ONLY A BUNCH OF CRACKERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3452, 17 February 1912, Page 7

ONLY A BUNCH OF CRACKERS

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. HOW IT WAS RECEIVED. CAUSTIC COMMENT. (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Fob. 16. It lias been pretty generally known for some -days that the Speech from the Throne would contain matter of a more than usually sensational nature, but the most liberal guesser could scarcely have been prepared for such an extraordinary statement as was put into the Governor’s hands to-day. Iu vulgar parlance it was “hot stuff” and it is, perhaps, scarcely to be wondered at that his Excellency’s secretary lost hi® grip of it upon, entering Parliament House, and* that it had to be retrieved from the floor by Sir Jo®. Ward himself. Some of the members of the party at first did not seem to know whether to be amused or annoyed at such a Speech. By this time, judging from the comments they were making, they seemed to be more amused than annoyed. ‘ ‘Do you think it will catch any votes?” asked one man of a Parliamentary habitue. “I think,” lie replied, “there may bo just enough bird 1 lime in it to catch a few unsophisticated old fowls!” Another remark caught is that it is not a .bomb shell, but only a' bunch off crackers. -