CURRENT TOPICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4997, 9 July 1894, Page 2

CURRENT TOPICS.

♦ WHAT THE PAPERS SAY. WOMEN B BIGHTS. The logical sequence of the granting of the franchise to women ia allowing them to Bit aa members of the House. If women are men's equals, then it is only fair, that they should be allowed to participate in the privileges which men enjoy.— Tateri Advocate. LIBEL. i In no community in the world does there > appear to be as many libel actions in pro;,. ' | portion to population as in New Zealand, ■ and in no community do lawyers draw suchj, , vast sums from plaintiffs and defendants. Wairarapa Daily Times. » WANT OF CONFIDENCE. The question of Colonel Fraser'fi apl { pointment to the small position of Ser- ,' geant-at-Arms was not of .sufficient impor> t ance to elevate it into a grave issue, which might have split the Liberal -Party in twain and destroyed the work of years. — Wanganui Herald. SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. Sir Robert Stout unquestionably made a mistake last night in proposing that the Legislature should make a Saturday.^ statutory half-holiday instead! of leaving each district to fix its Own b half-holiday. He had not only the numbers but also the common-sense., of 3 the House against him, We think that it. ■ is to be regretted that he should adopt the, line of proposing resolutions without pre?. vious consultation with anyone. A great 1 '.party leader Bhould not become an irre- ', sponsible free laoce. It was by the adoption . of precisely such a line as this that Sir - George Grey lost whatever weight he once 1. possessed in the House. — Evening Frits. • A pessimist. Unfortunately Mr Scobie Mackenzie has long been accustomed to look through dismal glasses. Were it ' otherwise, he would appreciate the difference between; a claim on the part of the Government that they had alleviated distress and averted a far worse condition than now obtains, which may reasonably be viewed aa comparative prosperity, and a pretension to what doeß not exist. Unhappily this gentleman does not possess the power or looking on the bright aide of things. Reason forces him to support many of the Liberal views, but the spirit of doubt ia ever present, and in consequence he is prone to attack those whose aims are in the direction that his reason approves.— Colonist. THB OPPOSITION. We would rather trust a popular Ministry to propose proper legislation out of respect for the country, than ont of respect for an Opposition, weak or strong, and the criticisms of a weak Opposition are quite as valuable as those of a strong one, and are more likely to be listened to and utilised.— South Canterbury Times. ' BHEAEBBB' ACCOMMODATION. Not fifty miles south of Blenheim there is a sheep station whereon sanitary matters are, apparently, absolutely unknown. At all events Buoh laws are entirely unobserved with regard to the quarters provided for the Btation hands employed by the proprietors. Not a single convenience ordinarily found exists there, and, in consequence, the state of affairs now obtaining is of the most disgusting character, imaginable.— Kaihoura Star. ■ COMPANY MANAGEMENT. The measure for safe-guarding shareholders and the public against loose methods of company management will be received with eager anticipation, and if the Government can deviße means to prevent the directors and officials from recklessly dealing with money entrusted to them they will deserve well, not only of this country, but of the civilised world.— West Coast Time's. BANKING LEGISLATION. It is really pitiable to witness the attempts that are being made by bigoted and unscrupulous Opposition journals to deprecate the great service that has been rendered to the country by the Government; but it is consoling to know that the country, and not the Opposition Press, are the judges of the aotions of the Govern? ment, and that the verdict of that tribunal is that no Government shave ever better merited the thanks of the colony thin have the present Liberal Government in this matter.— Oamaru Mail. ; CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION BILL. We think that the Legislative Council will do well to waive any objections which the compulsory, clauses may suggest to the passing of the Bill. It is noteworthy that Captain Russell is prepared to accept the Bill as a whole, and the general attitude of the Opposition, in the Lower House seems to have been of benevolent character. It will be remembered, too, that a cordial support was accorded to the Bill last year by Mr James Mills, who represents the largest labour-employing firm in the colony, and this fact alone should go far towards allaying the misgivings of the doubtful.— Otago Daily Times. THB BTANDING OBDSBS. Let ub hope the Government will succeed in their mission to put an end to the surplus, and useless speech that has developed to such appalling proportions in ;he House of Representatives during the last ten or fifteen years. Reform in that direction is urgently needed. As the Premier intimates, many a member who has useful ideas that would be a decided gain to the House to hear, is often sorrowfully compelled to sit silent while windbag after windbag blows himself empty, and until he finally through disgust _and weariness allows his opportunity to slip.— Qrty River Argus, THB WELLINGTON BIBHOPBIC. We hope the Wellington ecclesiastical authorities will yet give some signs of independence. It would be better for the Synod to assemble even at the eleventh hour, and rescind the foolish resolution that has led to so much unpleasantness. This is a matter whioh chiefly concerns Anglicans, but the appointment of a bishop to the capital of New Zealand has, to a certain extent, an interest for the whole community. We believe the Synod would be wise, under the circumstances, to decide to make no more attempts in England, but to place the mitre of Wellington on the head of some worthy colonial clergyman,— 4«#/Wan^ Star.