Newspaper Notions

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 48, 1 June 1901, Page 6

Newspaper Notions

DURING Ins Premiership Mr. Scddon lia.s puslied New Zealand to the \ erv forefront of the progressive democratic communities of the world. — Thames "Star."' * * X Mr. Wason, of the House ot Commons, should receive a vote of thanks from the Commonwealth for his vindication of Australian heroes against calumnious traducers. — Sydney "Sunday Times." * • • The solution of the servant-girl problem lests entirely with the misti esses If they draw too fine distinctions, they will have also to draw the water from the pump, and the clothes from the w ringer. — Masterton "Star." » * • The Duke and Duchess of York went to Melbourne St. Paul's Cathedral on Sunday, and the rush of well-dressed hypocritical cads, who also wished to "worship the Fathei" at the same tame and place, beeerars description. It's about time Uriah Heep was cremated ' — Sydney "Newsletter." * * * The Mayor of Melbourne and the Mayor of Sydney have each been knighted, but the chief magistrates of Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, and Hobart have been made C.M.G.'s only. This is about as handsome a gift to the cities mentioned as a steerage ticket on a cattle boat. — Adelaide "Quiz " * * * A Sydney merchant has advised an Oamaru exporter that there is a likelihood of duties being imposed on produce imported into the Commonwealth after Ist of June or July. It will probably be 10s per ton on potatoes, 6d per bushel on oats, and 2d per lb on bacon, butter, and cheese. — Eltham "Argus." * * * The Re/v. J. Reed Glasson, a onetime Adelaide Congregational preacher of Fabian tendencies, and now located at Wellington, N.Z., has fallen foul of Premier Seddon for his one-man Government. When Seddon starts to tear up Glasson there won't be much of the Socialist preacher to play with. — Adelaide "Critic." * * » A "rara avis" has appeared before the Arbitration Court in the shape of a man who objected to an increase in his salary. This young man's salary was raised without warning, and he inquired if it were not a mistake, further displaying his eccentric modesty by suggesting that it was unjustifiably large. — Chnstchurch ' Times." * * * Dr. McGregor is now in favour of the establishment of a Cottage Hospital at Waihi. Some years ago, when the question of an Ohinemuri hospital was first mooted, Dr. McGregor stated that such an hospital would be only got "over his dead body." We are glad that the doctor is still alive, and that at last he is alive to the necessity for this hospital. — Waihi "Daily Telegraph." * * * The recent ca&e at Wellington — where a man has twice been subjected to the ordeal of trial by jury, without a verdict being arrived at — demonstrates very forcibly that some reform is needed. It is preferable to see a man, against whom there is suspicion, at large, lathei than that an innocent man should bo imprisoned indefinitely as the result of succtssn c abortive tnals by jur\. — Coionnindel News " * * * This papei places little reliance on these pilot balloons about Seddon going to Africa, or Fin, or some "constitution-ally-governed" colony. He won't get the chance of setting up a Seddonian Empire in Africa. No, it looks as if he was going to be, as he said at Dunedin t'other day "the Old Man of New Zealand." And, that being the case, must, of course, prepare to submit to our fate, and carry the Old Man for a few years longer. — Chnstchurch "Spectator." * * * King Richaid, at a cost to the colony of £150, has presented every member of Parliament w ith a collection of photographs, in book form, of himself and party, in their wanderings through the sunny isles of the South Pacific. They say that photographs can't lie, and the wav in which Dick is here and there surrounded by palms and dusky belles leaves no room for doubt that he had a rosy time, and as htt'e room for wonder that he is meditating another trip. — Auckland "Ob&eiver."

One of the pure-bred bulls recently imported to the colony is to be sent to the West Coast. The settleis intend christening it ' Dick Seddon.'' — Masterton "Star." * *• * It is lumoured that Captain. Russell will retire from the leadership of the Opposition before next session. Mi J,nnc«b Allen, of Biucc, is likely to succeed to the leadership. — Thames "Ad- \ ertisei." * * # The Royal Commission on Federation was one of the gieatest farces ever perpetrated on a confiding people It w as rushed through the leading cities w ithout notice, and only a few men — mostly manufactuici't — gave evidence. — Tapanui "Courier." * # * We are inclined to think Mr Seddon of to-day, with an aristocratic handle to his name, is not the man he was ■when Ins only possession was the handle of a pick, and he used to pose as the people's Dick. — Cheviot "News." * * » A business man has reason to be- appalled by the instability of land values in the colony as revealed by Government valuations and endorsed by Assessment Courts. In this district farmers seem to lie down to be kicked by big valuations. — Masterton "Times." * • * The reasons given for the adoption of a resolution by the Petone Borough Council declining to make a contribution towards the cost of the ceremony attending the leception of the Heir Apparent does little credit to our professed lojalty — Petone "Chronicle." * * # The refusal of the Government to assist the Auckland Reception Committee in securing the attendance of Mahuta and lus native followers at the welcome to the Duke of Cornwall is an act that has nothing to defend it, but much to condemn it. — Dargaville "Bell." * * * There is no reason in the world why a Government should have a monopoly of sweating, and that a Government which parades itself as the friend of the working man should attempt to secure such a monopoly is a convincing proof of the insincerity of its protestations. — Napier "Herald." * * ♦ Lookmg at it from the low est point of view, it would pay Wellington handsomely to be geneious, even lavish, in its display of loyalty just now. It has more to gain than any other centre by the Royal visit and the increased tourist Uamc of which it will be the precursoi. — Picton "Press." * • • It is quite clear that the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act will render the position of employers much more difficult m the future than hitheito, and there is a piobabihty that claims for compensation will be as numerous as mushrooms in season. — Palmerston "Times." * * * Captain Russell is being twitted by his own friends with the ignominious failure of his efforts. This strikes us as a particularly ungenerous proceeding, considering all that the member for Hawke's Bay has sacrificed and suffered in the interests of his party. — Christchurch "Times." * * * A certain trooper published a letter which contained discreditable reflections upon Colonel Robin. We believe that that letter was malicious. Still, theie it stands on record It has been road by thousands of people, and, if it icmains uncontradicted, unchallenged by the Colonel himself, then so much the worse for the Colonel. — Taieri "Advocate " * * * The list is already made out of those ladies who will grasp the social opportunity and the Duchess's hand, and soar to giddy heights of aristocracy. When the tempest lia& subsided, and tiie ladies are clothed and in theimght minds again, then the flood-gates of the wiath of the rejected many will pour down upon the accepted few. — Auckland "Observer." * * * Dick Seddon has held one seat in New Zealand's chief debating House for twenty-two years. On the death of the late Premier, Dick took up the Balance of power, and he is now in his ninth year of Ministerial felicity. Burly Richard can soothe the parson, the brewer, and the average trade unionist, but he can't solve the servant girl problem. — Adelaide "Quiz." * * * The Rev. J. Reed Glasson merely sihow ed his ignorance when he said from the pulpit that "politics in New Zealand would never be punned until the one-man government was taken bv the throat, choked, and thrown out of the colony for ever." Certainly, a few months' residence under the hob-nailed boots of another one-man government would lead new-born prophets like the Wellington preacher to sigh for the beneficial regime we at present enjoy. — Balclutha "Frco Press."