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Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 26, 1 October 1894, Page 23

There is a story going about in reference to Talhmgo to the effect that ho weeps so copiously in tho pal hot ic parts of his lecture-sermons, that it is necessary to have auger-holes .in tho floor near his pulpit for the moisture to drain,off, and people who sit up in front should not forgot their mackintoshes.

Sir Robert Stout in New Zealand (says Molbourno I‘utwh) is almost as much hurt in his feelings at, hi« inability to jump the Premiership as Parkos is in New South- liVttles. Stout’s claim is, however, even more ridiculous than that' of Parkos; he asserts that before his death the late Premier, Mr. Ballance, bequeathed the leadership of the party to him, and so he regards himself us the rightful heir, and Sodden as a brazen neurpciy’: This is a new idea in democratic igovermoenti;' is is to be, hoped Sir Robert Stout will be able to produce "the fegitittiatcf will in tho last act, and so prove the justice of his claim and lot the curtain come down on virtue triumphant. When dying or departing Premiers are allowed to leave their place'and; pay with their other valuables to their next of kin or their nearest friends, Parliamentary procedure will be greatly simplified, but, for the time boing, Sir Robert must bo content to pose os the good young man in the melodrama, .who has been robbed of his heritage by the heavy villain of the piece. Let him keep up a stout heart, and he may got there just the same.

Mr. Cresswell, a leading Napier lawyer, has a pleasant wit, which is sometimes of inoro service to his clients than lej?al arguments would be, however learned and prolonged. During*,, the hearing of an application for dhchdirgo in : the Bfiiikrujjtey Court recently, the petitioner, a working man, woe being, eiciiey l questioned by Judge Richmond as to tho eauso of his failure to satisfy the demands of his creditors. The bankrupt, in reply, was spinning the usual yarn about want of work, a small wife and a large family, etc., etc., when tho .Judge enquired how many children he had. “ Six, your Honour,” replied the petitioner; the youngest is only six months, and the oldest nino years of jige." ” Six children in nine years - hum—ha—and not able to keep them,” said the Judge. “ Yes, yonr Honour,’’ Mr. Cresswell replied. “My client has not been abb) to provide for his family, but lie has done the State some service by assisting to reduce the public debt her capita.” Tho '.Judge tickled, and, while regretting that tho Land Tax was no £ dfiK# reduced, granted the o.'der.

Talmage’s mouth is exciting much surprise and admiration in Sydney. The special importation is said to have a vocal organ that unfolds like a travelling bag, and his smile is os roomy as a cave. When he opens his month everbody wondersj where he keeps his brains.

The adoption of the Socialistic programme —demanding the nationalisation of the land, and the whole means of production, distribution, and exchange—by the Trade Union Congress, recently held in Norwich (England), is a most significant and v portentous event, The voting—2l9 for and 61 against—indicates the existence of settled convictions, and gives some idea of the rapid permeation of the English Trade Unionist mind with Socialist principles and theories. It also affords an illustration of the value of the persistent, systematic propoganda, which has. been carried on, with untiring energy, by the Social Democratic Federation, the Fabians, the Independent Labour Party, and other bodies. We are never tirecFof bragging about being ahead of the Old Country in politics. In some respects we may be but our Trade Unionists are a long way behind their English brethren, and appear quite unable to disentangle their hands from the wrong end of the stick

Trade Unionism, as we have hitherto known it in New Zealand, may be and has been specially beneficial to those engaged in certain trades, where organisation of labour was pos-

sible by protecting their common interests. It may have prevented the remuneration in those trades from falling below a “ living wage.” But it offers no policy or suggestion, and has no power to guarantee constant employment to its members. Loss of time is, therefore, nearly equivalent to reduced wages. If it fails to do this for its own members, how much less will it be able to benefit the whole of the labouring community, or mitigate the evils of the unemployed question and other pressing social problems. - . • - •

"What Trade Unionism desires to do for'certain sets of individuals, Socialism wishes to effect for the whole of society, and proposes to do so by capturing the power which enables the landlord and capitalist to give or withhold employment. Factory Acts and restrictive legislation may be very necessary, but they are only required where certain classes, hold economic power. By nationalising the land and the instruments of'proauction and distribution, and by instituting a National Currency, the ground is cut completely from under their feet. ' The people will then have the power of employing themselves.