POLITICAL POWDER AND SHOT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 13

POLITICAL POWDER AND SHOT.

BY IGNOTUS. The changes -wrought in some quarters by the political whirligig would be intensely amusing were they not absolutely pathetic. A spectacle for gods and men ust now is the attitude towards Sir Robert Stout of the Dunedin Star and Otago Daily fives. Only a very few years ago Sir Robert was, in tho eyes of the editors of these organs, tho incarnation of all that was politically abominable. To-day lie is praised to tho skies as one of the (future) saviours of the country.

Talking the other day to a Dunedin gentleman up here on a visit, I asked him how it was that Sir Robert Stout, with all his prestige and past associations with Dunedin, was thrown out in favour of Mr Allen. Tho reply was significant, and has its special moral for Wellington people “ Oh, the reason’s easy enough to give. It took us about fifteen years to find out that Sir Robert was a faddist, a dealer in words and not deeds, but when we did find him out, wo made no bones about throwing him on ono side.”

How long will it take Wellington peopb to “ find out ” Sir Robert P

Tho way in which the Stout campaign is being workod is very amusing to those who know the “ inside track. the Knight (C.M.G. stands by tho way for “ Cheap and Muddy Glory ”) puffs himself, not only on public platforms, but in the columns of an evening paper to which ho contributes verbose loading articles, hailing himself as a heaven-born statesman.

Again we have his partner, Dr bindlay, backing him up by delivering lectures on tho science of polities, in which hidden smacks at Mr Scddon and puffing of the Stoutian principles can easily bo found by tho keenor-witted observer. Daily Stout also comes ill handy as a worker in the Stoutian Southern Cross League, and a relative is working up a little association of his own with a view to returning men (like the virtuous Sir Robert, of course) “ who will strive for greater purity of administration in our State affairs, Ac.

Tho whole thing reminds one of the song, “ Wo aro a happy family, we are, arc, we are.” * # * * Not even his warmest personal friend.? could truthfully accuse Mr ,J. G. Wilson, M.H.R., of anything like political brilliancy, but tho member for Otaki is fairly honest as Conservative politicians go nowadays, and in a speech the other day ho had tho manliness to express his approval of tho Land for Settlement Act. “It is marvellous, however,” said Mr Wilson, “the change that lias come over people's thought with respect to this Mill and to tho holding of land. When the Act was passed and I voted for it 1 was told I had Cot ranged many of my supporters. Yet so different is the tone now,alike with owners of land as with others, that in several instances I have been tho medium of expressing tho desire in tho district for certain properties to bo purchased.” And again—" I confess to having a good deal of sympathy with the Minister of Lands. As I have frequently expressed to you before, I have always felt that it was to everyone’s interest that people should occupy our waste lauds, for there they became producers, and although no doubt many of the Minister’s schemes have not been so successful as he anticipated, yet

every man that the lb-pa,tment go's upon the land is so much gain to the colony.”

Mr Wilson’s justification of the Lands for Settlement scheme will not, I am afraid, delight, bis leader, Captain Russell, who as one of the “ Twelve Apostles” of Hawke’s Day, has an inborn detestation of small settlement. Up in Napier every one knows tho real reason why “ the Captain ” is so bitterly opposed to the Lands for Settlement and Cheap Money scheme, for in Hawke’s Bay it is well-known that Captain Russell is a shareholder and director of the Northern Investment Company.

This benevolent association nominally charges seven per cent, on the advances it makes, but by means of a cunningly devised system of penal conditions attached to the mortgages the seven per cent, generally grows into twelve to fourteen per cent. No wonder “the Captain” doesn’t like the Government scheme under which the settlers can get loans at an interest which is not usurious.

Dy the way, mention of the Northern Investment Company reminds me that Mr R. D. D. McLean, the chosen “Ass.” candidate for Napier at the next election, is a leading light in this Company. Mr P, S.

McLean too, tho Napier lawyer who was so prominent at the National Ass. meeting recently held in Napier, is legal adviser to tho Company. These facts explain many things !

And, yet again, it is worth while recalling the fact that Sir Robert Stout about six or seven years ago appeared for poor Mr Tanner of Riverslea in an action brought by the latter against this same company, who had mercilessly sold him up. Sir Robert then sternly denounced the system under which an enterprising settler like Mr Tanner was made a victim to usury, but to-day he is the political friend and ally of Captain Russell, one of I lie Investment Co.’s directors. Oh, Sir Robert, whore is your consistency ?

But the truth is that Sir Robert has long ago cast consistency to the winds. Especially on this question of usury has he, as I have just shown by the Napier case, cast aside his old opinions. A writer in the Oamaru Mail may here be quoted on this subject: —“As Sir Robert objects to tho proposal of the Government to abolish usury, it must be assumed that ho holds usury to be a thing so excellent in ilseil and so good for the country that it should be allowed to flourish. It was not always thus. There was a timo when Sir Robei t Stout was wont to denounce all such things, and to move audiences almost to the verge of revolution by the power of his eloquenco. But Sir Robert has changed as all things change, except the ways of the land-grabbers and usurers with whom ho has now entered into an alliance.”

Thoso who, liko myself, aro well acquainted with the Poverty Day district chuckle and snigger at the fatuity of tho Conservatives in selecting Mr Stuart Menteath as their champion against the Hon Mr Carroll. Why, poor Mr Menteath won’t have even what is vulgarly called a “ ghost of a show.” A Conservative can’t get in for Poverty Day unless the Liberal vote bo split, I'liis is the lesson of the past, and it marks a moral for the Gisborne Liberals of tho present.

Dr Newman is, I. see, on tho stump in Poverty Day. Might 1 suggest that he should go round the Rangitikoi and talk Conservatism to well, say, the shareholders iu the defunct Libre Company!

Mr G. F. Richardson, ex Minister against Lands,” has been unburdening his political soul in a little epistle to the president of the Mat-aura Political League. It i 3 amusing to read his statement that “ meeting men of all shades of opinion, my conclusion is that, with organisation and energy on our part, there will probably be as great a revulsion of public opinion at the next election as took place in .Britain recently.”

Come, come, Mr Richardson, when and where do you meet “ men of all shades of opinion”? You mistake the silly chatter of a few Natioii-il Ass. officials and press hacks for public opinion. You are making a sad mistake.

In common with many other Tory papers that solemn old journalistic fossil, the Otago Daily Times , feels quite aggrieved and sadly disappointed because the Hon Hall-Jones has not begun to quarrel with his colleagues. Wait till tho sweet bye and bye when Sir Robert Stunt and Mr George Hutchison and Captain Russell get together in the Cabinet room —then we may expect a roar. Asa matter of fact the constantly recurring canards as to ministers not being in harmony, are merely so many mendacities on the part of tho Opposition press, which is at its wit's end to discover some moans by widen to east discredit upon a Government, wim.se popularity with the country is so decided.

The North Otago Daily Times, a strong Opposition journal, expresses the belief that Mr Hall-.Joiies will make a painstaking minister and“ Ho lias,” says tho N.0.D.T., “ honestly enunciated his political views as a member, and if he carries that honesty with him into his work as a Minister lie should satisfy his political friends and secure tho good opinion of his political opponents.

Captain Russell says the land system of tlio present Government is a failure. Dut is the Captain right ? Mr Hall-Jones, speaking at Timaru last week, pointed out some facts which go to prove distinctly the contrary. Under two schemes alone, land for settlement and improved farm settlement, no fewer than 2020 families, representing about 12,000 souls, have been settled on the land by the present Government. * # # *

Let the Hawke's Bay storekeepers and business men generally of Waipukurau, Waipawa, Hastings and Napier ask themselves what would be the result if the Hawke’s Day lands were held in small areas instead of the whole province being under tho thumb of the “ landgrabber ”? Let them give a practical answer to that question at the next election. The Government policy spells ruin to “ land

monopoly,” and that is precisely why the Ormonds and Kussolls and McLeans and other sheep kings detest it so cordially.

The Manau-atu Times (Opposition paper) points out that Sir Robert Stout is really on tho horns of a dilemma. “He is wedded to the _ cause of prohibition. At the same time he is strongly impressed with the unfitness of the present Government to lead the Liberal Party. A moment’s reflection will serve to show that if ho were to insist upon his teetotal followers making a choice between Mr Sodden and himself, the result would bo fatal to tho Prohibition Party. Many of the latter are among the strongest supporters of the Government, and though a section of the temperance people are prepared to make prohibition the first question, a great many adherents of the cause, on the contrary, would sacrifice their teetotal principles to save Mr Seddon. Sir Robert Stout is therefore in a very difficult position, and the issue of events is not easy to foretell.”

Tho National Association’s Auckland organ, Liberty (“what crimes are not committed in thy name, 0 Liberty !”), deals out in every issue Iho coarsest abuse against members of the present Ministry and the Liberal party. '1 he Waikato Advorotc very correctly remarks that Liberty is probably the stupidest political organ in (he whole Colony, which, with certain olliers in the mind’s eye, is saying a good deal. It the Liberal press take notice of such journals, t hey do so for the rose hi which provokes all accent men to cuff a dirty boy caught throwing mud at his betters.

Rabbits are threatening Hawke’s Bay settlers with heavy loss, and as the Najner Herald says are “cau.-ing considerable anxiety in several quarters.” 1 am sorry for the settlers, but the only effective method by which the rabbit curse can be fought is to increase small settlement. Hawke’s Bay people should not support the politicians who want to see the province one vast sheep walk.

Christchurch Truth (a most misleading title) is a little evening sheet issued by the Christchurch Depress company, and is mainly a reprint of the morning organ of the “Dray” party. It lias, however, ono original feature, a collection of short paragraphs, which tho writer thereof fondly imagines aro “ humourous.” Here is a sample “ The present Ministry is contemplating a perambulation of the country with its old shop and stock-in-trade with new labels pasted on it, with intent to make the people believe it has got a bran new policy. * * # #

The Government policy may be old but the fact remains that Mr Seddon and his colleagues have got a platform, and courageously set forth its planks for public approval or otherwise. Dut what about the Conservatives and the secret policy of the National Association ? Solar the Opposition speakers do nothing but praise themselves as the only honest- men in the country and hurl abuse and misrepresentations at thejGovsrument, but-of their inline policy not a word.

And why this secrecy? Are they ashamed of their policy, if they’ve got one ? It certainly looks like it. * # ■* *

In public and private ! Reports of his speeches, says the Southern Standard, indicate a whole world of contrast between Captain Russell a private gentleman and Captain Russell a politic ian. The public platform makes a complete metamorphosis in him. In private he is tho quintessence of courtesy and truth, hi public he is not. He characterises tho policy of the present Government as “bounce, bluster, banquets, and bunkum,” yet ho expressed a hope that (Re next Fromier would have a better idea of courtesy towards his political opponents than Mr Seudoii lias! Ho says that Mr Ward, the Colonial treasurer, would yet possibly have to retract, if not apologise tor, what he said in London ; yet Captain Russell himself insulted a number of the people’s representatives by saying that unless a man were a sycophantic follower of the Government he had no chance, that only twelve members among those who voted for the Government’s policy believed in it, Ac.

Mr L iriiach made a good speech at Lawrence last week. A notable feature of the address was the high tribute paid to the excellent work done by the Minister of Lands. Mr Larnach pointed out that Mr McKenzie had established the Department of Agriculture and placed tho settlers in possession of information not only in connection with live stock, but in connection with fruit-growing and cereals, and the diseases incidental to stock and to all tho products of the land. He had also imported experts in dairying, in the breeding of stock and in fruit-growing. Did not this, he asked, point to the great interest ho took not only in land administration, but also iu the settlement of the people on the land and in their prosperity?

Referring to tho hostility shown by the squattocracy towards tho Minister of Lands, Mr Larnach asked: What disposition had the Minister shown in the measure he passed into law last year, tho Pastoial Tenants’ Relief Act? How few Minister.? would have had the boldness to ask Parliament to pass a measure that only pointed to the relief of one class, which from the time of the Minister’s taking cilice had been his most severe enemy! As the result of tho passing of that Act many of the runholders of that district and of other parts of the Colony lmd sent in applications for relief, which either would* bo or had been already granted, and thero were a great many enjoying the benefits of that Act which was passed by their supposed enemy.