THE PUBLIC AND SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 539, 21 June 1909, Page 4

THE PUBLIC AND SIR JOSEPH WARD.

'■' SirJ—Tho.mills _of God aro said to.-move slowly, but-to grind exceeding small. Tho mills of public opinion move slowly, too,' but they move exceeding suro and grind exceeding small as well. Thoy. havo takeu fifteen years to make ono turn, and in : that period overy trace of-its best traditions,, every association; of honour, equity, and independence has been, ground.out of and disappeared; from' our political life/as'fcpresorited by the Seddon4Yard: system..of opportunist riiis-govorn-racht.'-' h 'And "the voice of a deaf and blind peoplo said "Amenl so let it bol" But the great mill-stones have.now almost completed a have turned, and the present party and,-its'; misguided .head arc thrown in tipon. them./.And tho'cry'goes out: " How long until - : theV and; their. political system.bo ground,into powder?" And tho yoico of destiny "answers: "-. "Yet a littlo whilol" 4/ho people are turning upon their betrayers," erstwhile 'their, make-bolievo bone-' factors. ' Tho general elections merely indicated the turn of the tide of. publio opinion, 'rinco when the current has' been sweeping along in an ever-increasing rush,; until we .find l ,to-day. -such a general, chango in; its aspects,':as indicated.by'the'average opinion heldviii/.town and country, that we are.conyiricid 'nothing can stand against it..- Spito of;, .compromise, .pretence;/ concealment of ; f acts',-/misrepresentation, cbat-turning, : general' opportunism and frantic, desire, for pay and power, the Ward'Govennnent must go, ■ iind the ,Bodner,-,tbe''botter. :.;.-' /,-"' -y ■'■:■' ..And'/how. about '-these/ Dreadnoughts,- and tho manner of their presentation.' /Sir, i. be-libye,-they are but •stepping-s'tories; > cast ( into the's&Vby.ari'ambitious.:manon his way to higher'titular-honours.;"'..' Sir. Joseph Ward,. K.C.M.G.j is fond of-fine-soundinginanies, as .witness.the great "surprise" ho first bottled up.and -.finally 'Sprung on an. astonished and .gratefulJ 'country,.- .when, upon' .-his .; return f.rom.'thoJast. Premier's.'.Conference m.Londonphe'dubbed the country "Dominion," in place..of- the -;more.vhomely. "Colony," and changed common ;M.H.E-.'s' into ,M.P.'s at tho'same time..-..Vivo Sir 'Joseph 1 vi ;• iSir,' libelieve .we'may' attribute the. reckless ahkiety on the .Premier's- part, to -go Homo -to his seeing --that. the;, party's .game is-nearly.up, andthat it is now or never for a' long'free jaunt,' and'finally tho possibility of being made a. real live lord..'And, what oi''.tne ; famou's'- ! " silent forty-four,'!. who' tied' their tongues for a; smile 'from" the Premier ? .Weilj 'his, purpose,accomplished, 'they.can ,go' to itheiTr—..country l r r : l..am,' etc.,;.;., ~;;,.':. v\: : )s:;\->---"•■-: V' :'•■; " : --':'■■■ {WAIRARAPA;--;,Greytoirn, Jun0,12,;. 1909, ;- '.;'• : -,/,i:- !