Newspaper Ideas.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 139, 10 December 1901, Page 3

Newspaper Ideas.

Probably no suasion of Parliament, for the last, twenty years has effected so little useful legislation. — NapLn Herald.

Are tho harassing and pauperising conditions attached to tlu payment of tho old age pensions responsible for the abnormal number of suicides am jug the recipients ? Sydney Sunday Times.

Of course, it ia recognised that Sir J. G. Ward is the only possible successor of Mr. Beddoti. and tho prevailing opinion is that when Sir Joseph’s tuna comes ho will completely reconstruct the Cabinet. — Westport News. Earthquake risks, however, eesm to offer no temptation to even tho most enterprising underwriters. It . has been suggested that the Government might undertake this hr inch of insurance, seeing that it would not bo interfering with any form of private enterprise, —Christchurch Tress.

The farmers have found out that they were intended to be tho cats to pull the Tory chestnuts out of the fir? at the next general election, and, with the sound, common sense peculiar to their class, they decline to be made use of in any such fashion. Hence, the dead as a-door-nail condition of the so-called Farmers’ Union. —Carterton Leader.

The present law is idealistic in its fairness when compared with Mr Seddon’s libel law, which makes a hero of the ruffian, and stops little short of canonizing him, while at the same time it degrades the independent journalist, however truthful and conscientious he may be, to the level of the common criminal.—Auckland Observer.

Punch’s report that Premier Seddon is to be appointed to a South African Governorship is repeated with emphasis ’hare and abroad. There are more improbable things, and Dick would a good Governor, but he is probably more useful in Maoriiand than bs would be anywhere else.-—Mc.bourao Punch. ■

Torn Mann the London Labour leader who took to beer-selling in Cockneyville, and was fined for unduly watering his boose, says a good man’s intentions are not appreciated in the Big Smoke, and he is going to shift out and make himself at home in Maoriland. Tom will find the liking for watered beer quite as limited in New Zealand as in London.—Melbourne Punch. We have been in the past wont to talk of “ The Old Country,” “ The Mother Country,” and “ The Dear Old Motherland.” In view of the regularity with which we now borrow our million or two every year, Great Britain is now becoming known to our politicans as “ The Dear Old Uncle Land.”—Opunake Times, As far as Masterton is concerned, the New Factories Act will prove a farce, which must necessarily be played out in a perfunctory manner. The country is as yet unripe for too many red-tape regulations. The Parliament can make them, but the carrying of them out is virtually an impossibility.—Masterton Times. The great masterpiece of so-called Liberal legislation, the Bill which defines defamatory libel,and provides egregiously heavy penalty for such offence has scrambled through the House and become law, great delight of those to whom the truth is an unsavory quantity- We might mention that we are prepared to draw lots with any other Anarchist to see who shoots the redoubtable Dick.— Charleston Herald.

Admitting that we reqtire a better class of members, and granting tbat this i£39o honorarium will give us the opportunity of getting a belter class, then there is not much to say against the increase. But will the people rise to the occasion? Will they select men whom they consider worth the higher salary ? We confess we have our doubts, and sti'ong doubts at that. — Auckland Observer.

W 7 e learn from a private source that the labour legislation in force in New Zealand has been cast up against Messrs Cadman aud Smith, and has hud a good deal to do with English people having “ shown no anxiety to form a company.”—Havvera Star.

The Farmers’ Union, if judiciously graded by cool and temperate men, will prove a power for good —on the contrary, if oilier methods prevail, it will crumble and fall to pieces. It must not be run on party lines ; party politics must bo altogether eschewed. —Hamilton Argus.

Wo'doubt vary much whether New Zealand will see Mr Seddon again. We have reason to behove that he will disappear from our horizon to reappear either as Agent-General nr a colonial Governor. —Queenstown Mail.

We certainly think that the Government should - step in and appoint some day as the half holiday for nil classes of the community—professional men, tradespeople, and working men—aud make it universal throughout the colony.—Masiovton Star.

It makes ns feel mad to see nnacknowhdgcd paragraphs from our column-: in some journal run by a galoot whose mission on earth is to saw wood.—Dunedin Liberal.

By ['lacing a dn:y ou Fijian fruit, wo should deliberately throw away too opportunity wnich the Federal ttu-ifl jomis likely to afford vis o' extending our ruurk'iCs and cheapening our fruit supply.—Ghriatcharch Press.

Bnt let each man own his rifle, that i:-3 is personally responsible for it> :i’n! that it is given him for the piirpca.-s of defending Ills homo and his country, and we feel sure that riflo shooting would soon become a national pastime.’—Opotiki Guardian.

The whole point of om politics seems to concentrate about the sayings and doings of one man, and so far as the ordinary individual can see there is not much prospect of an alteration until that commanding figure is promoted to some higher sphere. — Palmerston Times,

The time must surely come when the Arbitration Courts in hearing disputes, in considering all points connected with them, will simply r. fuse to grant exorbitant demands; When this is done we may expect to find very, many less disputes.—Greytown .Standard.

Maoriland has begun reprisals in response to the Commonwealth l ii'ill', with an export tax ou undressed limber, winch will raise the price of white pine to Australian butter box makers, Since the avowed object ol the tax is to keep the work of cutting the timber in the country, no one or. this side can growl at its imposition.— Sydney Bulletin. -| The British nt-i'a only 1 employ thr same methods which the German’s adopted ami nst French it regulars in 1070. The Boors would not hold out long (hen. It would be a satisfaction tf l.ho Biiti'-b to defeat the Boers witi methods borrowed f;oiu the Germans who are always taming about British ho h wines. Bio Information Vienna.

Wc have not wavered in the opinioi that the Premier of New Zealand wr. very injudicious in his utterance during his visit to the [south Be; Islands, when ha masqueraded in a Privy Councillor’s rig out, knee breeches ami cocked hat and all, with a lady dross. ; ;n a sort of nondescript khaki uniform to lend dignity to uis majestic presence, accompanying him so as to impress the ignorant natives with an exaggerated idea of Mr Sad Jon’s importance. Palmerston North Standard.