COMMONWEALTH NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13462, 29 June 1907, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH NOTES.

(By F. H.)

MR. DEAKIN IN POLITICS.

According to Pfess cables Mr Deakin has perhaps been the most interesting figure in the Conference lately held in London. It was expected he would bo so, if only for his astonishing capacity for details, his great fluency of spefech and forensic eloquenpe. But, more than this, he takds his subjects so to heart that while he may be convinced that a certain course is a proper one he delves' into the details and loads his mind with every phrise of his subject that he gets his metaphor so arranged as to leave his listeners mystifiod, astonished, and confused. No matter how direct a question may be put to him, which to the ordinary mind leaves Jth© 1 answer to be plainly yes or no, Mr Deakin floods the hall with such periods of eloquence, gets so intricately woven into the-texture of the points at issue, that the answer in a multitude of wor^s is, Construed intd both yes and no. When in England he gave a speech before 1 - a, gathering which perplexed tile" Labour Party in Australia. When the Commonwealth Parliament sits again he will be called upon to explain his attitudfe — his championing* of the cause pf Conservatism, which is Capitalism in England. This will be a sample matter for this adroit politician to explain and he will do so no doubt with entire satisfaction to the Labour Party, Socialists, and Capitalists, as well as to himself. - In Melbourne he is the staunch supporter of Labour, and Socialism, in Bajlarat, his scat, he sits on the throne where wealth dangles at his feet, where Socialism and Labour questions have no place in his speeches. Still, with all, he so cleverly manipulates the Labourites when in session that his" angling has always brought up from the depths fish which are very dainty in his dish after he has angled them almost to the point of hypnotism. His visit, his .associations, his objective in England captivated him entirely. His flights were high and he became renowned. Now he returns to face the irritant Labour dominations. He has won fame in, England by his brilliant parts, andno, one., questions his ability to retain his pre-eminence when he stands before an inflamed Labour caucus in the Houso. His amassing good fortune in getting out of intricate mazes, his immeasurable capacity of affiliating himself with all - parties by his striking affability, will' surely carry him over tho storm waters that. *re, no\^* rushing along, and to anyone but Mr Deakin .would qaxry them, along and at some bend in the stream £hrow them, up high and dry ::r -dereiiess on, the political waters. * '" v

CHARITIES. ■ Sydney, like alt other large cities, teems with* charitable institutions r which Governors are always expected to show appreciation of . the following as an instance* • The- of New South Wales "(Sir ETarry Rawsbn), an extremely popular man, will preside at the annual general meeting of the Queen Victoria Home on Monday. Miss Rawson is to preside at" a meeting of the Women's Work Guild on. Monday evening. The Governor presides at the annual- meeting of. the Melanesian Mission on Tuesday, /and cm "Wednesday will open the Australian, Women's Work Exhibition. On Thursday Miss Rawson will preside &t the annual meeting of the Ladies' Sanitary Association and the Governor takeVthe <shair at the Annual City Mission on Friday, and presides at the annual - meeting of the Home for Incurables on Saturday. This is merely one week's- official duties, which goes on all the year round, in more or less detail.