Mr. Wade sdaid: "This position could very easily have been avoided if Mr. Fisher had been less inclined to keep the States at arms' length, and had adopted a conciliatory attitude of making known to the States his financial proposals at a meeting of Premiers in conference. . . . I may add that tis is not the only complaint that the State has against the Commonwealth Government. Perhaps more will be heard of it in the course of the next week." - Daily paper.

Avaunt!  What news is this I hear
   Of portent grim and sinister?
Is he, whose words insult mine ear,
   A mere, upstart Prime Minister?


Odds fish!  These fellows hitherto
   Wore no demeanor critical;
But, cap in hand, have sought my view
   On all affairs political.


'Sdeath! Has the caitiff not the sense
   To be polite and affable
Like others, whose meek diffidence,
   At times, was even laughable?


Aha! I made them sore afraid!
   They gave my schemes the preference,
And murmured: "Thank you, Mister Wade,"
   With low and seemly deference.


Then, I had but to raise my hand,
   And ev'ry Fed'ral min-i-on
Sprang hastily to my command,
   And bowed to my opin-i-on.


'Twas I that granted them the site
   To build their pesky capital;
For, if approached with mien polite.
   I'm not a fearsome chap at all.


'Twasq I dictated all their laws
   And made State Frights substantially
Their shibboleth; I marked the flaws,
   What time they schemed financially.


I bade them to the Conference;
   They came with meek humility;
And there I filled them with immense
   Respect for my ability.


But now, this upstart Fisher man,
   Intent on irritating me,
Has dared to moot a Fed'ral plan
   Without conciliating me.


Zounds! I have spoken!  And I speak
   With ominous obscurity.
Let him beware, I say! . . . Next week:
   'Tis pregnant with - futurity.


Next week! Be warned! Here, in my sleeve
   Are certain things mysterious.
It they be loosened, by my leave. . . .
   Aha! It will be serious!


0, I have words of weight and stress
   To tickle your auriculars.
Enough! . . . Watch handbills and the press
   For further grim particulars.

"Den"
The Bulletin, 21 July 1910, p10