FUGITIVE NOTES.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8730, 18 November 1896, Page 1

FUGITIVE NOTES.

[By Mahoos.]

It has been said thab the prohibitionists of Oamaru are a very milk-and-water orowd— " mi'.k-andwater" la more ways than one ; although I do nob say this In a contemptuous sense ; bub who will dare pub forth each an assertion after the un« dignified manner m which they have joined forces with the whisky drinkers. They go from one extreme to another. They have pledged themselves to supporb " Oor Tarn " if " Oor Tarn " will supporb certain of their measures relative to prohibition, which are to be brought forward duriug the incoming Parliament. And this is their boasted "liberty and consistency. I wonder how many of them attended St. Paul's Oharoh on Sanday, and heard that masterly discourse on "Temperance" by the Rev. Jas. Milne? and if ib would have done them any good had they been there 1 I am afraid not. They will nob supporb Mr Sievwright, who flatly and with the utmost candor tells them thafi "as a lover of freedom and of temperance he musb oppise prohibition." And yet, Mr Stevwrlghb is a teetotaller I And Mr Duncan is not. Which is the man most fitted to do the ouse good m "an assembly of the nations representatives."

Mr J. D. Slevwrighb has given the electors m various parts of the district his views on political matters, and wherever he has spokon (like Mr Duncin Sutherland m the Waitaki electorate) he has been accorded a mosb patient hearing, and has also received unanimous votes of confidence. His platform is somewhat similar to lhab of Mr Duncin Sutherland — viz., practically against the Government, although favoring some of their measures ~ bub m strong — very sbroDg — opposition bo the extravagant manner m which they squander the public moneys. Mr Sievwrighb is an eccnomisb ; and ab the present time economy is most urgently required m this coloDy — not only m the Hoose of Representatives, but m private life also. Although ab the same time bo make a place prosperous there must be plenty of money changing hands — ab the presenb time it is nothing but oil's, and long dated ones ab that. And why is this bhe case 1 Hio merchants or dealers will speculate bo any extent. Because ib Is nob safe to do so. The policy of the presenb Government has been one of 11 squander " from beginning to end ; and the colony, as a natural consequence, has reaped the whirlwind which generally comes from the sowing of wild oats. Seddou and his crew have had a " high old ilme " while they have baen ia office, and the public? money . has been sown broad-cas!; bo gain political favor ; and ib has been an unqualified succes, but— the unthinking only, however, are the people have built up this success. Let the people of the various constituencies, ihen, raise their voice m protest to this useless kind of government, and elect men as their representatives who will gi m with a view bo reducing the presenb untoward expenditure sanctioned by bhe Minlsbry, and fry and bring the colony onb of the chaos of financial trouble ib is ab presenb m. Mr Sievwrighb is a youog man, with energy, talent, an 3 perseverance m his favor ; and what is more, ho Is In favor, as I have already said, of drastic and : effective economy being introduced into 'the politics of the colony ; a thing, by the ' way, which his been a stranger since bhe present Ministry took office. And of the two candidates for the O^miru constituency, Messrs Sievwrighb and Dancan, which is the more likely to do the district particularly, and the colony generally, the best servioe 1 I leave this qaestion for the electors to answer on polling day.

Mr T. Y. Dancan, our representative, has at last given his Oamaru constituents, as he termed It, "hb opinions and actions " — make a special note of ib : "his actions" — on matters of finance, lands for settlement 1 , and one cr two other things. Now, Mr Dancan might very easily give his opinion on these matters ; bub where do his " aotlons " come In? Certainly they are nob recorded m HanEard, except Ib be noted that his name flourished m the division list ; bub can his speech be seen on any of the debates dealing with the welfare of the colony ? Verily, no ! And, yefc, he is the representative of a constituency m the Parllamenb of New Zealand! And this member of Parllamenb says he "always had an independent opinion of his own, and thab he had always expressed ib m the House." What aboub the occasion when he was hauled back by the Premier ("Tarn, ye're gaun fntil the wrang place !") because he was marching, quite innocently, into the wrong lobby. Whose opinion was thab — Mr Duncan's or the Premier's 1 Bub the former has an iadependent opinion ! He has said so ! Mr Done »n also gave his opinion on "other things," not the least Interesting of which was the unemployed laborers' question. Bub he did not give his " actions " m regard to thab matter. Oh, no; •' Oor Tam '' is too wide awake for that. Bab, perhaps, ib will be Included In hh next speech (we will call his laa L . efforb a 41 speech " for courteßys sake) to the Oamaru electors. If he does nob do so, will some of my readers kindly take the hint, and ask him ab his next; meeting whab he hia done m their interesb since be went to the House.