the criticism devoted by the fluent Christchurch man to the military swell who too often used to come out here at a high salary, only to be sacked for incompetency, but these are old days. THE SHEARERS. In connection with the shearers' trouble, there is a disposition to be perplexed with their case. Why do the owners object to pay 20 shillings? And why do 'ie men insist on dictating the terms to the Court in the same Dieath that they invoke its intervention? One may understand the inability of Mr .L'aracy to appreciate the position, as pointed out to him by the Judge of the Arbitration Court with perject justice, much point and extreme lucidity. He is ignorant, and ought never to have been in the position where he makes so much mischief, but it is not easy to understand why the masters, who draw magnificent wool money, insist on making so much of that half-crown. j THE BOOKMAKER, I

In re the bookies, the game is proceeding apace. There is now a decided °ndency to regard the total isator as the only thing that can staid between the u'neheckable abomination of betting sub rosa and a ruined generation. Hence the partv that voted to license the bookie in ov'er to <ret at the tote is sending recruits to the party which believes that the tote must be maintained after all. The Premier's resolutions, therefore, are under the shadow of conflict, which is a foregone conclusion.

'Mr. Newman has in this matter come with a sudden rush to the front. Thpre is no subject which interests the public, like the abolition of the bookie, and therefore there is no man who has so much kudos as he who held the fort with his Bill in the teeth of Government opposition for a whole night. Men who have heard or read about "Single Speech Hamilton" are talking already of "Single Bill Newman." MR. OKEY\S BEQUEST.

Vr. Okey's request for a Royal Commission to enquire into the statements made at the Farmers' Union about the ■extravagant cost of co-operative labor, is likely to be framed in gold or into a silver casket by a delighted and appreciative Government. It is not even likely to be granted.