ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JULY 13, 1903. PITH AND POINT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 162, 13 July 1903, Page 2

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JULY 13, 1903. PITH AND POINT.

Political news is neither plentiful nor exciting. The Address-in Reply dragged its weary way along up to the adjournment on Friday, and will pro bably, now that it has gone so far, not be terminated until the middle of this week. This is one of the carious effects of verbosity. It creates more verbosity just as the rolled snowball gathers unto itself more snow. Probably, were the truth known, the astute Premier is not at all dissatisfied. He gets more time to prepare his Bills, and the Whips have more time to quietly "sound" new members as to their opinions on certain prominent or awkward questions. Deeper and deeper grows the conviction that this session is going, to wit ness a big tight on the debateable question of the freehold. The Farmers' Unions have undonbtedly brought this question into greater prominence, and there is a strong party in the House which is determined to fight for the freehold to the uttermost. On the otber hand, the advocates of leaseholds, leaseholds with a periodical revaluation, are equally determined. It is possible that if ever a split comes in th«) Government party it will come over this question. Mr Laurenson, an ardent Radical, says : " We shall then see (on a division) who are the real and who are the sham Liberals." But a man, we take i , may advocate the freehold aud still be a Liberal. Mr Laurenson is surely too sweeping in his classification of sheep and goats.

The freehold advocates say—give us the freehold and the right to convert leasehold into freehold. The Radicals say that they do not care about the 999 years. What they want is a perpetual lease with periodical revaluation. As against this there is the cry of confiscation, for undoubtedly the State made a bargain with these lease* holders, and in that bargain there is no mention of any revaluation. The Wellington Post strongly champions the Radical system, but with a safeguard against confiscation by making the revaluation system only apply to those who take up leaseholds in the future. Both freeholders and antifreeholders have some good debaters amongst them to act as champions, and when the tug-of war does come there will be some " bonny pulling," as the Scotsman said. The Prohibitionists seem to have had quite a festival In Wellington last weak. As usual, some veryextrava-

gant language was indulged in, and some rather risky predictions made. All the same, it is impossible to read the reports of the meetings and the speeches without being impressed by the spirit of enthusiasm and confidence which the no-license advocates have for, and in, their cause. Within six years from now, said one prominent politician, there will be no liquor sold throughout Otago. It is a daring prophecy, but frankly we would not venture to say it will not be verified. The fact is that the women's vote has enormously strengthened the no-license cause, and as the temperance party is always actively at work and constantly g dning new adherents, it must, unless there be some unexpected revulsion of public feeling in favor of the " trade," march on gradually to ultimate victory. Whether prohibition having once been attained will be maintained is quite another matter.

As was predioted some weeks ago by this journal th© Hon. W.C. Walker has been elected Speaker of the Legislative Council for the present Parliament. Sir Henry Millar, the ex-Speaker, was also a candidate, bub Mr Walker had practically a walk<over. It seems hard upon Sir Henry to have to retire from the chair he has occupied so long, but, after all, he has had a " good innings." and so long as the party system prevails it is only natural that an arrange ment such as that under which Mr Walker becomes Speaker should be made. Mr Walker should, and we believe will, make an excellent Speaker. He is a well-educated man of most genial and courteous demeanour ; he is thoroughly well versed in all parlia* mentary laws and etiquette, and particularly well up in what we may call the legitimate traditions of the Council. The Hon. John Rigg, M.L.0., has been elected Chairman of Committees in succession to Captain Baillie, whose failing eyesight had of late made impossible an efficient discharge of his duties. Mr Rigg is one of the most able men in the Council. He has a quiet but determined manner, and a very proper regard for order and dig nity, which should serve him to very good purpose in the onerous and honorable position to which he has been elected. With four new members, a new Leader, a new Speaker, and a new Chairman of Committees, the Council is making quite a new stnrt this year.