MR STOUT IN BORROWED PLUMES.

Southland Times, Issue 3317, 6 February 1879, Page 3

MR STOUT IN BORROWED PLUMES.

X -..'; Stout, like the -jack" " idHwV'bf \ ancient ' fable, ' "is rather fond of

' .'^Tuftihi?WbJbut in borrowed p]iiine_. His ■,-w latest attempt in thiswayi is amusingVby :% its very 'audacity. He no doubt presumed ••> on what he supposed to be the ignorance of Ids working men's audience. Mr Stout W-Jcobllyv Claimed for ' himself and his cbl- ' J leagnes the credit of ' haying reformed the ■ \ Jaw of succession to landed,, property in ■j -New "Zealand, so that the eldest son is no "• lofiger -the -sole-favored individual,' bat the property is - di\aded : amorigst all the children.'-; Now, thisj; is an adrairable reformbi^the law,: and ;astepiA ; the right .' (iirOction-; ' and' a cihahge that' Any friend of the people might be , proud to claim as handiwork. . .I-VW-^>.-- --'.,. But. does JMr ..Stout .reallyj suppose that there was - no one -in the hall on Saturday evening aw are -of the fact -that this has been the law of , Ne>f .VZealahd forVfoiir" ; years past,' that i'the ; ;change'was.madeVby ■ Mr .Vogel's Governmeht,-' and ., supported by Mr- Stafford, in :J'lß74#-bef ore Mr Stout ;r was in '- Parliament "dt all ?;., Every reader "Of Haiisard'kn'ows'thisj; well . enough. JMr Stoutj Xas a lawyer,' Jkne \v Jit ' 'well" enough. • JBKs attempt, 'therefore, to . tlji-o w dust in , •the eyes" of his working-men friends,,,, by J claiming this honor for^him>ejf;and leagues; is at once; ridiculous antl contemptible, iMr^Stoirt is an adrmt^pdliticiah,ibut; he ouglit to know. by this"; timeVthat .it'as ■•dangerous ..to .presume, 0n ... the supposed -J ignorance i-pf'atfVah'dience, and that the W' iuppres'iipveri" 'ahd tJwggesUo- JJfalsiy} thougti-V effective -J weia^iins: Winjdebiate,^ frequently; ;!proye : 'fatal :in J tiie recoil.— l' am, &c., -J..-W ... -J— A >;Detector. . Invearcrgill- -sth February^-1879.