The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3906, 7 September 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1891.

It was " Puff," in the Evening Press, who once expressed gratitude to Providence that there was no superlative for the positive Fish and the comparative Fisher. From the record of the recent mass meetings held in Wellington, it would appptar that the member for Maaterton has taken the superlative degi ee that was vacant. It is said that both Messrs Fish and Fisher were invited to attend this gathering, but the proposed open air denunciation of a duly constituted authority was a trifle too hot and heavy for them. They declined the invitation, and left it to the member for Masterton to reach the bedrock of radicalism, anarchism, and socialism ! All three men, the positive, tlie comparative, and the superlative, are undoubtedly able politicians,, but it has fallen to their lot to be yery much distrusted by their fellow men, Our own superlative member, no doubt, expresses a conscientious opinion when he seeks first to demoralise and then to abolish the Legislative Council, and it may be thought by outsiders that the Masterton electorate in a particularly sultry locality, it having returned to Parliament eucli a fire eater. It is said by many, even of their political opponents, that the labour members as a whole are a quiet decent lot' of fellows, and that the man who really rouses the gorge of legislators is the loud-voiced mem ber for this district. No doubt, from his pointof view, this may be regard jd as a compliment, and when be sees the House emptying under his rasping eloquence he lays the flattering unction to his soul that he is scoring g, victory. However this may be, we ehouidhe sorry to have it thought that this district endorses the sentiments of the mass meeting recently held in the Empire city. We are quite certain that resident settlers are thanktul for the existence of a Legislative Council said ape pleased that it has the courage to 40 Of cours§ there is a large floating population in bush camps and in up country stations j which will support the view of the j Mepi'pjej: for Masterton, and un-j fortunately in Peceipber last, this floating population was numerous! enough to outvote the resident j settlers of the district. Still wej recognise that th<3 latter do virtually represent public opinion here and, that they do not, by anj means, endorse the strong views expressed at J the mass maeting, viz , that tbe Legislative Council works for a particular class, that it is prejudiced, is an assembly of old women, and should be swept away. The member for 1 Masterton and the mass meeting travel on a path, which, even the Premier dare not follow. Soon the extreme labour party will have to gtand alone, for it is quite evident ; jtfiab tha jpembe.rs of even the present: radical ,cabinet fem&rd it with; mingled (eelipgs of terror amj appeehecsioo apd hesitate to j through Coventry with it. The destrucu" 11 o£ tfe Coupcil is not a part o*ti' a OAFgWB 18*4® tween the Labour Party" Government for the support of the former for the current session, but it may be made a condition of support next session. The unhappy Ministry may escape Scylla and Charybids this term, but next session they will have again to face both dangers.