Political Porridge.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, Issue 17, 12 October 1894, Page 5

Political Porridge.

The Joint House Committee by 11 to 3 deoided not to rescind tbe order to send Horae for another year's Bupply of liquor, tnd by tbe same voting it wae practically determine -J that the Speaker of either House • shonld bnve the right to grant a license foi 1 Bellamy**. . The Premier led the majority on tbe Committee, the minority comprising - Measerß Joyce, G. Hutchison and H<*ll- Jones, who are now designated " the holy trinity." The * Ohristohurch Press' Bays :— •• The pnblic are informed by the Minister foi Lands tbat the Cheviot purchase is an nn3'aalified success, and that tbe return to the tate will more than coyer charges and r interest. We Bay unhesitatingly that Mi "' M'Kenzie knowe full well that tbis is not - tha case. Possibly he can show on papei tb^t Cheviot is earnine a fair return on its ' eo.t. But wo cay plainly that iv many cases the last half-year's rent has not been paid '. and we challenge the department to deny " this. .We say farther that it is now realised ihat many of tenants wilt be nnablo to keep up tbeir piymeats, and that already there ie ' a movement to esk for a reduction. Indeed, w6 are convinced tbat before long even the Ministers will be compelled to admit that tbey haw been disappointed." ■ Mr J. W. Kelly on Tuesday read the following notice of motion ;— •" To a9k the . Midirer for Defence if his attention baa been drawn to the following cablegram :-- A lunatic rushed to shake hands witb fia Duke of York on tbe occasion of a Hite entry idio Leeds. One of the escorting Lancers slashed the man's arm ann another rode him down.' lf so, will the Minister for Defenoe take the ueces'ary Bteps to issue ' instructions to the military who may be selected to act as gdard of honor to the Duke of York, when visiting the ooiony, not to cut and slash the arms of lunatica who may become possessed of a desire to shake hands ' or rub nostjs with a number of the Royai Family." The re -.ding ot the motion was Mceived with mingiel laughter and applause and cries of •* Order." The Piemißr took imtant exception to 'he notict*, but the Speaker eiid be.wuuld lead it through first, __n»» bt- die read it through, and as the result of his reading be announced later tbat *• Mr Kelly's notice w( uld not appear on the Order ; Paper." The women of Gisborne have set thetr Bisters in other parts of tbe world an example ..that ;may be well followed. They have organised with a fixed determination to ecehew party politics and to concern^ tbem- - selves with these makers J tbe collection and . diffusion of iofotmat'on on social, economleal, and political subjects ; tho exchan?e of Opinions and views oa eu<*h subjects by ■ meetings and otherwise, and by that means helping members and others to mike up their minds clearly, intelligently, and rightly on ■- matters of public interest ; and thn watch- - teg especially over the inte*e9ts of womap, v and their promotion by the adoption ( by Parliament of suoh measures aa will place her on a tooting of t quality with the other sex, and thus tend to secure the good of the com- . ounity and of each member of it. Mr Scobie Mackenzie has denounced as •• infamou*," Colonel Hume's reply to Mr Middleton'* request for police protection. The committee on the Pomabaka enquiry will, the' Daily Time.' corespondent saya, after all tbe usual review of the evidence, practically and unanimously find t*iat so oharge of corruption can be made against the Minister for Lands. The evidence of Mr Dallas as to the value will no doult be made the subject of comparative analysis, and it will pielably be indicated tbat the teal value of the 'and can only be ascertained after tbe lapse of a sufficient period to determine whether the present tenants can oontinue to pay tho existing rents. Mr Bitchie is, it is said, certain to be absolved from all blame as to his share in the transaction, and it will probably be stated that the petition did not influence tbe L md Purchate Board. . There were some disgraceful scenes during the discussion of the Licensing Bill in committee on Wednesday morning. Mr G. VV.* ■y Eossell, referring to Mr R.. McKenzie, the member for Buller, and his obstructionist tactics, Bi»id :— " We bave seen the member for the Boiler previously in thiß House, and i( a photograph could have been taken of. hia fttce and a phonograph could have reproduced tbe tones of bis voice and these bad beeh taken round in bU CotH.tHttet.ey ftom meeting to meeting, so that the people should know the member tbey have to represent tbem, tbey would consider he had fortified hia intellect, voice, and manly breast with^-wel', I will leave tbem to ju^ge. ,, Mr Lawry tetnud tbe speech dis- , reputable and had to withdraw the expre.lion, and Mr R. McKenzie rose, botlina: over With indignation. " I have never heard," he aaiJ, •• a more scurrilous ond more offensive ■peeob than tbat of tbe member for Riccar. ton. I say the thing is infamous. We have heard him tnlk more rot during tbe la*t three months thon has bieu talked in any Parliament in the world." Raising bis voice — " lam prepared te meet him ia any eleclion in any part of the colony. 1 beat a m-tn at the last election whose boots he is hot fls to oiaokea and he need not tell tbe people of tbe Buler about me for they know me too well in thnt part of the colony for me to need any reo m menda tion from bim. Fancy his Boivtlbng-dnyclling voice bring compated with the way I express myself. (Roirs of laughter.) Let members look at his ignominious countenanoe and get it photographed by comparison witb mine. (Fresh laughter.) Let nim go and g*t his face plaoed alongside mine and th-a electors of t-ie ooiony would --imply sling bim aside and out of this Chamber."