LIKA JOKO'S JOTTINGS.—No. 5. HUNTING.
Tuesday.—Parish Councils on again. That was order of day, but human ingenuity dragged in other matters. First Woman's Suffrage, on which there was livelier debate than has yet arisen in Committee on this Bill. Last Thursday Walter M'Laren raised question in form of an Instruction. Government resisting were beaten, the Opposition coalescing with revolting Radicals. Now, as Squire of Malwood puts it, the Government, kissing the rod, accept injunction; undertake to embody M'Laren's Amendment in Bill. Pretty to see air of doubt and hesitation that hereupon comes over ingenuous faces on Opposition benches. If Henry Fowler had put his back up, declared that Woman delighted him not, nor Walter M'Laren either, Opposition would again have joined forces with Radicals, and Government would once more have suffered defeat. Since they resolved to obey Instruction carried by majority last Thursday, Prince Arthur shakes his head; Edward Stanhope shows this is quite another pair of sleeves; whilst Joseph, back bronzed from breezy Bahamas, bluntly says he will oppose new Clause Henry Fowler has promised to bring in.
"It is the duty of an Opposition to oppose," says Prince Arthur; "and I did not for several Sessions sit at feet of Old Morality without being impressed with imperative sense of duty."
Mr. Courtney explains the Puzzle.
Later, when this difficulty temporarily out of way and it seemed progress with Clause might be made. Proportional Representation was dragged in neck and crop. Courtney took charge of the puzzle business, and tried to explain it. No prizes offered, and attention a little slack. Squire of Malwood defined the theory in admirable phrase. "It is," he said, "an ingenious system by which a man is to vote for a person he does not prefer in order to secure a majority for some purpose he does not understand." Can't better that; leaves nothing else to say. Nevertheless, much was said; talked by the hour; finally a division, in which Government majority, rarely falling below three score and ten, stood at 72.