"INEXPLICABLE."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8860, 21 October 1907, Page 4

"INEXPLICABLE."

"The Farmer's, Union Advocate," of Saturday last, expresses disappointment at the division list during the voting on Mr Massey's amendment to the Land Bill, giving the right "of purchase at the original value; and in its condemnation of the attitude of some of the representatives cf farming districts trounces Mr Witty somewhat severely. That member, according to the '"Advocate," owed his original election, in no small measure to the influence of the Farmers' Union, of which he was at one time a valued member, and to whose platform he subscribed. It appeared, however, that he had kicked away the bridge that had carried him over, and his action, as well as that of several other members, is regarded as inexplicable. If the writer of the article knew how the political ropes are pulled, he wou!d not consider the action of any member voting with the Government inexplicable. One must have a knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes in Parliament Buildings to understand the playing of the various characters when Ihsy are in action upon the open boards. The "Advocate" takes heart of grace, however, at the fact that leasehold beat freehold by only eight votes, which, it says, "shows that the freehold party, even in the House, has yet to be reckoned with." This is rather late optimism, seeing that the Bill was read a third time and passed without amendment, save those inserted by the Government, before the "Advocate's" article was published. The only hope now for the freeholder lies in the Legislative Council, and that hope is a forlorn one. The Council may try to get Mr Massey's proposal inserted, but the Bill is likely to pass that Chamber unaltered in its main features.