PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3931, 4 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegraph.]

(feom oub special cobbesfondent.)

Wellington, Last night

A leader appears in this morning's Times on the Law Practioners Bill, containing the following insult to the Press :•—" The majority of men who would avail them selves of the provisions of the Bill, would be a most undesirable class, law clerks ignorant of everytliiug but law, and with but a narrow conception of that; politicians whose only present profession is politics ; auctioneers; commission agents; and pressmen, who, with an aptitude for acquiring a temporary and superficial knowledge, could easily cram for an examination, but whose advice on questions of law would be absolutely worthless, would swamp the profession, and under the cover of their admission to what has hitherto been supposed to be a trained class prey upon the public." This has elicited a bitter reply in the Post, and it is understood that the pressmen generally will take up the matter. The writer of the article is a lawyer, who, not possessing sufficient brains to earn a living at his profession, sneaks on the skirts of the Press, and partly through the ignorance of a member of the Times' staff, and partly through the general carelessness observed in the office, obtained admission for his article. Every pressman in Wellington, whether directly engaged in his profession or having a seat in the House, or otherwise occupied, is indignant at the slur thrown upon the profession of journalism, and is determined to resent it bitterly. The question has been raised as to whether the Times pays for the contributed articles or receives payment for allowing the articles to appear in its columns. Altogether ihe matter is regarded as the most disgraceful thing in connection with journalism that has occurred in New Zealand.

Although matters ate apparent!/ quitt

here, yet there is *' a power moving about unknown and unseen," which is exercising a considerable influence over members, and intensifying the feeling of dissatisfaction against the occupants of the Ministerial Benches. You need not therefore be surprised if you find a motion tabled in a few days impeaching the Government on another issue, but similar to that which they have just escaped by the " skin of their teeth," both parties being extremely anxious to bury the departing si?ssion as the man in possession, and to act as executors of the properly and effects of Parliament in the form of Government patronage and the partitioning of the loaves and fishes in the shape of Public Works. It is well known that on an appeal to the country the party in power has a most decided advantage over the other side.

The ungrateful and disloyal conduct of the member for City East in regard to the principal whip of h's party, is still a theme of conversation, and will not be forgotten in a hurry; but those who know Speight best forgive him, because such idiosyncracies are said to hereditary in the family. He tried the other night to retrieve some of the ground he has lost by permitting himself to be made a tool of by a lot ot Fenians at a meeting held here to express sympathy with boycotting, repudiation of just debts, and the behind-hedge shooting assassin system of Ireland. It is to be hoped the law abiding people of the Thames will remember this at the proper time. The Hibernian quartette, as they are named, consisting of Pat Dutnan, John Sheehan, John Lundon, and the great Mcllhone, are pretty frequently together, and rumor credits thetu with arranging matters for the forthcoming elections, so far as Auckland is concerned. The sly old fox of Wyndham street is said to be in constant communication with the moneyed influence of Queen street m regaid to the final arrangement of the electoral boundaries previous to their being submitted to Parliament, for they intend to use every endeavor to return men only favorable to their party at the forthcoming election. Mr Mcllhone will be leaving h re shorty for Wanganui on private business. The petition presented to the House of Eepresentatives by Sir W. Fox, yesterday, was on behalf of the following members of the Council of Wellington District Law Society, against the Law Practioners Bill: —Allan, Edwards, Quick, lieid, and Bell. Mr J. B. Fisher has given notice that it is time that a school of medicine and surgery be established,, and that facilities be provided for Colonial youth to qualify themselves within the colony for the practice of medicine aad surgery.