MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 2,800 Copies Daily MONDAY, MAY 18th, 1903. DISSATISFIED PICNICERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 7544, 18 May 1903, Page 4

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 2,800 Copies Daily MONDAY, MAY 18th, 1903. DISSATISFIED PICNICERS.

It is easy now to understand way the Press were excluded from the South Sea picnic the legislators have indulged in, for a dissatisfied murmur has reached the colony already in regard to the manner in which the members of the party are muzzled, and muzzled, of all things, by tho Commissioner of Customs, Mr o! H. Mills. Important meetings are held by the Minister with the leading natives and care taken to exclude the members of Parliament from participation in the functions, on the plea that "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." Then there is considerable dissatisfaction with the itinerary. It was arranged that the trip should occupy six weeks, but this time has been extended so that Auckland members will be away seven weeks and the Southern members nearly eight weeks. Many members could i!l spare the six weeks, and had arranged to be away six weeks only, and although the duration of the trip had been extended, it was soon seen that many of the most important annexed islands were not included in the list at all. whilst places of no interest to New Zealand were included. Many members arcseriously disconcerted by this proceeding, and representations have been made to the Minister to cut out places with which New Zealand has little or no concern, and add nearer places with which she has, and thus curtail the length of the trip. The Minister says the trip was planned before he left Wellington. If that be so. then members should have been notified before the boat left, when some would h*ve undoubtedly remained behind.