SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1894.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4845, 8 October 1894, Page 2

SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1894.

Tiik Licensing Bill is regarded by half the constituencies of Now Zenland as of paramount importance. Tho Premier in bringing this moasuredown two hours piisfcuiidniglit, at the fag end of the session, lloiitedand fooled these constituencies. Pructi-' cully he seems to have set it up as a sort of Aunt Sally for the Temperance party to throw at, but "Aunt Sully " in tho small hours of the morning is neither an amusing nor an edifying game. Mr Buchanan and other members who obstructed the Bill on the ground Hint it was being forced down the throat of the House at a lime when it could not be digested, acted rightly, After a -sitting of twenty hours Mr Seddon had to postpone bis emetic, but was it his policy to bring on the Bill at such a time that it should prove to be I an emetic ?

"The law is an ass" in the eyes of the Liberal Government. A station manager who applied for police protection has been told by the Commissioner of Police that the police protect employes but not employers of labour. We presume the Commissioner in this has acted under instructions from the Cabinet, but there is not a constable in the Colony who will not blush for the head of bis department who is clearly prostituting the law to please the Premier. The police force of Now Zealand is becoming completely demoralised. It is no longer the servant of the public but the servant of the party. It will soon be necessary for the people of this Colony to organise Vigilance Committees to secure that safety and protection which admittedly is no longer obtainable from tho police.

A yvkkk ago the Hon, G. McLean was vitriolic in his attitude towards the Government, antlllr Wat-son, the Inspector of the Colonial Bank, spurned the offer made to him of the presidency of the Bank of New Zealand. Now Mr McLean is the Government's bestfrieud,and Mr Watson has accepted the appointment which he rejected a few'days ago. This change of front will make people wonder as to how it has been brought about. It is evident that the Colonial Bank is a "power behind tho throne," and that a fresh understanding has been arrived at between it and the Cabinet. The Colony will have to pay the piper no doubt, but as yet the nature and degree of the payment has not transpired.

In order lo see what a poor man's Government does for him ho must, like Mr Buchanan, examine tho tariff. The member for the Wairarapa recently said in his place in the House, " 1 looked through the tariff a. few days ago and incidentally observed that on such an article of common use in every household throughout the colony as currants, wo are nonpaying a Customs duty of not less than 133 per cent. On kerosene mi article of common use in- every household, wc actually pay 80 per cent; and if the Colonial .Treasurer looks over the tariff, lip will .find lote of similar cases: throughout," Perhaps now that women have votes they will look into these taxes on currants and kerosene. They are np quite so soft in these matters as w Lords of Creation are, < ' 1 :-.->. \"Mk

Tim recently-appointed Bishop of Wellington is shortly to land on our * shores. _ If he arrives after the "Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Bill" becomes law he will bo a prohibited person under it, as an undesirable einmigrant. The interpretation ■ clause of the measure clearly includes him as one " coining to New Zealand for the purpose of there carrying on an occupation or calling pursuant to an agreement or engagement made with, or on behalf of certain persons in New Zealand," Under the measure too, it will be necessary for the captain of the vessel who brings the Reverend Prelate to Wellington to put certain delicate questions which will, uo doubt, be highly appreciated by the distinguished passenger. Here is a sample of some of them: " Are you married or single ?" " Are you able to read and write ?" " Whether you are in possession of money, and if so, how much ?" These queries will probably be easily answered by the Right Reverend Gentleman, but when certain further questions are put to him, such as: " Were you ever in prison?" and "Were you ever in an almshouse ?" he will probably begin to feel a little uncomfortable. The Hon. Mr Reeves is responsible for the measure, but we know not whether anyone is responsible for Mr Reeves. If anybody is, we certainly do Hot envy that person his responsibility. Someone ought to be locked up!