PASSING NOTES.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 161, 2 September 1892, Page 6

PASSING NOTES.

[By Nemesis.] The refugees of the Upper House have rendered their existence still more obnoxious (if it be possible) to the people throughout the Colony, by interposing their prejudiced and highly unpopular ideas between the adoption of a universal eight hours labour and the boon it would confer upon workmen. This body of “ political curiosities ” is evidently unable to comprehend that different generations require different measures to deal with the necessities of the advancing times, and that the ideas of bygone days must vanish with the advocates who upheld tnem. The mistakes of past misgovernment have been exposed by the enlightment which the present system of

free and universal education has bestowed upon mankind, and if these old-time legis Tutors cannot- comply with the wishes and have declared in favour of, they can only expect to receive the well-deserved odium their own actions reflect upon them. They are the representatives of the past mismanagement, and the voices which elevated them to the positions they now hold have long since been extinguished—yet their partisans still linger on, a party .of old men with ideas more ancient than themselves, the few survivors of an almost extinct political creed, out of sympathy with the great majority, and striving to thwart the measures that have been endorsed by the representatives of a nation, and as isolated and as irresponsible as they are incapable of divining New Zealand’s present requirements, “ Like many another scoundrel who desires to be regarded as ‘ respectable ’ so as the better to cloak his nefarious doings, Plummer had frequently, and especially of late, professed religion, and had been preaching and lecturing on ‘gospel temperance.” So writes your contemporary, Mr Editor, who so often has complained of men because of their religious professions. Such talk as this always reminds me of Daniel, for as I once heard a man say, an individual must be a pretty good man when slanderers can find nothing else to urge against him but his religion. The sixth chapter of Daniel says, ‘ Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel...but they could find none occasion nor fault... Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of liis God.’ Footballers have not shown to any great advantage in this district outside of thenprowess with the ball. They seem to look upon every report that does net give them unbounded flattery as unfair ; and it seems to have become an established axiom in football that no man, other than a stranger, can act impartially either as a critic or referee. To find an acknowledged fair local man would be to unearth a living curiosity and I would advise you, Mr Editor, to advertise somewhat as follows :— 1 Wanted, a local footballer reporter, that will give satisfaction to all players,’ and I think you mi -ht add, ‘ None but angels need apply.’ If this does not succeed I would suggest that matrimony be resorted to, and an attempt made to produce the desired article by the marriage of a prominent Kopuru player to an enthusiastic Aratapu lady barracker, or vice versa. I understand that ttie Wars of the Roses were brought to an end by this means and so am encouraged to hope for success in the present instance.