What the Papers Say

Observer, Volume XXII, Issue 30, 12 April 1902, Page 3

What the Papers Say

MX SEDDON is, in fact, a universal provider who reminds you a little of the German Emperor ; only the Premier of New Zealand, though he does break out in the most unexpected places, is most distinctly sane. — Whangarei Advocate.

Premier Seddon has achieved the double distinction of being at once the leader of the most democratic and radical community in the world, and the personification of the most pugnacious Imperialism. — Napier Herald. • • •

There is a tendency among some teachers to talk rather too much of the strain their profession entails upon them, and to expect rather more than their proper share of holidays.— Wellington Post.}

" The men can pay their shillings as they go out after dinner, or I'll take your cheque for the lot, but I won't give any 'tick' to the Government." Thus the proprietor of the City Buffet, in Wellington, to Captain Boddie, after the Royal visit last year. The popular captain gave his cheque, the men had their dinner, and they have felt sincerely grateful to their " skipper " ever since. — Eltham Argvs.

To-day is the day of Judas and of Jingoism.— Sydney Bulletin.

Poor Hall- Jones ! That unfortunate creature seems to be the football that one Minister after another kicks about ! Doubtless his measure has accurately been taken, and his superiors know precisely how much kicking he will stand.— Christchurch Spectator.

Mr Seddon might just as well expect the whole of New Zealand to be of one religion, all prohibitionists, all Atheists, or all moderate drinkers, as all of one party in politics. Absurd ! — -Kawakawa Luminary.

The cost of the New Zealand Hansard last year was only £8000— just £1000 more than the Imperial Parliament, which costs £7000 a year. But the English Hansard contains only the " separated cream " of Parliament, while if some of the speeches were printed in N.Z. Hansard as delivered in the House, the list of sudden deaths and the list of asylum inmates would go up with a bump. — Southern paper. • • •

The practice of cadging from Government servants for the purpose of presenting Ministers with testimonials is simply blackmail, for they know what will happen if they do not "stump up.'' And, besides, it is the essence of meanness for a man like Seddon, who is in receipt of a good screw as Premiei, to permit such a thing. — Sydney Truth. y y

Cecil Rhodes was fearless to the verge of recklessness when once his mind was made up, and he might well be called " the prime of manhood, daring, bold and venturous," were ,it not that sometimes his audacity overstepped the bounds of scrupulousness and led him to adopt unworthy means for a worthy end. — Wellington Post,

If the land and income tax is to be increased so as to cheapen the duties on the necessaries of life, then let the extra burden be fairly adjusted to the shoulders of the community. But these large-minded and big-souled trades unionists only believe in direct taxation for the other fellow. They are to be dead-headed in this happy country while somebody else faces the music and pays the piper. That is the meaning of it. So far, their resolutions have not the force of law. If they did New Zealand would be a firstclass place to get out of. — Wellington Lance on the Trades Conference.

The Commonwealth papers are doing Mr Seddon the honour to regard him as a sort of torpedo ready at any moment to blow their constitution into a thousand atoms, and to substitute a home-made article of his own. — Wellington Lance.

If the finances of the Colony are so arranged that not only this year, but every year, there shall be a surplus of a quarter of a million from current revenue to expend on reproductive works, it will be impossible to find serious fault if three-quarters of a million should be borrowed to supplement the contribution of the day in order to provide for the wants of the community. — Nelson Colonist.

What will be the outcome of such an educational enactment as the suppression of child labour ? There can be but one conclusion in the present condition of things, and that is, the

mother must be the household drudge, and not only work the statutory 8 hours a day, but 16 or 17 hours for seven days a week, and everybody knows a mother's night rest is often broken by the ailments of little children. — Egmont Settler.

It has come ! At a Sydney police court, recently, a woman was fined for expectorating on the footpath. — Sydney Bulletin.

In announcing the appointment of Arthur Stanley Wohhnan, M.D., as balneologist for Kotorua, the AgentGeneral seems to have been greatly impressed by the applicant's ancient lineage. The ability to trace one's ancestry in an unbroken line for 200 years may afford personal gratification, but we are more concerned with the appointee's heritage of abilities. — Rotorua Chronicle.

There may be some who object to the principle of setting up native landlords, even though the administration is carried on through the Government, but no one would be mad enough to state any form of settlement is not better than the present disgraceful condition of things, by which thousands of acres of beautiful land are allowed to remain idle. -— Gisborne Times.

During Mr Seddon s tenure of Premiership he has lifted the colony out of a veritable slough of despond, relieved the financial depression, purified the choked labour atmosphere, opened the land of the country to the settler, and in innumerable ways displayed a determination and strength of discrimination that has successfully grappled with the most difficult political problems. — Wellington Sun.

The demand for subscriptions is bad enough, but to call upon the destitute, the halt, the blind, and the infirm to stand and deliver, marks a condition of things which we can hardly imagine existing outside out of a savage community, where tithes are levied by force, the penalty for refusal being dismemberment or death. — Sydney Truth on Seddon Testimonial.

The proposal for an all-British mail service is not news, but it is none the less statesmanlike and laudable. Speaking in the Auckland district, the Premier evidently thought it necessary to throw a sop of comfort to the swiftly suspicious and childishly selfish Aucklanders who apparently seem to imagine that the whole existence as a commercial port of their city depends upon the San Francisco mail service. — Blenheim Express.

If remunerative labour were as plentiful as. it ought to be, we would not see such an army of co-operatives, who have come to the condition of solely trusting to the State as a sort of foster mother to find work for them, something after the manner of the Roman populace when they cried out for bread and amusements. Neither would we see so many of the ablest and boldest of our young men so ready to hie them oft to South Africa if they could get good comfortable billets in New Zealand.— Greymouth Argiis.