The FRETFUL PORCUPINE

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1093, 9 December 1899, Page 9

The FRETFUL PORCUPINE

Pbobisztion and anti-prohibition literature is the order of the day. It confronts our eyes in steamboat, 'has and tram, it is thrust into our hands at street corners, and it even finds its way into our household, Berving the purpose of wrappers to the matutinal sausage. Most people are getting thoroughly sick of the subject. It is necessary to be a Prohibition orator or to have a big interest in a brewery to maintain an absorbing interest in the question wbetheror not cold water would be better for our systems than draught ale, or whether Prohibition diet or did not condace to greater immorality, sly grog-sell-ing and drunkenness, in certain States of America. And yet the question of Prohi bition or otherwise will be a vital one on Wednesday. There will be Btrong voting yea or nay. Many people are anxious to see an end put to the liquor traffic and will vote accordingly.

But the issue is really not one of Prohibition at all. Prohibition may be carried p.t the North Shore, and the hotels at Devonport and Northcote closed, bat the Devonport and Northcote people will atill be froe to come across to town, bay as much liquor as they please, and take it back with them to their own district. The whole thing is a farce. National Prohibition would be a fair issue to fight, bat this is not national prohibition at all, bat something very much worse and unquestionably mischievous in its consequences. There are cases in which a street forms the boundary between two electorates. The hotels on one Bide of the street may be closed and those on the other side left open. Will any good come of Bach a thing? Drinking will not be decreased, because the customers of the closed houses will go across to the hotels still open, and will get all the liquor they require.

The only effect of the system will be to wrong the publican whose house is cjosed and increase the monopoly of the man whose trade is not affected. Snrely, the whole thing is a burlesque. What is the use of Prohibition in Karangahape Road if all the hotels in the city remain open? Then again, it is setting up intolerable clasß distinctions if the hotels in any district are to be closed and the clubs allowed to retain their licenses. This means that the working man is to have his glass of beer taken from him, while the wealthy citinen who is a club member may drinfc all day and every day if he chooses. Also, while prohibition is Beverely applied to the poorer classes, the wealthy man may lay in liquor in wholesale quantities and keep a private cellar for himself and his friends.

All this is anomalous and unfair. We cannot deal honestly with the Prohibition question in this piecemeal, unequal fashion. Either it mast be absolute Prohibition of the sale and manufacture of liquor for the whole colony or nothing at aU. In any case, the people of the countiy have not very much to complain of. Oar hotels are of an excellent class, they are exceedingly well managed, and New Zealand iB the soberest country in the world. Would we not be wise by letting well alone ? By introducing arbitrary and unequal legislation, we may simply create and intensify the very evils that our reformers are crying out againßt.

Mr J. H. Hannan, J.P., told the City Oounoil lftßt week that ' when he was going about at the time of his election, he was appalled at the number of unfortunate women he saw.' Yet reports from six detectiveß and four polioe sergeants assured the Couacil that the city waß freer from the social evil than it has been for many years. Seems as if J. H. Hannan did rather to much' travelling about at the time of that election. It is to be hoped he didn't lose his way.

The Premier assured his audience at the Opera House that the Assets Realisation Board is most anxious to realise on the enormous load of properties it took over from the Bank of New Zealand. Yet the Assets Board has just refused the offer of £600 from the Board of Education for a school site at Surrey Hills. Evidently, the Assets Board, like its progenitor, the Bank of New Zealand, sticks out for the uttermost farthing. ' Besides, the more speedily these estates are turned into hard cash, the sooner will come the evil day when the paid members of that body will find their occupations, and also their emoluments, gone.

Or. Hosting makes a bold bid for the backblocks' vote. A plank in his platform is to provide medical attendance to back settlers at a cheaper xate. Does he mean to wade into that contract himself ? If so, why not go a little further, and offer to do all Waikato's marrying and burying for nix as well.

Mr W- F. Masaey made things a bit awkward for the Rev. W. Finlay Wilson at Otabuhu on Thursday last. Against the Star's ingenious explanation that, when the verdant insurance agent applied for the secretarybhip of a Conservative political organisation and attended its meeting, he innocently believed it to be a Liberal body, Mr Massey quoted Mr Graves Aickin's assurance that Mr Wilson had stated 'he was most pronounced in hiß antagonism to the present Government.'

Last week, when the Board of Education was dealing with the question of appointing someone to succeed the late Dr Pnilaon aa medical examiner of candidates for service under the Board, Mr Robert Farrell suggested that applications should be invited from those willing to aot. Thereupon, Mr Theo. Cooper said that would be unprofessional, and the Board immediately appointed Dr MacKellar. Why it Bhonld be unprofessional to. offer a fair field for competition and selection it would puzzle the brains of a Philadelphia lawyer to say The vacant post was a public one, and every doctor in the place B hould have had a chance of competing for j t . Dr MacKellar is a clever doctor, but in ere are others equally good. Mr Robert p a rrell's suggestion waa the one jwhich is mo st likely to strike the public as being he fairest, t

Down at Wellington we are told a furni-ture-maker has got an order from the Bank of New Zealand to construct three stateroom chairs — one of them for its President at meetings in the Board room — oat of the timbers of the ship Inconstant, which was stranded at Wellington in- the early days. The artist who conceived this brilliant idea must have a fine eye for the fitness of things. There was never a more inconaUnt concern in this colony than the B.N Z., nor one. that has shipwrecked nearly bo many confiding people. One of the^chaira ia to be upholstered in crimson. That probably is to symbolise either the blood of its victims, or the picturestfSe language indulged in concerning it.

If Premier Dick is at all superstitions, the fate that has just overtaken nearly all the other Australasian Premiers must cause him to shiver in his shoes. Within the brief compass of three mouths, five colonial Premiers and their Ministries — all of pretty long life, as Ministries go— have been kicked out of office. First of all, ' Yea-No ' Keid was sent about his business in New South Wales. Next, Braddon, of Tasmania, got his marching orders, and within the last fortnight Dickson, of Queensland, Kingston, of South Australia, and Turner, of victoria, have been sent to the right about. Only two of the Jubilee Premiers still ' Hold the Fort' Oue is Sir John Forrest, of Westratia, who clings desperately to office by fche aid of pocket boroughs and a restricted franchise, which doesn't trust the people. As for the other one — King Dick, of New Zealand — he ia standing his trial at present at the bar of public opinion, and the jury tomorrow^will r etire^to consider their 4 verdict.

Apparently, some very solid arguments have been brought to bear upon Mr Wilson to convert him so speedily from ' pronounced antagonism ' tot ' pure love and affection,' and to cause him to knock off taking lives in order to capture a seat -for them. What theie arguments are worth the electors may estimate for ithemselveß. Mr Massey says, however, five men had been asked by the Government, or a Government agent; to oppose,^him",' for Franklin. In most cases, their "expenses were offered, and in some cases there was actually an offer of material for the speeches to.be sent from Wellington. This latter statement, at any rate, clears up one little matter that has arrested our curious notice. It is that nearly all the Government candidates' Bpeechea bear a marked family resemblance in the matter, the »übjeot3 treated, the used, and even in the style of their phraseology. The hands are those of Eaan, but the voice in every case is unmistakably that <A Jacob — otherwise Richard.

Mr Roaser is not taking any of Mr Bollard's sections, with ' three aorea and a cow,' at Waikomiti. He says bo does not want to go to Waikomiti till he goei there ' for the last time.' He was ban Peking the other night for the ' infernal lease ' (999 years). ' Why,' said he, 'If yon are di«•atis&ed with it, go for an extension of the lease.' How would he satisfy tti<- Lower Qaeen-etreet Irishman who wab in cow for an allotment there, and broke off toe negotiations for a 999 years' lease, because the owner (another Irishman) would not give him a purchasing clause.