CONCERNING A CHOW.

Lawyer Shortland's Assurance Where was Bill Massey's Backbone ? A Matter He Promised to Look Into. :When the present Government was the Opposition, and little, dreaming that it would one day fluke office, one of the continual complaints against theWard Government was that the Mihis>ters hopped all over the, country and, though it wasn't said, it was meant to be conveyed that the Ministers m question were looting the Treasury by drawing huge sums for travelling expenses aiwl allowances. Had the present Prime Minister dreamed m those days that he would be given a chance himself of running the country, it is quite possible that he would have "; . ■ -■■■■■■■-■ ■•■■ v • ■. • . ■': CLOSED HIS ''TATER' 1 TRAP on the matter, and, also, if it was m his power, (which was unlikely) to close the "traps" of '•Darn" Fisher and others. l Just now this Deform Government is making no race, of it m scampering over the country and when, as" "Truth" presumes it will be, the Government is asked to; give an 'account of its travelling; expenses and allow £ ances, someone will have to blush at somebody's modesty ; and audacity.These days it is difficult to nail , a -Minister m Wellington; even tne Hon. H. D.. -Bell, (the "Doc." Findlay of the Party) who was accommodated with a^ seat. in the Upper 'Ouse, cavorts over \ the country, promising this and de^ Iclaring that, and working the "Square/ beal" racket for all it is worth. [ The greatest traveller seems to be the Prime Minister. He is a veritable. \ will -o' - the - wisp. He's a sort: ■of, phantom politician. A sort of! now - you - see - him - now i you -' don't gentleman who cannot dwell for any time on a given spoti oecause he is well booked ahead. . 8.4 .lias been, since he became Prime Mink Hster, to places where he has never been seen before, where m the past he Was regarded as a sort of political furiosity, all forlorn, tattered and -torji, leading a hopeless sort of political pand, , ■ { SEARCHING FOR A POLITICAL; V BLUE-BIRD. x , ; Now, it happened the other day that 'the "Square Deal" Party got to Ta^■maranui and was met with all sotfts of requests to all of which was given ''that jocular phrase of 'Oom Bill-*-" A , ■Square Deal." To the many requests "Truth" .need, not refer, but there was one, and as it comes from the Auckland "Herald" there should the no need of its veracity. The "Herald" reports as follows:— ! Mr. Shortland introduced Mr. George Sang, an educated Chinaman and highly-respected citizen of Taumaranui, who wished to bring over to New, Zealand his wife and child, and two nephews from China. The Prime Minister said if Mrs. Sang paid the poll-tax and passed the education test she would be admitted. Mr. Shortland thought that m the circumstances the conditions should be dispensed with. Mr. Massey said the matter would bo looked into. ' Miv Shortland, "Truth" might mention, is a local lawyer, otherwise some people might want to know why Mr. Geo. Sang, an educated Chinkie. etc., didn't ask for a "Square Deal" of his, own accord. In the face of things/ however, Lawyer Shortland has some assurance; m -fact, "Truth" doesn't hesitate to declare that Mr. Shortland, m making such a request of the Price Minister, has a pretty' tough cuticle. Why should Mrs. Geo. Sang, and hyi\ child and two nephews, be admitted free of the poll-tax, ,and all conditions dispensed with? Why could not Mr. Massey have saild at once that THE THING WAS IMPOSSIBLE;

that we have too rauny Chinamen as it is m the country, and that there would be no general regret expressed if the Chinaman m New Zealand took up his capital and, allowed himself to be driven out. "Truth" doesn't quite follow Mr. Massey. How does he propose to have the matter looked into? Does be propose to ascertain if there is a way of defeating the excellent provisions of our immigration laws? Is tno great statesman finding himself up against treaty rights, or is it that' he Is not capable of giving, a straightforward answer? "Truth" wonders! It will be an exceedingly sorry day for Mr Massey Avhenever he sets out to set at nought our White Now Zealand policy. This matter, on Mn Massey's promise, wants watching.