Political Prattle

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 72, 26 July 1912, Page 6

Political Prattle

j Among (.ho things thai came over the I wires to Massoy after bis defout of the ! Liberal Ministry and consequent aec,es 1 sion to office wa.s ''a bark of congratulation from one of your pups'." We Hieu-hf we had him summed up. and this message confirmed out' opinion Hill's a sly old dog. mre!

Some interesting items iroiii' a debate in the Houselast February :—

The I lon. Air. Millar: What are your Mr. Fisher: 1 am a leaseholder. The Hon. Mr. Millar: Exactly; and what is the Opposition Party '( Mr. Fisher: There is a great difference. 1 have said on the public platform, and I say again., that an a leaseholder I would not accept a position in a freehold Cabinet. That is more than the honorable gentleman is prepared to say. . . . My ideals are nof of the party with which 1 am associated. I have never been able to work hand in hand with any party in the House. 1 propose to give all the reasonable support I can to the Labor Party in the House. ... I hope 1 sball be able to assist them, and I hope they will be able to assist mc in bringing about some of the reforms which we both desire. . . . Sir, it might have paid mc to sell my vote and my constituents at the same' time, but I have come back pledged to vote against the present Administration and I regard that pledge as sacred.

Regarding the change o' Government, a. Christchurch commentator expresses himself thus :—"The man-in-the-strcct says, '1 told you so,'.and. at the same time adroitly insinuates that he, and he alone almost, is responsible for tho 'great and beneficial change.' Therefore, we are faced with this: If 'Everybody' voted Massey in, who is responsible for the 20 odd years it has taken to vote Seddon-cum-Ward and Co. outP Why, 'Nobody.' Tho latter is seldom with Ihe vanquished; the former is ever with the victor! Win and tho world is with you, Fail and they call you snide, For it's been man's way. since Adam's day, To be on the winning side."

According to a recent arrival from Yankeoland, New Zealand produces two great crops—mutton and politicians. « » *

Speaking in the House of Representatives, tim member for Nelson said: 'What had happened in the House was a disgrace to Parliament. Pledges had boon "broken by men after professing certain principles for a life-time. If certain men who had helped to put tho late GWniiiioiit out of office had left

the Liberal Party years ago the party would be much stronger to-day."

Principles ? They ain't got none I Tike the candidate for the American Presidency told of in the "Biglow Papers," they "glory in hevin' nothin' o' the sort;" and going to Lowell again they can quote in extenuation of their Piotean performances the sentiments of New England:

"Wal. sposin' we hod to gulp down our perlessions, Wo were ready to come out next morn-

in' with fresh ones; And of a man can, wen pervisions hey

riz. so, Eat up his own words, it's a marcy it is so."

Even his bittereet political ■nenucs admit that ex-Premier "Tarn" Mackenzie presented a dignified and impressive ligure during the closing stages of the no-confidence debate, and his last speech was probably the finest he ever delnercd in his life. It was vigorous throughout, and struck no note of bitterness at what is described on every hand as the "ratting" of members of his party. Here is a word-paint-ing of the final scenes by one of "Tarn's" admirers: —"Imagine the battleship 'Liberal' —her decks cleared for action —then, after a fierce battle, deserted by some of the men who nad been for some time acting as spies---rebellion and mutiny rampant! Imagine this, and then picture the last stand made by the Ministry! Game to the last, the two Macs —Mackenzie an 1 Maedonald— sometimes alone on ;hc benches, fought to the bitter end. Then, when defeat could not be averted, they accepted it in a manner which was a credit to themselves and the Dominion."

Among the sheaves of telegrams received by Mr. Massey and published was one which read "Chicago at last!" Verily, brevity is the soul of wit. Mr. Massey evidently did not perceive that tho choice fragment was tho work of an enemy, comments an exchange, and the comparison is hardly a complimentary one. It relates, of course, to the Btory of the tramp in extremely dilapidated raiment who was kicked off the New York-Chicago express at every stopping-place by an irate conductor, but who confided to a sympathetic passenger that he believed he would get to Chicago at last if only a certain indispensable portion of his attire bold out.

They think highly of "Our Member" in the Hutt. "Some of His Friends, •> writing to "Our Paper," the "Petono Chronicle," see in him a coining Prime Minister. • They thought they saw his speedy elevation to Cabinet rank on his recent return from "furrin parts," but suffered a grievous disappointment. However, his time is to come —"the ultimate goal is yet within sight for one so gifted as our member undoubtedly is" —and if he has any luck, "he will be Premier at about the same time of life as Mr. Massey. and still redeem bis stifled and just ambitions to bo a loader of men." In the meantime, ho is advised to grab with both hands the next best thing that's going. "Now is the golden opportunity for him to lay claim to the. vacant leadership of the party for which ho voted when its natural 'leaders' became 'picadors.' "

Party partitions in the House ai present aro so thin thai the intelligent electors can almost hear honorable members changing, their minds! — Christchureh "Evening News."

They needn't woriy so much about the leadership of the Liberal Party— 'cause there isn't any party to lead. — Ex.

When all is said, the difference between the Liberals and Reformers of the Now Zealand Parliament is scarcely definable. One set is as good as the other —or as bad. There were two parties in William the Third's Parliament, and all the difference be could sen between them. said the King, was that the Tories would cut his throat in the morning and the Whigs in the afternoon. This will be the menacing attitude of every parliament in the land as long as party government endures.--"JVtono Chronicle."

Anarchism is the j.i.heism of politics