WANGANUI WHACKS.

NZ Truth, Issue 66, 22 September 1906, Page 4

WANGANUI WHACKS.

During an arson case heard here a witness was asked the usual question : "What was his avocation ?" by counsel Skerrett. "Captain, of the water squirters," was the reply. "Anything else ?" was the querry. "Yes ; President of the dog box." His ijonor CJ. bowed from his exalted seat, the jury bobed up and down like jacks m the box, Crown Prosecutor Fitz got a half-Nelson hold on to the leg of the table to prevent himself from swooning, counsel Skerrett gave such a gasp that crier, Day rushed round and gave a friendly shoulder for him to lean against. '-'Order" 'thundered tne bobby, and a -great sigh of relief was heard. • • • On all public bodies some chump gets a seat. At a road board meeting a letter was received from thc inspectos drawing attention to the gorse about their district. One member with more hair than brains objected to the gorse being eradicated, as it had such a beautiful scenic effect. Poor chump, get a bunch of it and sit hard on it, and get some horse sense. * * » In the Marquis of Townshend case, the judge asked the father of Lady Townshend what he thought of himself. "If you had reason to believe your daughter was being bought, don't you think you should have shielded her ?." The judge asked also: "Is it not a fact you connived at it? I call it an immoral act." Not a hundred miles. from Wanganui, there [is a father— don't disgrace the name by calling him a man— who knowingly and actively encouraged the marriage of his daughter for ten thousand pounds and a bag of bones, money or security to be put up m the vestry before the ceremony. Looking the question m the face squarely, it is nothing less than legalised prostitution, and more to be regretted it is often the case m many conditions of life. Guilty as .they are themselves of selling themselves, they would whip uu their skirts m disdain if their less fortunate sisters were to pass by. • » • A great unrest amongst the linotypists is on here, they are fleeing away to other parts. It is said that there is no "fat" knocking about, and the management is so keen, that they would skin a flea for its hide, as another trip to England is looked for, and the hyphenated is pulling the strings for all it is worth to get M.L.C. after his name. * * * The papers here made a mistake by including Hogan as voting for the tote. At a bun scramble the question cropped up and he did loose sympathy and votes on the statement reported. No man can please everyone, but as a policy matter it would h;? best to vote against, as I am j ;-:ure if it was put to tlie vote, aboI lition would be carried two to one.