THE VIGILANTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15553, 7 September 1912, Page 4

THE VIGILANTES.

LOOK-OUT FOR LITTLE THINGS.

THE TOP-HAT MINISTRY,

{From Oun Oivx Coiikesposdest.)

WELLINGTON, September 6. On tho quintet of vigilantes who form llio Opposition executive Mr 6. W. Russell is perhaps the most prominent, though his efforts (o place the Government in an awkward situation have so far been the reverse of successful. Shortly after the House met this afternoon ho drew attention to the {act that there was in tho last issue of the School Journal an article on the New Zealand Ministry, accompanied by a photograph— a very excellent one—of the gentlemen who formed the present Cabinet, including also his Excellency the Governor.

Tho Hon. James Allen (Minister of Education) interjected that he knew nothing about it.

Mr Russell added that he was not aware that this had appeared on any previous occasion. There was no photograph when the lato Ministry took ofiice nor of the Ward Ministry.

Dr Pomaro : There was a photograpli of your Ministry.

An Hon. Member: The ton-hat Ministry.—(Laughter.) Another lion. Mtembor: You were there.—(Laughter.) , •Mr Russell: Well, in this case they have all frock coats on,.—(Laughter.)

An Hon. Member: No they have not wrong again.

Another Hon. Member: Just have a careful look.

Mr Russell : There are two genllemc'n who have not frock coats on. They have got morning coats. They are the Post-master-general and the i'iinislcr of Internal Affairs. No doubt there was good reason for their not having frock coats. What happened to the belltoppers it would not be wise to pursue. The Minister of Native Affairs, 1 notice, looks very pleasant. He looks just as if he had received his degree. Mr Russell added that he had been taken by surprise in regard to the fact that a similar photograph of the last Government had lwen published, even with the belltoppers.— (Laughter.) When the next change of Government took place An Hon. Member: That will be a long lime,

Mr Russell: It won't be very long. I hope the now Government will follow the plan of having no reference to politics in the School Journal.

The Minister of Education said lie was very glad to know that the photograpli was in the journal, for he was sure it would be very educative.—(Laughter.) He had nothing to do with and did not issuo instructions for the insertion of the picture. Tho editor of tlie journal was perfectly at liberty to do as he liked; in fact, he would not'object if a photograph of the five Opposition leaders was included in the next .issue—(Renewed laughter.) The Hon. Dr Vomarc asked whether

Mr.Russell had objected to the photegraoh of the Mackenzie Ministry going into the journal. Mr Ilitssell: I was not aware that it was there, nor was the Minister of Education..