BRITISH POLITICS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XXIV, 14 December 1895, Page 758

BRITISH POLITICS.

When Mr Cecil Raikes became Postmaster-General of Great Britain he issued an order which illustrates how thoroughly the British Government is administered on business principles. Mr William H. Smith was then First Lord of the Treasury, and also the head of the house of Smith and Son, the great * news agents ’ of London. For manyyears the embossed postage-stamp on the wrappers of the newspapers distributed by the house had the name of W. H. Smith and Son woven round it in a wreath, a distinction shared by no other firm. Mr Raikes ordered that the wreathed names should not appear, and the order had to be obeyed by his colleague, who could offer no remonstrance to the Post-master-General’s scrupulousness. Another incident, illustrating that two men may be earnest political antagonists and yet warm personal friends, occurred when Mr Smith became a candidate for Parliament. Meeting his friend. Mr Lawson, of the Daily Telegraph, the leading Radical paper. Smith said to him : ‘ My dear Lawson, do you know what I have gone and done ? Ive accepted an invitation to stand for Westminster.’ ‘Delighted to hear it!’ was the reply. * You’re the very mau of all others we should like to have. Rely upou me to do all in my power for you.’ ‘Oh, but I am the Couserative candidate, you know.' ‘Whew! that alters matters rather. Rely upon it I’ll do all I fairly can to keep you out.’ He was as good as his word, but his opposition made no difference in their friendship which continued warm to the end.

To ‘ Back ’ Embroidery, etc. —The best thing to use is a thin coat of cobblers’ paste spread with the finger over the back of the work to secure the various ends of wool and silk, and give a little more firmness to the embroidery, which must be stretched face downwards over a drawing board, and secured with drawing pins. The paste may be bought from shoemakers, or made at home with flour mixed rather thickly with the addition of a little glue, and a pinch of alum added before boiling. Let the paste dry, then smear smoothly over the whole surface.