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Oamaru Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 6696, 23 September 1896, Page 4

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John Burns tells some interesting stories of the Socialist Congress held in London recently. He showed many delegates over the House of Commons. Some he took over the House of Lords, and it was surprising to see the veneration with which they regarded the Gilded. Chamber. A few he regaled with tea on the terrace. One incident is significant and worthy of note. A veteran Dutch delegate accom? panied the member for Battersea on a visit to the County Council Works Department, with 2000 men employed, to the Lambeth Vestry.depot with, its 1000 workmen, and to the big engineering works from which John was dismissed 10 years since for taking the part of the unemployed. " Mein Gott," said the Dutchman, when all had been explained to him, "I have seen more real Socialism in five minutes than I have seen in all my life in Amsterdam." " But," adds Mr Burns, with a sigh, " he had to go back and vote with his colleagues." There should be in this telegram, published by a contemporary, a good chance for our New Zealand breeders :—The London General Omnibus Company have contracted for the supply of 5000 Canadian horses at the usual price of L4O each, to use in their 'busses on the streets of London. This announcement is scarcely calculated to inspire Home breeders of this class of animals . with confidence. The Canadian horses have been present in English markets in increasing numbers for several years back. It has generally been believed, however, that the aim of the importers would fail, for the reason that foreign horses, though suitable in weight and build and tempting in price, would not bo able to withstand the combined hardships of the British climate and the wear and tear of London street work in a manner which would justify employers in giving them preference to the home-bred animals. In course of time, therefore, it was expected that the Canadian invasion would practically cease., . The information, alluded to, however, "does "not indicate any such probability. The London Omnibus Company uses an active, light, draught: horse, about the size and. substance of a. Clydesdale. Such horses are much more easily reared in'"the colonies tHaii in Canada. Sir Robert Stout, Maoriland's wonderful ex-Democrat, declares himself against the Old Age Pension, Bill:and the State Fire Insurance scheme.-rthe latter because "it is altogether in aid of "the propertied classes and an unwarrantable interference with private enterprise." Here (says the Bulletin) Stout contradicts himself badly ; the propertied classes,ow.n,the. private rinsurance offices, anct the' scheme can' r t be in aid of them'and an unwarrantable interference with them at the same time. It is a fashion nowadays for the Fat Man to be more democratic than the Democrats, and when he opposes progressive legislation, he generally'aoesjt on the pretence that iiris, in some impossible way, legislation iri favor of the .propertied cjasses,_and that he is against the propertied classes, though he doesn't look like it v and. wants to pub thein .down. Stout's wild lament that for the State to annex the. profits of the fire insurance biz- will really r in some obscure way," subsidise the capitalists, is a very thin story; . .. „...• TllefMabrilarid Opp.b3itldnists'are'(says the .B.ulletin)._thrbwing up_ the'sponge. For .weeks they, buoying themselves, up with the hope that; at a critical moment some of the "Left"Wing'.'.would join their ranks. From this fond dream they have been roughly awakened by. the result of the want-6f-confidence debate. Mitchelson has declared his intention- of retiring, Bell and- Duthie aire following suit. The nice people f will now probably affect the high-class American assumption of lofty! indifference" to Soiir grapes. The ."Opposition a "fax without a faU ; or rather, .perhaps, a fox. that is all tail.