The Wairarapa Daily SATURDAY, JUNE 13. 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3831, 13 June 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily SATURDAY, JUNE 13. 1891.

The new dummyism ease is exceedingly amusing. On the last occasion wh6n dummy hunting was indulged in, the Waste Lands Board was ordered to behave, as a lion, now it is commanded tb.iie'down like a lamb. When Ratsey was bailed np.it will be remembered that the member for Masterton, who acted as cowboy for the Government, expressed a very 'strong opinion against the accused, bat the alleged culprit, Anderson, is in a very different position. Orders have evidently come down to the Board to handle this so-called dummyer gently and considerately, and Mr Hogg is reported to have remarkedat the seance that everything in conmctionwith the matter appeared to be straightforward. -Rumour Bays that once upon a time three M.H.R.'s, on speculation bent, went in for a certain fat section ; one of the three was to bold it, but to give this one a better chance all three were to apply for it. The fact of three Middle Island M.H.R.'s applying for one section in a North Island district, which they were unlikely even to visit, attracted some notice at the time, and the section was there and then ebris. tened the dummy section. However, the M.H.R. who did not want the land drew it by lot, and when the M.H.R. who did want it asked for a transfer he was told to go to a place at least ten degrees warmer than the House of Representatives. Numerous applications have been made for a transfer of this section, but it having the reputation of being a yery sultry dummy section, and the Board always threw tbein put. This is what dame Rumoar says, and if one half of it be true, the case against Anderson is

about as bad a one as can be found. | But then the three M.H.R'g werej liberals; and it would never, never do to convict a liberal M.H.R. of dummyism. To spend £3OO on a trumpery case against a Beethain is a legitimate outlay of public money, but to open the public purse to prosecute a prominent Government supporter would be an absurdity. Mr Fogg evidently sees the mattei in the right light and worthily represents at the Board the Ministerial sentiment, viz—that iu this affair everything has been straight forward.