THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1893. POLITICAL NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2535, 29 July 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1893. POLITICAL NOTES.

Mr Taylor says that the curse of this colony is “ a weak, contemptible Opposition ” There can bo no doubt that, ridiculous as the utterance appears, there is a good deal of truth in it, and that it is chiefly due to Mr Rolleston. As a leader Mr Rolleston has proved worse than a failure; he has actually destroyed a reputation won in earlier days in some mysterious way. He has not the capacity to grasp the large questions of policy ; he is as incapable of dealing with finance as his own sheep, and consequently he has to resort to contemptible, miserable, pettifogging fault-finding which ought to be beneath him. He thus sets a very bad example to others. For instance, there was a mistake made in last year’s Public Works Statement, in the not expenditure being given instead of the gross. This was brought before Parliament at the close of last year, and the attack was renewed early this session. Mr Blow, head of the Public Works Department, submitted a memorandum explaining how the mistake occurred, but this has not satisfied Mr Rolleston and his followers. They have not opened their mouths since but this mistake has cropped up, and there is not one occasion on which it has cropped up but Mr Rolleston had something stupid to say. It has been before the House almost every day, and the time of the country wasted. Mr Blow has stated that he alone was to blame for it, and that Mr Seddon had nothing whatsoever to do with it, but, all the same, the Opposition keeps it up. Now, is not this disgraceful ? Do they think the country will appreciate its time being wasted by such silly, childish matters ?

Mr Fish made a terrible attack on Sir Robert Stout in Parliament last Wednesday evening. He said that Sir Robert was practically the owner of the Fernhill (Dunedin) railway, and that he was using his position to his own advantage. Sir Robert Stout explained that such was not the case ; that a friend of his had taken a first mortgage over it, but there was a second and third mortgage over it since. The scene was rather sensational, as Sir Robert hinted at bribery and corruption in which Mr Fish was concerned.

We learn from Auckland that Mr Oadman’s return is practically certain. Tke election will take place on next Friday, m t&at it will be all over by this day week.

Mr Shera—an Auckland Meinbet-=ls very much disgusted because thers is no Auckland man in the Ministry. They are ail, he says, from the South Island, find railway sleepers are got from the South Island. The ridiculous point in < his is that Mr Shera is intriguing to get into to*.' Ministry himself, but so far he has Shown no ei.:: tude fovihe position, and it is unlikely that hn iVhi 1 -H® has, on the floor of the House, e-fu*. another Auckland member (Mr Thomson) a toady, because it is supposed Mr Thomson is more likely to be appointed a Minister than he (Mr Shera) is. However, neither of them will, if Mr (Jadman is returned.

The Government propose to sell 5010 acres of tho Cheviot estate together with the mansion house. It is supposed that this is tno only way in which tho raansio i house can be disposed of. It is of no use for public purposes.

Since last March over 1000 men have been assisted by tho Labor Bureau. In the North Island the bureau has been able to find private employment for the men ; in Canterbury they had to find Government work for them. Can it be that tho wealthy classes in Canterbury are conspiring to defeat the objects tho bureau has in view by refusing to take any man recommended by it. It is not at all improbable, and if so they are cutting a rod that will scourge their backs yet.

Before the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee Mr Rhodes raised tho question of the rabbit pest in South

Canterbury, and urged that the matter inquired into. It was resolved to ask ML Ritchie, the Chief Inspector, to lay evidence before the Committee on the subject.