The Slaughter of the Innocents.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 925, 3 October 1896, Page 24

The Slaughter of the Innocents.

' I rise to move in cold blood the slaughter of the innocents,' were the words with which the Premier prefaced his speech on the sacrifice of the little Bills. The announcement was greeted with a load chorus of ' Ob, ohs!' Dick was in his best form, and entered upon the killing business with a light heart. At times he was humorous m his own rather heavy fashion. He Baid the first victim was the Infant Lives Protection Bill, which suggested the obvious joke that there would be no protection for the JBills marked for execution. As he pronounced sentence of death on more than a score of victims, there were grievous groans from hon. members who stood in loco parentis to the ill-fated infants. 'JVIy heart is almost broken,' remarked the ruthless executioner, in tones of well assumed sorrow, ' but I must do my duty ' There was a wail of heartrendingmourning when the Scripture Text Book in Schools was entered on the fatal list. Carnell sighed like a furnace when his beloved Totalisator Abolition Bill gave up the ghost. *I am afraid I must die,' said the executioner. 4 No, no, no,' vainly protested Carnell. •We should like to retain the Unclaimed Monies Bill,' continued the politicalJeffries, 'because we think there ie some money coming to the colony if we get that through,' and a few members were tickled at the profound wit concealed under this remark. 'We hope to complete the work in the first week of October.' ' What do you mean by the first week in October?' asked the Leader of the Opposition, but the question was not answered. The House readily gave the Premier credit for sincerity when he said : ' I hope I shall not offend members when I say that the sooner their backs are turned on" Wellington the better I shall like them.' So the slaughter went on, some members now and then vainly endeavouring to < btain a reprieve for his infant protege. Meredith threw himself between the Premier and the Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill, but was brashed aside by a thunder of ' ayes,' the voice of Ashley being the only one raised in favour of the doomed innocent. G. J. Smith made a similarly fruitless appeal on behalf of the Scripture Text Book, and Carnell, after an ad nriserccordium appeal for the life of the Totalizator Abolition Bill, exclaimed, more in sorrow than in anger, ' I bow to the inevitable, sir.' Pirani divided the House to save tlie Police Force Act Amendment Bill, which was decisively condemned by 17 votes to 12 So the slaughter proceeded until the Order Poper had been reduced to something like working 'dimensions, and the House proceeded with practical business. Holding forth rapturously at a temperance meeting at Melbourne the other evening, a teetotal member of the Victorian Parliament, of violent and radical propensities, exclaimed, ' When Dives went below he did not ask Lazarus for wine, or whisky. or brandy, or colonial beer. No, he only asked him for a single drop of water. Now, what does that prove ?' He paused for a reply, and then a deep bass voice from the back benches growled out, ' It proves where teetotallers goto when they die!' The orator changed the subject. A Sydneyside sub- editor of a weekly ' buster ' boasts that he has not paid a debt for two years. The walls of his office are smothered with bills. The first always is for an ordinary account; then, ' Whenmav we expect a settlement ' ; 'We have written you twice, and unless you settle imme diately we shall be compelled to place the matter in the hands of our solicitor ' ; 'We have placed the matter in the hands of oar ' solicitor.' There, says the scribe, with pride, tbe matter generally rests. Prohibition would not be sucb a powei ia the land as it is to day were it not for the publicans who have by their conduct brought disgrace upon the Trade, which, nevertheless, comprises iv its ranks some of the most generous and popular men in the community. We fear there is too great a tendency amongst publicans to sympathise with delinquents against the licensing laws, aud this is too often an encouraging factor to them. The publicans owe it to themselves to form a close corporation to guard themselves against the black sheep of the flock, and the hint should not be lost to them — Napier New*. Those who require to use Spectacles will find a very large assortment to suit almost any sight at Miller's Fancy Reposi tory, 110, Victoria-street. Prices to suit any pocket, viz., 6d, 9d 1/- and 1/6 per pair ; Real English Pebbles, 3/9 per pair. Coloured Spectacles for sun and dust, 6d and 1/- per pair, sent poßt free to any address in New Zealand. Anyone mentioning this paper when purchasing or sending will have a case value for 6d presented to him. — Advt.