Sayings of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 3, 17 January 1912, Page 3

Sayings of the Week.

Lord* and Baronets. IT has often been asserted that “Colonials love a lord,” and we as a people would consider it a slight, and a howl of resentment would arise if a plain “Mr.” were sent us for a Governor. But it is, alack, for our consistency when a howl also arises at a title being borne by one of our own.—<■ Mr. Thos. Dawes. * • • • Federal Government. The present federation did not give satisfaction to the States, which complained that their functions were usurped. The constitution was altogether too restrictive, and prevented the representatives of the people from giving effect to the people’s will. He did not think the division of Australia into six States would be of long continuance.- —--Hr. Fisher, Federal Premier. The Maoris in London. London, and I should say England, is not a bit interested in the Maori. There are other things to them ’of ' greater moment. If they want to know anything about- New Zealand they find it out when they want it, but- they were not interested in the Maoris. They liked the poi girls, and they liked Iwa. not for what they were, but for what they coal'd do. I was much struck with the apathy and, the indifference of tl>e people. Iwa was popular. She has a lovely voice. Blanche Marchesi, Madame Nevada, and Ran degger were charmed with it.— Sir. C. IS. Westmacott. • « • • Not Ripe. The first reason for not establishing a co-operative commonwealth is because New Zealanders are not- fit to be entrusted with it. yet. 1 wish it- were ripe for voluntary co-operation instead of deplorable competition.— Mr. F. (I. Ewington. * « * • Disinfecting Streets. Now that we are in the middle of some fairly warm weather; that with so manywater carts arid sprinklers in use. each one, when filled, should have poured into it a percentage of disinfectant, so that it may be freeely spread over our streets. I am sure the atmosphere would be improved. and the danger of disease, would be minimised. — Sir. James Lewis, Auckr land. • • • • A New Spirit. Time was when the waterside workers would come down to the wharves on Sunday midnight in all sorts of weather, and sometimes walk home again disappointed, and gave never a dissenting murmur; but that day has gone. A new spirit has arisen that spells well for labour. —Mr. ITtn. Slurdock, Auckland. For a Change. The late election impasse was largely due to a,vague desire of the people for a change, a desire behind which there was no solid reason—just a desire. The Liberal party' had been in office 20 years, and the Premier Itad accepted hereditary honours; let- the other side have a show, etc. The child of prosperity, tiring of his plenteous toys, kicks them over, and scatters them “for a change.”— Sir. Thos, Dawes, Auckland. • • • • Barracking. Even thus early in the tour of the M.C.C. team tire word “barracking” is becoming conspicuous. But it might Ire more accurately- called chaff. Australian crowds like to comment audibly on the game, and this fact makes cricket far more lively at the Antipodes than it is here. Professor Morris, in his dictionary of Australian English, says the word dates from 1880. It originally denoted the excited cries of the crowds at football matches. It has nothing to do with barking or barracks. It comes from the aboriginal “borak,” which, in the language of tire Australian blacks, means banter or fun at another's expense. To “poke bora ok” is one of the earliest recorded specimens of Australian slang.— Utfr. /. X Bogan. *

The True Friend. The truest friend of the working man was the statesman who honestly tried to point out to the people that there were evils which should be cheeked and counteracted, otherwise the country’ would develop those great diseases which the people went through from 1887 to 1890. It was not a pleasant task to have to do that. It was so much easier to go to the country and say. “Go on borrowing money, and we will make you prosperous while the money lasts.” — Sir. Jas. Ulen, 31. P. Fiji. If a doubt exists as to how and from where Fiji should be administered, it is certain that the present arrangement could Ire improved upon. Downing-street may be a success in most matters, but it apparently fails to grasp the requirements and possibilities of Fiji.— Mr. D. Parton, N.Z. Telegraph Department.

Anti-Asiatic Legislation. If it is peace we want, then let us prepare for peace by establishing a good understanding between ourselves and those whom we wish to be our friends. But if we want war, then let us rigidly enforce anti-Asiatic -legislation, and at the same time arm ourselves to the teeth, because anti-Asiatic legislation would assuredly- provoke war. — Mr. Thos. Bloodworth.

New Zealand Loyalty. While I am on the subject. I should like to say a word about the loyal liberality of the Dominion in presenting the nation with the new battle cruiser. She will, when finished and ready for the pennant, cost about£2,<ooo.o9o. and as the population of New Zealand is about one million, it docs not require any intricate calculation to discover what sire will cost, each inhabitant. Generosity’ is not calculated entirely in £ s d, but my statement will show you that they back their loyalty by something more than words. — Rear-.Sdmiral Sfoggridge.

Growing Up. The young nations were growing into big nations, and their hearts were with tire Motherland. They loved the Old Country, and especially those connected with tlie British navy. If they were loyal to their King and to one another, they’ need have no fear of the future of this great Empire.— Sir William Ball-Jones.

Hampering the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth was hampered at every turn in reference to questions of health, shipping, and railways. The powers asked for by the last referendum were the minimum needed for the national Parliament to protect the interests of the whole people. Even with them it would be difficult to effectively deal with monopolies..— Mr. Fisher. Intelligence of Labour. When he has been politically opposed to Labour, he has been comnelled to acknowledge the Labour party’s character, intelligence anil public spirit. Some people are so accustomed to see capitalists combine to fight in their own interests that they are unable to recognise a similar development on the pa-t of the workers. — Sir Geofye. Reid. Popnlation Problem. He was not one of them who treated danger lightly, and he was inclined to agree with the recent English visitor to the Commonwealth who referred to Australia as a very large kennel with a very small dog inside. — Mr. J. C. L. Fit~patriot, M.L.A.

Home Rule. Mr. Redmond’s promises of Home Rule were false. There was no chance of a bill passing the present Parliament. He and his colleagues would support any reasonable Home Rule fair to Ireland fiscally.— Sir. Tim Healy, M.P. «... Practically Even. The two main parties are practically even, and a small Independent section of members has thus the balance of power. I have all through 'been of opinion that Parliament alone should deal with such a situation, and after the fullest and most careful consideration that I have given to the matter, I have finally concluded that Parliament should meet as early as practicable for that purpose.— Sir Joseph Ward.

“ The Whole Hog.” There are those who are somewhat discouraged at the result of the local option poll, but there is no need for disappointment. It is true that in a number of electorates the local vote has decreased or failed to grow as in the past, but it must b® remembered that the vote has been taken under entirely new and different conditions. Many men have said, “Give us the chance, and we will ’go the whole hog,’ we will vote to clear the country of the traffic in intoxicating liquor.”— The Ret-. J. Cocker. • • • • Invasion Impossible. A scientific defence scheme evolved b) the greatest military and naval minds of the country made invasion impossible, while the new naval staff was the final step in the finest defence scheme possible. —Lord Haldane. The Best in the World. No humane man could object to tlu factory laws of New Zealand: and the. labour conditions in the Dominion were the best in the world.—Xfr TTWiawt HallJones. Unscrupulous Bookmakers. It was better in the interests of horseracing to keep bookmakers off the course, and to give them no legal status to bet. The unscrupulous tactics of some bookmakers tended to degrade and demoralise the sport.— Mr. C. E. Major. Penny-a-word Cables. A penny a-word cable will scon be in force throughout the Empire. We will never have a perfectly developed and unassailable Empire until we annihilate time as regards communications. — Mr. Henniker Heat an. The Tote. In New Zea la ml public feeling was very much adverse to the totalisator. and if a referendum was taken the machine would be wiped out of existence. — 1). D. Scott. The Milestone. Home Rulo would draw us near the United States, and be the first milestone on the road to the unity of the Englishspeaking races.— Mr. Winston Churchill