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NZ Truth, Issue 123, 26 October 1907, Page 5

The squatter-capitalist Tory Party is making another bid for power at next election, and has resurrected the very much dead Political "Deform" League. A person named R. R. Martin, who is acting as organiser, has started a branch at Hastings, the first duty of which will be to choose a candidate for the Hawke's Bay seat. Hawke's Bay used to be the stronghold of Conservatism and squatterdom, but so much good has come from the Government's policy of cutting up estates that the people wouldn't touch a Tory candidate now with a hundred-foot pole. They say a Chinaman- would have beaten S'william Russell at last election, and Sir Bill is about tke most popular land monopolist m those parts. Mary Ann Bell is a careful a»d circumspect lady who kas put sufficient by to purchase a house worth £700 or £800 and to deposit £50 m the Savings Bank. When sfee applied to the Wellington Magistrate's Court early m the week for a summary separation order, she remarked that her husband. William Hodgson Bell, who furnished her on an average with £1 a week, was dissipating his substance m drink, horse-racing and billiards. She didn't want anything from him herself, but he ought to contribute something towards his four children. » She took particular exception to a slanderous statement made by him. "He told a party he thought I was a certain way, your Worship, itnd if I was, he wasn't the father of the child." Hubby : "No, I didn't." The missus : "Yes, -you did." Hi« Worship : "Don't argue." Magistrate Riddell didn't see how he .could make an order unless the application were made under the Destitute Persons' Act. These summary separation orders couldn't be obtained like shelling peas. The husband was certainly not contributing as m\\c h as he "hould do, but he advised the iiar lies to come to an understan* i dins without troubling the Gourt*