POLITICAL NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2554, 12 September 1893, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

We notice that some of those present at the Farmers' Club gathering the other evening at Geraldine dropped into politics just as Silas Wegg used to drop into poetry. There was no reason why they should not; in fact there was every reason why they should;.' Politics are of the greatest importance to us, and all of us should take an interest in them, although that was not the opinion expressed at the meeting in Geraldine. One gentleman told the meeting that ouly humbugs and faddists who wanted to get £240 a year favored the Female Franchise, and the meeting looked on in wonder and amazement at the erudition of the learned pundit who had given to the world this mouthful of super-excellent philosophy. Sir John Hall would have been a faddist seeking £240 a year, only that he has decided not to seek it; the Hon. John Ballance would have been another only that he is dead; the late Sir Harry Atkinson auother only that he is dead also; Sir Julius Vogel another only that he is in Loudon; the Hon. John Bryce another, only that he is sulking ; Sir Robert Stout another only that he could earn ten times as much by staying at home; in fact, every politician worth his salt has favored the female franchise. But no doubt the political beau ideal of our Geraldine friend is H. S. Fish, Esq., M.H.B. That pure, patriotic, and highsouled representative has stone-walled the Female Franchise repeatedly, some say because he is afraid of losing his £240 a year. But it is all right, tho Bill is passed, and now let us weep and sing," Oh ! would some power the gifty gie U 3."

A Dunedin gentleman, probably a Fishite, has gone mad on tho Female Franchise, and on last Friday sent the following telegcam to His Excellency the Governor :

" Lord Glasgow, Wellington. Unbounded indignation here at the passing woman's franchise clause Electoral Bill. We sincerely hope you will refuse assent until the country confirms the action of Parliament. To enrol women before the election would be a hurry-scurry not in keeping with a large reform. The country all along has been under the impression that this matter would be referred to it, otherwise decided action would have been taken long ago. The country is now taken unawares.

Arthur M'Donald."

Who is Arthur M'Donald we should like to know. ..Has any one heard of him before. We have seen the name, at the bottom of letters in the Otago Daily Times, and concluded that the writer was a crank, and certainly no one but a mad man would address the Governor under such circumstances. The measure has been passed by both Houses of Parliament, and that is enough for the Governor. He will not go over their heads to consult Tom, Dick, or Harry.

The Railway Bill is yet before the House of Representatives, and it is said that on that the battle royal of the session will be fought. One party is in favor of re-appointing the Commissioners again and making them independent of Parliament, just" as our Judges are; the other party wishes to render Jheni amenable to the control of the Government. The proposal of the Government, is that the Muiister for Public Works for the time being shall be chairman of the Board of R-iilway Commissioners, that he shall have a vote and a casting vote, and he shall be responsible to Parliament for the prober management of the railways. One would think, fhat no one would object to that; indeed it appears to us astonishing | how anyone can agree to hand over to any i three men £15,000,000 worth of property and let them do what they like with it. It is simply astounding how anyone can tolerate the idea for one moment, yet this is the Conservative proposal just now. But the reason they have for doing so is still more extraordinary. Up to the time of the strike no one had a good word for the Commissioner's During the strike the Commissioners fcobktu;. auleof Cft P l j£ against the labor party, and this is au _* bottom of it all. The labor party harbor some inkling of a grudge against the Commissioners, and would like to see them humiliated; the capitalists know this, and want to defeat the labor party. This is about the truth; it is in fact a side battle between capital and labor, and we can only say God help the country where men have so little sense as to risk the ruin of £15,000,000 worth of property to spite each other.

, We learn that a very large squatter has already seut the names of all the women on his station to the registrar of electors to be enrolled. There is nothing like taking time by the forelock, and it is only right that others should take their cue from this geutlernan. One thing is certain : the Conservative women will vote, and unless Liberals bestir themselves in registering the names of Liberal women they will be left behind in the race.

There is many a slip between the cup and the lip, and many ways of killing a dog besides choking it with butter. Mr Shera felt the full force of ,tko meaning of this last Friday. Ho was ready to move for a committee to try the case of Mr Cadman once again, but was completely worsted. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply any member cau move any motion he likes, and so Mr Shera selected this opportunity to try to crush Mr Cadman, for Mr Shera thinks that if he could crush Mr Cadman he would get his billet. But Mr Shera was not smart enough. Mr Guinness jumped liis claim, and moved that any nieu'bor who had held a seat for two Parliaments should be entitled to a free pass on the railways for life. This, of course, was a bogus motion to spoil Mr Shera's little game, and after a short discussion it was lost, and the House i wont then into Committee of Supply, I

So perished the ambitious hopes of Mr Shera.

The Shop Assistants Bill was stone- | walled last Thursday night in Parliament by Messrs Fish, Buckland, and Co. The stonewall lasted from 7.30 p.m. on Thursday until 9 a.m. on Friday, when the malcontentß were routed. There were several scenes during the night, and Messrs Fish and Shera were near coming to blows. They would probably only that the fight would have been unequal. Mr Fish is a big man and Mr Shera is a small one, and doubtless thought discretion the better part of valor. It is certain that Mr Shera got sufficient provocation, for eye witnesses say that Mr Fish's fists were whirling round his head like the arms of a windmill, and the Minister of Justice said he never saw anything more disgraceful than Mr Fish's conduct. The dispute arose over a pair. Mr Shera paired with Mr Fish and broke it, and hence the trouble. During the night the House was counted several times, and on one occasion there was only a bare quorum. Twenty members must be present or no business can be transacted, and the division list showed only nineteen present. The Ohairmau of Committees, however, made up the twenty members, and the Bill was saved.