THE REFORM PARTY AND ITS CRITICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1198, 5 August 1911, Page 13

THE REFORM PARTY AND ITS CRITICS.

Sir,—lt is really most amusing to read the diatribes in the Ministerial morning organ against Mr. Massey and his party, urging ,ttio electors of tlie Dominion to voto against them on the awful ground that, they are capitalists, and if they got into power would mop up all the land available, and. so prevent the small settler from getting a living off tho land. Perhaps Tdo not know the meaning of the word capitalist, as used by Government papers. I thought a capitalist was a man who lived upon tho labour of others, or had sufficient means to live without doing work, manual or otherwise, but I must be wrong. I would like to know these papers' definition of a capitalist, and whether they consider such men as Sir J. G. Ward, Bart., Sir J. G. Findlay, IC.C.M.G., the Hon. Mr. Fowlds, tho Hon. T. Mackenzie, tho Hon. R. M'Nab, tho Hon. Mr. M'Gowan, Mr. A. W. Rutherford, Sir J. Carroll, and others of tho Government party, whose names are too numerous to mention, are not capitalists. Why should there bo such fear that tho lie form party would get into power, and every evil that pen, ink, and print can do to, prevent it is published broadcast. I ask the opponents of tho Reform party to stato straight out whether Mr. Massey and his party are not as honest men, not only in their private life and business, but as politicians, and whether the Government can show such a record against them as can bo shown against many of the Government and their following, past and present. I ask the supporters of the Government if they can show on tho Conservative side, as they call it, any such monstrous waste ol money as that paid to the Chief Justice, to Captain Seddon, the appointments to tho staff of tho High Commissioner, and other large payments for miscellaneous gratuities. The extravagant and wasteful expenditure of money over the duplication of the Hntt railway line, the, Dunedin to Mosgiel line, and, almost worse, the Otira tunnel.

It will be interesting to know the true amount tho recent junketings of the Dominion's representatives to the Coronation, and what they have cost tho country. And for what? The answer will cover 'oo given, but the unfortunate taxpayers will havo to pay the . piper as usual, and tho result—a baronetcy for a reputed Democrat, and a knighthood for one "rejected of tho people." I must say I do wonder how long it will be before the thinking electors, who unfortunately havo been led not to think and act lor themselves, walto up to tho fact of the gross extravagance and waste that is committed by the present men in power. We hear a great cry nbojit putting the people on, tho land. Why do not those who raised that cry go on the land and provo to others thai .there is a good thing in it? Mr. Ell, M.l\, and Mr. G. Laurenson, M.l'., aro tho great ones on this cry. Surely, as they say they love the people, and aro anxious to do good to their fellows who are not in such a good position financially, why do not they fake up laud in the back-blocks and givo employment to some of thoso thoy say they aro'ready to assist? , Others of the Government following arc for everlasting railing out against tho land-grabber, and the largo holdings held by many. They seem to forget that those large ownors paid to the Provincial Governments at.the time tho land was open for purchase the price that was demanded, and surely they are entitled to that land. I guess thoso who are now crying out against tho large landowners would have done tho same if they had had the chance. And how many largo landholders are there amongst the Government following? Some of tho Government supporters say the land should be nationalised. How is it that many of the present members of the Ministry are freeholders? And some of tho ex-Ministers members of land syndicates, and yet these great saviours of their country vote for tho Government on any question that risks tho loss of offica?

How can those men who are saying to their fellows. "Don't trust Mr. Maswr and his crew," do so truthfully? Do they judge them by themselves, and think that there cannot be any honesty in the world? Many of tho Government followers admit that they aro not satisfied with tho Government as it stands. Then why do they not assist in getting rid of the Government, and put in Mr. Massey and his lot Give them a fair trial, and if found wanting in honesty and integrity turn them out. Do you think that Mr. Massey; if he brought in a Bill, say, to amend the Land Act, and stated that he would nail his flag to 't, would haul it down like an ex-Minister of tho present Government? Mr. Massey has called in question tjio miserable administration of the Native lands. The Ministerial journal replies by stating that it has been better for the last fow years. Why ? Because tho Reform party havo been a thorn in the side of the Native Minister, and lie is gradually getting rid of it, under tho pressure of the Reform party. A short time ago the Government, in a fit of the blues, got rid of a lot of the civil servants on the plea of retrenchment, and the unfortunates had to do the best they could for themselves. Is the civil service less now than then? When tho so-called- Conservative party were in power, and the times were nara, they reduced their salaries, as well as the salaries of the civil servants, though the salaries of tho Ministers were nothing like as high as they are now, nor were thero tho samo "pickings," and it is the "pickings" that aro the tit-bits. Electors of the Dominion, what do we want of the expensive and useless ornament, the High Commissioner and the staff? The latter must be tumbling over each other to give work. Electors, do not allow the head of the present Government or any future one to pledge tho country to any more Dreadnoughts, etc., without first consulting Parliament. Electors, do we want tho standing army of generals, colonels, majors, captains, and a host of others, before the youth liable to serve hnvo been instructed in their ordinary .drill? Could not all tho above host hevo Iteon imported and raised after die youths had received a couple of years' instruction by first-class drill sergeants, with perhaps a few superior officers up to captain'": rank? Can this _ country, with a population of about a million, all its best and most availahlo land gone, and having been in existence for 70 -of its best years, stand the enormous cost of tho ordinary govfrinipiit. let alone tho interest on the i2.n00.n00 for the Dreadnought, and the enormous exnenditurc to bo incurred in tho present defence scheme? Sir Joseph G. Ward. Bart. K.C.M.G., P.C.. etc.. was certainly a wise, man in makine the age of 21 years tho limit for enrolment.—l am, etc., ELECTORS, AWAKE.