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Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 218, 20 September 1901, Page 3

I Ask the fathers of families, the mothers, ! and the sons and daughters, and then | quietly and dispassionately co = sider whether the trouble, the unrest, the labor quarrels, and the enmity that has been caused, have not shown that tiie adv anced legislation of which so much was expected has not had the anticipated result.’ And the worst is not yet.—Thames Advertiser. New Zealand deserves a had name so long as; it permits had to become worse by refusing to admit that it is bad. This specious opposition to the bill will not avail in any Legislature which keeps a level head.—lnvercargill Times on Young Persons Protection Bilk

Labor legislation has boon the groatsheet anchor of the ship of State for the last nine or ten years ; hut, on the old principle that all abuses ultimately right themselves, the labor laws are being driven forward to an extent that alarms even tiie most ardent well-wishers of trade unionism.—Greymoutli Argus. Now, as to these reports getting out, I to a great extent, put the blame on the shoulders of tho Government. Sir, they put us in the freezing-chamber of this House. We are obliged to sit in that chamber from nine o’clock in the morning until one o'clock, and, although there are two fires there, we can barely keep ourselves from being frozen.—Mr Jackson Palmer.

But when the lean days, which Seddon and Company deny can over return, overtakes us once more, as must inevitably happen sooner or later in the nature of tilings, despite tho most wise Government, the shoe will pinch overmuch, and discontent will be louder than ever. Howevor, tho prophet of evil is never believed. Let us therefore eat, drink, and be merry, for Uio morrow . Christchurch Truth.

Thero is an old adago that “ money saved is money earned,” and, considering the already unbearable magnitude of tho burdens of some of tho taxpayers of the colony, it behoves the heads of our legislature to use a certain amount of circumspection ore they dole out tho treasurial plums from the Government coffers.— Carterton Observer. In a free country, wo are to see a tied press, and editors toning down reports, minimising crime and disgrace, allowing scoundrels to go unchecked, base politicians to pose unexposed,and drunkenness, gambling, and a thousand evils to rear triumphant heads for want of a strong critic and a wholesome fear of public indignation. Truly our democratic country is an example of legislation gono mad.— Ellesmere Guardian.

Now Zealand is a free country —in patches. Some of its legislation partakes of tho quality of its freedom, and a good many of its citizens wonder why it should he so. The people, like tho Parliament, dabble in experiments, and the experiments are usually on a small scale, a little corner of New Zealand benefits, or otherwise, by these experiments, and, by tho simple process of shifting his abode occasionally, a person resident in this free country may sample all sorts of local legislation, and decide what is best for his constitution.—Free Lance.

Surely missionaries can find p'enty of work to do at home! Under many a white waistcoat as well as fustian jacket beats a pagan heart that wants reclaiming ; scenes of sorrow and darkness abound on every hand, but these apparently have not the attractions that surround the already over-missioned chow.— Egiuont Settler.

Unless, however, we change our vicious system of political interference, we are unlikely to get an officor of any standing to accept the position of Commandant of the Forces, and if a good man is inveigled into taking it, he will find, like the rest, his capacity for usefulness completely destroyed, Christchurch Press.

There is another section of the community which casts glances of lingering affection at the high moral example of New Zealand ; but, if current Parliamentary and press records are to bo accepted as authentic, the Seddon-ruled land is morally in an infinitely worse condition than New South Wales,— Sydney Truth. The process of bursting up political bargains has begun, and the Premier is having a trying titno, and will be glad to get away to the Coronation, If Mr Hornsby and his friends go on like this, the Conservative party will have to take Mr Scddon under its wing.—Masterton Times.

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, has already been written upon the wall ; the people are getting sick of the turmoil and strife engendered by so-called conciliation ; they are beginning to ask themselves, are there no other interests save those of unionist workmen to be considered ?—Wanganui Chronicle. The first time, sir, that I stood for any electorate in New Zealand I stood against a supporter of the Atkinson Government. It was realised all along the line that I was going to win. In fact, I had the election won four days before the day of the poll, but on the day of tho poll I did not win, and that was the most important time.—Mr Lawry.