The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, JULY 6, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3850, 6 July 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, JULY 6, 1891.

The Licensed Victuallers of New Zealand desire to bring in a Bill during the present session of Parliament to prevent any license being arbitrarily withdrawn by a Licensing Commission, and to give in every instance a right to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Prohibitionists, on the other hand, want the present Act amended so that when a district carries a prohibition vote no license can be issued. The Government, not liking to be upset between two stools of this kind, declare that there will be nc chance of getting any licensing legislation through this session. The Victuallers and Prohibitionists will have to fight their quarrels out without the open intervention of the Government. Whether there will be secret influences from that quarter is another question.

The Masterton School Committee has made its peace with the Town Lands Trust by admitting past errors and promising future good behaviour. We ventuie to say that this open confession and absolution is honourable and creditable to both bodies. Two years ago Mr Pay ton, observing grave irregularities in the school accounts, called the attention of an annual meeting to the omission in the balance sheet which concealed them. Mr Hogg, who acted as spokesman for the Committee, did not attempt to explain or defend them, but by scurrilous personal abuse bluffed the meeting from enquiring into them. The consequence is that a disgraceful muddle which ought to have been put straight two years ago is now being rectified. At last there is a School Committee with courage adequate to the task of washing this very dirty linen handed down by its unclean predecessor of 1889.

The House has expressed an opinion tLat a certain article in the Evening Press is untruthful and libellous, and of course it must be so when such an authority lays down the law. The article in question, however bad, seems to us exceedingly temperate and mild as contrasted with other articles which have been occasionally penned by members of the liberal party. As a rule it will be noticed the so-called Conservatives never howl when they are assailed, never ask the House to protect tbem, never even get up libel actions to vindicate thoir reputation, it is the Liberals who are wont to do these things. Fancy the immaculate Hon John McFenzie talking about a- whip for Confirtvative editors. Does he

who deserve lie himself will be does, though in the comma wbo believe tffit be, most of all, is deserving of theVash. Since the advent of the Seddon and Gomorrah Ministry, the Civil Service is said tfo be completely demoralised. ForK&n-ly it was an assemblage of gentlVmen, who, animated by an espril.de corps, were loyal to the Colony one anoreher. When it waß found eaafh and allof them were liable to insJaoftaiieous dismissal or degradation if oEgnce by act, deed or report weie giml to a Minister, the service ised, and it h believed" by many that a system offopionage has crept into it whicMa Tatal to its efficiency as a wjfable. The country is being governed , -vfery much by secret informers. How long this sort of thing will last we know* not, but while it exists it is impossible to obtain either an efficient or economical administration.