The Wairarapa Daily SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3794, 25 April 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1891.

Hazell's Annual for the current yeat, writing on the Knights of Labour, says, " In '9O so little public notice was taken of the EoigJjts as would suggest the approaching dis solution of the organisation." Here in New Zealand, however, the order seems to have found a congenial soil, and as for public notice, did not th 3 Premier of the Colony last evening hob and nob with the Knights at Eketaliuna, and for all we know to the contrary give in his allegiance to the secret political society which has done so much for his party. On Monday next our own Knights in ifasterfcon take over or prepare to talseovev the charge of our local school. Why or wherefore we know not, for the order is $ sojrt of secret police attached to the liberal party which does not divulge its intentions. All we know ia that a semi-officiai announcement stated that the Knights will support Messrs Eton, J. Williams, Z. M. Hoar, M. Williams and W. Blinkhomo at the school election on Monday, and tlml the "Master Workman" himself has nominated them for the position. The Knights have of gause a perfect right to assume the local control of our public school if they can put their men in, and so have the Masterton footballers or the Quadrille Assembly or any other body haviug a specialjinterest in the course of education, the only difference perhaps being that if the footballers or Quadrille Assembly attempted to carry the election sfp should know the reason why they claimed U) jcontrol the 3chool, whereas in the ease of the Knights there is a mystery as they are sworn to secrecy and to obedienie. Tlie? are responsible

only to the "Master Workman," who is not a candidate, but keeps in the back ground while he puts up his men to carry out the mysterious purpose which he has in view. The committee to be elected ws may afesume will not be responsible to the householders in the ordinary sense of the term, but will be managed and regulated, by. " The Master Workman." We are well aware that amongst those whom their officials have nominated there are candidatas who wouild doubtless be regarded as useful members of a local committee if they were disconnected with a secret society, but they occupy a peculiar and special position as the delegates of " The Master Workman," and any objection we may make to them is entirely with reference to their relation to the secret police of the liberal party. The Knight 3 evidently believe that they are strong enough now to con- j trol local elections, and the result of the contest on Monday next will be interesting as a test of their strength. We do not consider that such secret societies ought to interfere with elections, but doubtless, with the Hon. Tohn Ballance at its head, the order is strong enough to make its mark. Of course it is hopeless to expect any explanation of the reasons which have induced the Knights to intervene in oar school elections, or to fathom the designs of " The Master Workman" who seekis to put his bracelet on education in this town. The householders of Masterton are required to accept his nominees as, a committee, " their's not £o reason why, their's not to make reply." A gentleman who now holds high office iu Masterton has declared, so it is said, that "he rules the town, and Mr Hogg rules the country." He might perhaps have added that " The Master Workman " rules both !