OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

Patea Mail, Volume XII, Issue 54, 2 June 1899, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

(From Our Correspondent.) The Tactics of Desi'ahi. “ No case, abuse the other side” is the last resource of the lawyer, whose client’s plaint or defence, is as devoid of the solid as a prohibitionist’s political creed. The ministerial organs in the dread of the outcome of the approaching general elections are adopting the same tactics as regards the presessional utterances both of members of the Opposition and of the Left Wing. The abuse would count as nothing—unless it were regarded in the light of compliment—wore it not that it is accompanied by the grossest misrepresentation, and most shameless denial of patent facts. Of course tho object sought is to confuse the main issues which will face tho electors when selecting the next House of Representatives. It cannot be too strongly impressed on the electors that of these issues, first and foremost is that of pure versus impure administration, or, purity of administration as against the devious ways of Seddonism and Tammany. The argument of the Party in power that previous so-called Conservative Governments have been guilty of patronage, despotic and other political ladies, is no argument whatever why the present Government, ■whose ud ministration in this connection revolts the nostrils of all honest men, should continue in its coarse of political wickedness. Two wrongs never yet made a right, and never will. As for the denials by the ministerial press that This undesirable state of things political exists, they are as unworthy of decent journalism, as they are appropriate to the class of politician in whose interests they are made. Joux “ Conscience ” Hutcheson. It is amusing to watch the gradual widening of the little rift which bids fair to spoil the Wellington Liberal’s lute at the next elections, said little rift being duo to Mr John Hutcheson’s recent independent speech, tempered by his conscience. JJespite the fact that “conscience doth make cowards of us all,” John Hutcheson, labour member and workers’ representative par excellence, had the courage of his opinions sufficiently to proclaim that he was a-weary of the ways of Sodclon, though still staunch to the proletarist. But, with a section of the hornyhanded, to declare that ought that Richard Seddon may decree aud carry out is tho reverse of what is fit and proper is to be a renegade—only think it—a Conservative ! So, as before written, certain prominent Unions in the Empire City have met and solemnly announced John Hutcheson as beyond the pale of the Labour (with a capital L) support. As it happens, however, there are other equally representative Unions of working men who take Mr Hutcheson in quite another spirit, and who have the acumen to see that a man, one of themselves, may be a thorough going Liberal and yet not be that amorphous thing, a political “ dumb dog.” These free and independent workers have passed resolutions as complimentary to Mr Hutcheson as the others have those which purported to give him the kick out. Tho reconciliation of the discordant elements will not take place before tho elections are upon ns. Bodice Control. It will be remembered that as a result of the Bolice Commission, Barliament decreed that in future the imported Commissioner Tunbridge should have a free hand in tho reorganisation of his department. As a matter of course when Commissioner Tunbridge set out on that Herculanean work, he was directly faced with tho old—not the very old—spectre of political interference and It was thus :—Tu the course of the reorganisation it was deemed necessary to appoint four sub-inspectors at the chief centres. Mr Tunbridge appointed them, on tho merit basis. At once there was a howl as regards one of thorn, aud the appointments wore hung up till Seddon and Tunbridge fought it out. They would still have been hung up had not Bruhibitionist Left Wing Taylor, that terrible thorn in tho path of the Bremicr, met Mr Seddon stumping the country and broached the Sub-inspector of Bolice question. Said Mr Taylor, if those appointments as set down by Commissioner Tunbridge are not given effect to, there will be a holier war next session than there was last over tho Bolice Commission. Tunbridge’s appointments have since been gazetted. Richard is getting a-weary of the turmoil. Only a Baiter.

A week or two ago here, a man named Francis Marlborough, an inmate of the Oluro Home, was dismissed from that institution for refusing to do some manual labour. Needless to say, ho should never have been pressed to do any sort of work—it is not on the bill. However, ho was chucked out, had no money or friends, and was found by the police sleeping out on a cold night, lie was run in, charged with having no lawful visible moans of support, and, apologetically, sentenced to three months hard. Mr Tlaseldon, S.M., in giving sentence, allowed that lie was sorry to have to do it for (he acc.it-ed'* ;/nod, and that the gaol was not the place for him. And so, because New Zealand’s political, economy includes no proper accommodation for the aged pauper and infirm, and because someone in the Ohiro Home, and the .benevolent Trustees could not see further than their noses, a poor, elderly, weak-minded man, must for the rest of his life bear the prison stain and the gaol stigma! there arc people here who pride themselves on the colony’s progressiveness, A Non- run Tim Unionists. Mr Kenny, recently S.M. here, has forwarded to the Clerk of the Court his decision on a case which had an important bearing on the question of Labour Union membership. The case was the Wellington Branch of the Federated Seaman’s Union of New Zealand v W. T. Young, a claim for fees etc. duo to the Union. The new point ut issue was this ; —lf a man attends meetings of a Union, moves resolutions, takes oiilce, and nays his weekly or monthly dues, at the same time that he had never made applies

tion for membership, or been formally admitted as member according - to the prescribed rules of such Union, is ho a member Y Mr Kenny found that lie was, aud gave judgment for the plaintiff Union. It is a peculiar and unusual position for a quasi-unionist to be found in, but there may be others in the same odd place, and Mr Kenny’s judgment is of importance, especially to secretaries of Unions. Laavyeii am) Judge.

No doubt the suspension of Mr E. G. Jellicoe, the well known lawyer of this city, by the judges for an iiladvisedly worded affidavit touching the question of the feasibility of bias on the bench, has made as much sensation in other parts of the colony as it Ims here. The latest phase of the affair is that Mr Jeliicoe’s sympathisers — and there are many of them—have called a public meeting at the Opera House for Wednesday next, at which Mr Jellicoe himself will orate. Despite this the members of the Ltw Society who initiated the action against Mr Jellicoe, are still in the enjoyment of good health, and if rallied on the subject, remark that it was not their funeral. Wednesday’s proceedings will he nuts for the reporters, aud another cheap advertisement for Mr Jellicoe.