ECHOES OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2543, 22 June 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

ECHOES OF THE WEEK.

Bathe's rny weapon, but Pm too discreet To run amuck and tilt at all I meet. Pops.

rWVLE salutes havo been fired, the Speech JL delivered, members am bade in their old places. Parliament has been opened. I am only echoing a very general wish that tho session may bo ono of honest hard work, a session free, as far ns human nature will allow it to bo possible—from personal rowings and wrangling*, a session wherein for onco at least the country may witness tho unwonted spectacle of the debates being devoid of narrow party bias, of all political envy, hatred and uncharitabloness. For once, at least, let the real as well as the alleged aim of our members bo the social, intellectual and material advancement of tho, colonists. There is plenty of good work waiting to be done, dozens of weighty problems to bo solved, and yot nothing impossible of accomplishment if only our politicians work with a will, with a genuine earnestness, an honest dosi.ro to pass good and useful measures, end avoid the perilous rocks of personal prejudices, and the wretched reccinunatioUs which too often bring discredit upon the House. IS 1313 by the daily papers that no change lias been niadejn the arrangement of tho galleries.” Such change »a to space jwid seating accommodation may not banficensary, butl should certainly like to'see some new departure initiated with regard to tho way in which admission is granted to tho Ladies' Gallery. On more than one occasion last Mission I voiced the discontent and indeed absolute nnnoyanco which was so plentifully caused by certain ladies being allowed to practically monopolise tho best soots in tho Ladies* Gallery night after night to tho necessary exclusion of others who had a perfectly equal right to accommodation.

Tim present moment, so it seems to me, is the right time at which to again refer to this subject. No small source of discontent lies in the fact that some dozen or so of the regular hahitueca of the gallery seem to frequent that place for the puqwso of idle gossip, their cackling and constant chattering annoying their fellow occupants of the gallery and being in gross bad taste. It would be well, I think, v/uro some of these persons, who are perfectly well known, to take “a rest” this session and not bo allowed to monopolise seats night after night when ladies who take a genuine and keen interest in politics are nightly excluded on the pretext of want of room. And there is, too, the broader question as to whether it is advisable that seats in the gallery should continue to bo allotted on the principle which has prevailed in the past.

TVTOW that woman has gob the franchise, JLi there are hundreds of respectable women, who are not of tho favoured ‘‘classes,” who are deeply interested in what goes on at tho House. A largo proportion of these women have no personal acquaintance with members, nor do they possess mule friends or relatives having such acquaintance. Consequently, it Is most difficult nay, it is well-nigh impossible—for such women to got a seat in tho gallery from ono end of tbo session to tho other. This is a grievous inequality and a wrong which calls imperatively for remedy. AVo are a democratic community* nnd by our laws all women, as all men, are politically equal. That one class should alone have an opportunity of listening to the debates, to tho exclusion of others, is therefore, I take it, a gross anachronism and a crying evil. The remedy is simple. Let the Ladies’ Gallery bo like tho ordinary Strangers’ Gallery open to tho first comers. Wo have no right to assume that improper persons will either seek or obtain admission, and in this matter tho presence of tho House officials, as in tho Strangers’ Gallery, will bo sufficient to prevent any possible, if not probable disorder. I am perfectly aware that the question of admittance to tho Ladies’ Gallery lies within tho functions and privileges of tho Speaker. Had the Premier control over tho matter, I am persuaded that once tho rights of tho question were put before him ho would see —being both a gallant and a sensible man —that the present arrangement requires alteration. As, however, the matter is in tho hands of tho Speaker, I trust that gentleman will himself recognise tho necessity for reform on the lines I have roughly drawn out. If ho fails so to do, then "Scrutator” hopes that some private member will raise tho whole question in tho House. I can assure honourable members that very grave, and very widespread, discontent exists amongst Wellington women on this subject.

THE English Government is steadily marching on to disaster. Evidently the country is not with thorn, their own party, both in and out of tho House, has lost heart, and the general election should bring them down with a terribly conclusive crash. Tho Inverness election must have been a perfect facor for tho Government. A Gladstonian majority of over 300 to givo place to a Unionist majority of over 600, and that, too, in a typical Liberal constituency, with a strong crofter element, is ono of the worst results over moaned over at tho Reform Club. And tho reason for all this ? 'Well, at this distance it may bo unwise to dogmatise, but I should say it is because tho present English Liberal Government is composed too largely of Opportunists, of men who are not solid on tho Radical planks. Let the party go out of power for a few years, let it get rid of the lawyerpoliticians, the place-hunters, the wealthy mediocrities who now so largely comprise its parliamentary force, lot it devise a strong domestic Radical platform, and it will return to power stronger than ever. Hut Lord Rosebery and the little crowd of moneyed Opportunists—really more Tory than tho Tories, moat of them—w ill have to take a back seat.

HATS off to the Christchurch Press and to the Dunedin Star, both strong Opposition papers, for having spoken out the disgust they felt at tho contemptibly mean attacks recently made by the Post on Mr Seddon and his family. Several other papers have also expressed their opinions very plainly on the subject, but curiously enough tho Post doesn't reproduce them. Should any paltry little paragraph appear in some obscure country print coinciding with a Post opinion that journal pounces upon it with undisguised gloating, and proudly alludes to it as a corroboration of its claim to journalistic omiscionce. "Why doesn’t the Post reprint the Press and Star articles ?

THE very worst feature about the deplorably mean conduct of the Post towards tho Premier and his family, and a feature not hitherto alluded to in print, was tho fact that tho evening after the full and convincing denial of the venomous charges of nepotism brought against Mr Seddon by its correspondents, the Post actually printed two more of those scurrilous effusions, purporting to come from outsiders. Evidently tho Post believes in tho impudent repetition of an impertinent mendacity, even after that mendacity has been fully exposed. And this from tho journal which is so fond of prating of journalistic etiquette! Heaven help New Zealand journalism if the Post's ideas as to the etiquette of tho profession ever gain any general ground. But there is no fear of that.

IF the Colonial Treasurer when in tho Old Country patronised any of those well known institutions, the press clippings bureaux, which supply their subscribers with any and every newspaper reference to themselves and their doings, ho must have by this time quite a plentiful and, we have no doubt, a somewhat amusing collection. Not tho least amusing will bo a reference to Mr Ward’s ability, or alleged lack of ability, ns a treasurer, which appeared in the Loudon Sun shortly before that gentleman arrived in England. The Sun is owned and edited by Mr T. P. O’Connor, M.P., the popular Irish member who is familiarly termed “ Tay Pay ” by his friends. Mr O’Connor is a very smart journalist, and gets credit for writing the majority of the loading articles which appear in his lively and readable publication. His preconceived notions of Mr AVard as expressed in tho article to which allude, are, however, redolent of a crass ignorance which reflects no small discredit to a journalist of such celebrity, deserved or undeserved. The Sun starts by hoping that ’’Mr Ward’s visit to this country will benefit New Zealand,” and then continues as follows : Had Mr Ward not already started on his journey wo would suggest his putting nn elementary treatise on economics in his pocket for study on the voyage. There have been many men in times past who have held important posts for which they had no qualification ; but wo doubt whether a more striking example of a square peg in a round hole could bo found than Mr Ward’s position as Treasurer of Now Zealand. Those accustomed to the clear budget statements and sound economic principles of our own Chancellors of tho Exchequer will derive much amusement, not to say astonishment, from a perusal of tho budget statement delivered'by Mr J. G. Ward in the New Zealand Legislature last year. Wo trust that not only will Mr AVard provide himself with nn elementary treatise giving him tho first principles of sound economics,, hut that when in this country ho will attend tho budget speech debate for tho purpose of learning what a “Treasurer’s” statement should lie. At this critical time it is most unfortunate tho colony docs not possess a Treasurer of ability and decision strong enough to do what is necessary to put

thingt right. Drastic economy should be tho order of tho day, and until this is initiated in real earnest there is little hope that New Zealand will emerge from her difficulties. HOW Mr Ward must have chuckled as he perused tho foregoing most extraordinary production. Our Treasurer needed “an elementary treatise on economics" to study on tho voyage, did ho? Well, it seems to mo that for ono so presumably ignorant of finance ho has managed to do remarkably well. A colonial financier who can go Home and float a loan cat a . lower rate of interest than has over hitherto been chronicled in connection with colonial borrowing, and that, too, in spite of tho venomous misrepresentations cabled home by unpatriotic and party prejudiced political enemies, can well afford to laugh at being recommended to study “an elementary treatise on economics," or at being dubbed by ft cocksure critic “a square peg in a round hole." It is very « evident that the London capitalists with whom Mr Ward had to negotiate, care little for an “ ignorance of economics,*’ or * else, and this is possibly much nearer the truth, neither rc..d Mr O'Connor’s paper, nor having road it, attribute the most infinitesimal amount of importance to its utterances.

THE Sun’s regret “that at this critical time tho Colony doen not possess a Treasurer of ability and decision strong enough to do what is necessary to put things right" will also bo vastly entertaining to Mr Ward and his colleagues, for if ever New Zealand did possess such a Treasurer as tho ideal Minister of the Hun’s fancy, it is precisely Mr Ward himself. Ability and decision are amongst Mr Ward’s most notable qualities, and by going Homo and entering into personal relations with the leading lights of the financial world ho has “put things rights,** and to some purpose. lam loth, however, to believe that a journalist of Mr O’Connor’s reputation wrote tho article I havo copied upon his own knowledge of New Zealand affairs. It is much more probable that, like many other London journalists, lie knows as much about this Colony as ho docs about tho man in tho moon, but that he had been made a tool and fool of by bouio spiteful and envious person, who, for political or private reasons, was desirous of throwing odium upon tho Now Zealand treasurer and casting obstacles on his path in tho London money market. Hy this time no doubt, tho Sun having scon for itself that Mr Ward ia no novice in financial economy, that he has been received with the greatestesteem, and his speeches listened to with tho most careful attention by some of the principal financial and commercial notabilities of the metropolis, and that ho has dohG what no other Colonial Treasurer has yet boon able ; to do, will havo itself recognised tho folly of its remarks. Also, I trust, if it has any respect for common honesty and common decency it will* havo offered Mr Ward tho amende honorable and frankly admitted that its sneers at tho New Zealand statesman were alike unjust and in most flagrantly bad taste, and that is the very least it can do.

THE Daily News, like other Loudon journals, is capable of talking some most unmitigated rubbish re colonial govenors. Apropos to the Hatnpclbh appointment to New South WAles. it says: “The appointment ‘Will gratify Australia’s passion for titled governors." What nonsense ! Ninety-nine out of every hundred Australians don’t care the proverbial tinker’s curse whether the governors are titled or not.

AS to any “ passion ” for peers in Australia, there is probably no British speaking country in tho world where the average man has so poor an opinion of tho average British peer. A few of tho toadeating fraternity in tho big cities may love to gush over “dear Lord So-ancl-So,” or “ that sweet Lady Whatdyccallem,” but tho great mass of tho people look to personal character and manner, and to public reputation, rather than to the bare fact of a governor being a nobleman, whether of recent or ancient creation. Wo colonials like a man for what he is, not for any title he may possess. Take Lord Glasgow for example. Why is he so popular ? Because ho happens to bo a peer? Not a bib of it. Ho is generally liked and widely esteemed because he is a manly, kindlyhearted, true gentleman, with not a trace of tho much-hated “side” about himself or his amiable family, but with a generous appreciation of all that Is good and useful amongst us, whether it springs from the classes or tho masses. But it he were plain Mr Boyle we should esteem him just as well. “A passion for peers/’ Bah! it makes mo wrathful to see tho great English Liberal paper so impertir.ently attributing wholesale snobbishness to Australians,

DISTANT fihlds aro pleasant to the eye, but how often does the shining vista of prosperity and happiness prove but a rapidly-vanishing mirage. This is apropos to Mr Casey’s glowing account of “Now Australia,” of which Mr Casey delivered himself to a Times interviewer the other day. No doubt tho gloomy pictures of what has been aptly called “Euo Australia,” painted by returning members of Mr Lane’s socialistic community, owe something of their dark tints to prejudice, disappointment, and a tendency on the part of the painters to attribute the alleged failure of the settlement to anything and everything save their own personal unfitness for life in the Paraguayan forest. But the bad reports have been too numerous, too detailed, too palpably sincere to be put down as altogether unconvincing, and it must bo remembered that Mr Casey has not been in Paraguay for a good many months. In any case, I would again most strongly counsel New Zealanders to turn a deaf ear to tho blandishments of tho “New Australia” agents. Times may be bad and work scarce, but by all I have read—and that is not little —respecting South America, tho white worker is a hundred times better off in this temperate clime, under good laws and speaking his own English tongue, than ever he could be in any part of that far-away continent, with insect pests innumerable, with an alien population to dwell amongst, a strange tongue to learn, and—this is perhaps most important—tho certainty that outside the Australian settlements ho would have to work like a nigger —in tho literal sense—and receive a wage at which, in this country, oven a Chinaman would turn up his noso, Ido not question Mr Casey’s honesty of purpose or sincerity of motive, but I trust he may gain but few adherents in this country.

POOE Louie Smith, tho victim of the Haining street row, was, according to the evidence given at tho inquest, quite a confirmed opium smoker. Ono of the European participants in the affair also was in tho habit of using the drug. Nice man tho Chow, isn't ho? Given a little time and an uninterrupted incursion of the Yellow Man and we shall have as big a Chinese quarter in ‘Wellington, in proportion to our population, as they have in Sydney, with hosts of whitcfaced larrikins and frowsy young prostitutes herding together in filth and misery, whilst bland and smiling John cooks the “opio” and hands around tho pipes. Does it ever occur to anyone that wo can buy our cheap “ cabbageo ” at too dear a price ?

MONTHS ago, when the Prophet Eugcn was very much in evidence in AVellington, I suggested that it would do that worthy good were he to mako personal acquaintance with a horsopond. This expression of opinion brought down upon my devoted head the wrath, expressed at considerable epistolary length, of a leading devotee of tho Eugen Cult, a person who I now hear, has written to friends in this city expressing his dictum that Eugen is the most (ndjectivcd) scamp ho over met. I scarcely expected my predictions of utter failure to bo so speedily verified by tho illfatcd Eugen expedition to South Africa, but the inevitable has arrived, and tho wretched dupes of tho ex-bookmaker and publican, whom these poor deluded folks accepted upon his own valuation as a species of nineteenth century Daniel, are now a prey to penury and misery in one of tho "hardest” countries under tho sun, whore clerical labour is at a discount, and where manual labour is done by the Kaffirs at a rate and under conditions impossible of acceptance save by the most pauperised or degraded European. I notice by a letter appearing in a local paper that a Transvaal policeman described tho Eugen camp as a “ travelling lunatic asylum.” What a remarkably accurate definition. Verily the depths to which human folly can he pushed when an impudent but oily charlatan sots forth as a “ gazer into tho unknown ” —this beautiful phrase is Eugen's own—are unfathomable. One of tho victims, so the letter above alluded to remarks, wanted to “ shoot him then and there.” Such an ignominious fate would have been, a fitting fate for the rascal, " but,” so I road, “ the ladies protested and we let him rip.” Better off in pocket and in peace of mind would these poor pilgrims have been had they let Eugene “ rip” when his miserable quackery was exposed in those columns some months • ago. A LADIES’ bicyling club is, I see, to ho formed in AVelliugton, and “Scrutator" has been asked to express his opinion ns to tho propriety or other- ' wise of the fairer sex bestriding “ bykes.”

No one can deny that bicycling is a good exercise, and that tho fair sex should be debarred throrigh any foolish scruples or fears of that worthy but very tiresome female, Mrs Grundy, is more than I can understand. Let the dear creatures “ byke ** away to their heart’s content, bringing the rosea into their checks, expanding their lungs and getting up their appetites. Belter “bvking n than lolling on sofas, reading*" New Woman" novels, sipping tea, and swopping the latest scandals. But to Man X would say, beware of the byke female os a wife, if at least if yon have a weakness for late j nights at the club or the very convenient i lodge ! for cycling puts up the muscle of the * arm to a surprising extent, and the . Angelina who has been in the habit of doing I her twenty miles along the Eutt road twice a | week will be able to knock out the average 1 Wellington Edwin in one act, if he stops ! out too late. —‘Scrutator’ in the N.Z. Mail.