THE PREMIER'S "GAG."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8448, 21 February 1899, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S "GAG."

Tin: I'remier is slumping the colony ami everywhere delivering to large ami enthusiastic audiences tin: same set speech as lie used to "tickle the ears of the groundlings'' at Cisborne. We haw: read the reports of hi-i utterances at, Nelson, the Wc-,t Coast, Tapauni, and Cure, and in ovciy instance he appears to have given, almost, word for word, with little or no variation, the speech thai w is ahead;, worn and tlucadbure long before it. readied (li-bonic. He commences in eveiy town with the same joke ,'ihoul his coipiiloney, un"- in the ".Mary li.nl a little lamb' 1 and other simple storic-, lepeals with painful itcialion the same Ion;; string of statistics, varied only in local details, and a--,lduous];, blinds forward the " gag " about, tin 1 " breeehc^-pocket policy'" of the Oppo^i lion. It in m legal d to the latter attempt to trade upon the, gullibility of his audiences th.it we wish p.irl n:iil.irly to refer. The l'reinier has construed .in imputation of dishonesty out of a perfectly harmless remark. At a meeting of his opponents at Caitci'ton they spoke of the necessity of otganisim.' and pinmoting an active campaign l.efoie the elections, and It was stated that as these things co->t money they must, put their hinds into their breeches pocket to provide the funds. What was theie dir-honoi able in that? If they proposed to put I heir namls into the pockets 1 of the people, it would hequile a dill'orent mallei. Politicians opposed to the Government cannot t ravel about Ihc countiy and hold meetings free of cost. They have no special steamers and special tiams to en ry them about the country. As the West Coast Times remark-, the dill'eienee between the ( lovetnnient and the Opposition in ibis respect is that wliiUt the unfortunate taxpayer I). is lo pay the travelling evpeii-es ol the former, the latter have to put their hands into their own picket-. " The recent visit of Mr Scd'lon." says the Times, ''furnishes us an illustration of the former method. He came on a political, on an electioneering errand, and contrived to make about a du/.en speechc, all with tlie view of giving people eonlidem c in the Ministry and urging them to continue their support, lie was accompanied by his family and two private sccretaiies and was allordcd iaeihtics for travelling b\ special trains, special stcamcis, and .special conveyances, for all of which the overtaxed people of this country have to pay. This is not the hreeihes pocket polio;, which Mr Seddnn condemns. He has a good banking account in the Tieasury chest, and no matter bow much is diawn he will not be any the poorer. When Captain llussell comes, if conn; he does, it will be like any other citizen, iuordtnai\ conveyances, and he will pay the cost of ; travelling out of his breeches pocket. i There lies the dilleience.'' There is another : matter to which reference might be made. Gisborne, hid the honor last week of a visit ■ from Mr Hdwards-, the organiser of the Liberal party, who has stated he was appointed by" Mr Keddon. This gentleman has thrown up a comfortable position as ' village schoolmaster, and left the pleasant glades of Huntly to tour the country in the [ interests of Liberalism and MrSeddon. lit f informed us that he intended to make his , headquarters at Wellington and travel the , whole colony from that centre. The lirst , question that arises is " Who pays his I expenses?" Will he luive a free railway ; pas 3 and other facilities '! He has thrown : tip a permanent situation for one that can i only last, until after the elections, and i it is hardly likely he would do that without j very substantial remuneration and the ) promi.se of being ultimately " provided ; tor." Is Mr Seddon paying for Mr 5 Kdwaids out of his own breeches pocket 1 or will the people of the colony be required ; to do so '!