Farcical Politics.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 11, 5 July 1887, Page 3

Farcical Politics.

The Christchurch correspondent of the Napier Evening News says:—“ Mr Oliver Wansty, a candidate for Linwood, opened his campaign last night. The preliminaries were mo* amusing. Mr XV. Wilson, known as • Cabbage ’ 'Wilson, introduced Mr Wansey, who was received with roars of laughter, Mr Wansey said that when he opened the campaign three years ago he was fifty-six, now be was sixty, and weighed flllbs lighter, and was “ pretty fresh for an old ’an.” He would begin with political economy, which no one knew anything about here (laughter). He remembered fifty years ago when the Reform bill was passed, although only seven years old. They might think that it was a long time ago—but he never told a lie in his whole life (“ Cheers for Wansey ") We bad been politically extravagant. He was perfectly independent and did not give a damn for anybody. (Boars of laughter;. He did not mean to use vulgar language, but he had been in the forecastle for 35 years. He had run straight and always would. We must economise. We had been working a 100horse power engine when a donkey engine would have done, and he would make a bet to find half a dozen men who could do more than those who ”sit up there.” (Laughter and cries •' Vno are they ?" Will you make one ?" *■ Give us some light.’,) There was something rotten in the state of Denmark, and we must go in for retrenchment. He would go to the House for glory and honor, not for greed of office (cheers.) He then proceeded to name the places aa had visited, but was inaudible owing to the noise. Wnen order was restored, he went on to support retrenchment in every department, and the placing of the country under cowmiuicners tor three years. Local industries must be encouraged by a little protection, as the country was only a baby. ••Then about that Hall case”—‘A voice, “Which? this Hall case?” (iaug'iler.)) He would reduce free education to the fourth standard. We might lift that standard up to the sixth if we liked. (Laughter.) He had known Dickens and xbackary. They were both self-educated, and ** you couldn't teach them anything.” He was prepared to forego his honorarium if tne Upper House would. He did not lik. to a*. lan/xinism. A boy on a fence cried I say cocaey,’ and cooeed, and because he (Mr Waneey) didn t answer, the bo» said something naughty. He supported Bide reading in schools. It did him no good and it did him no harm. There was a great deal of fuse about barmaids. (How’s Miss ?”) He thought that a man who kissed and told was a fool. (Boars.) Their hours should be shortened. He would have music encouraged, and Government should give a Queen’s Stake for horses, three-year-olds and upwards, weight-im age, distance three miles. (Vbice; “Go on, keep it up; it’s funny.”) If they sent him up he would be their servant, and run straight. (“ Hurrah for Wansey,” and •• Give us a song.”) No ; he wouldn t sing without a piano, but he'd give a poem he learnt a long while back. (Cheers;. He then recited a poem on “ Tories.” A number of ridiculous questions were asked, and caused more amusement. Waile the chairman addressed the meeting Mr Wansey sought for and asked after his hat, which had disappeared. He hoped, he said, to meet them again with a piano and a few songs. (Cheers). A motion of thanks and comidence was proposed and declared by tne cuau man to be carried. The meeting tehninated very noisily, and the candidate, after his hat waa restored, entered his cab witn his chairman and drove away, the crowd meanwhile yelling.