THE PREMIER AND THE PEOPLE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1224, 5 September 1911, Page 4

THE PREMIER AND THE PEOPLE.

; Sir,—A very important, point in connection with the Premier's return has not been sufficiently considered, I' think,, if considered'at all. "He had noticed what had gone on in his absence," Raid Sir Joseph, in affecting response to those "big, heartfelt shouts of welcome winch had been pent up so long",by the little handful of damp persons who welcomed him when the Knapehu arrived on that immortal night of Eriday, August 25, 1911. Sir Joseph also talked about peo- [ pie's feet and his own throat, the manufacture of false statements, falsehoods, tittle-tattle, and to the circulation of extraordinary, malicious, and vicious stories. But, lid added, in ; the high heroic and oracular, yet also miscellaneous, vein becoming in peregrinating I'romiors and brand-new baronets: "We aro _ not the judges of our own actions. That" must be for the people of New Zealand, who aro keen in their judgment, and qnite capable of judging the actions of their public men.- We aro prepared to'trust tho people—("Loud applause" from the handiil of damp I am not in. .'the slightest degree perturbed by some of :the small things I have noticed done that are not particularly creditable, done as they have been, done in our absence." Now, my points, in one of its aspects, is this: That the Premier's statement, in declaring that ho was "not in the slightest degree perturbed" by some of "tho small tilings." "not .particularly creditable" and' "done in his absence," was distinctly at variance with scientific accuracy. Otherwise, whence the ferment in his omotions. and the vivid variegation of his vocabulary. Why, if he was "not in-thei slightest degree- perturbed,' .was tlie. Eight • Honourable' Baronet's manner on a par with that of the historic Scotsman, who "could only give vant to his feelings by rushing into the middle of the street and swearing at largo?" The other aspect of what I consider to be a- vital view of the matter is this: That some of "the small things," _ not particularly creditable," "done in his absence," included the comprehensively and cruflhingly condemnatory resolutions against the Government, passed at the overflowing meetings addressed by. Mr. Massey, the Leader of the Opposition. For instance, at Wellington, on Thursday, July ft: "That the people of Wellington, assembled in public meeting, thank Mr. Massey for liis oblo and instructive address, and endorse the policy which he has expounded; rfr.d, further, ex.press tho opinion that the time has arrived whan in the interests of good government and wise legislation, the electors of the Dominion should tako prompt steps, to havo the present Government removed from office. At Masterton, on Saturday, August 12: .-' "That this.mooting heartily thanks tho Leader of tho Opposition for his hble address and declaration of. his policy, and is of opinion that the time has arrived when a change of administration would be in the best interests of the Dominion." ' And at Pahiatua, on Monday, August 41" .'"Tha(;.thi9 meeting .pass a.hearty ■vote of. thanks to and confidence in ' the Leader :of the Opposition. (Mr. • -MasSeyKfor his .abl&V.and.-i'instruchve f address- and his declaration of policy, ■- and is 'clearly of-opinion that the time lw's., arrived, that it'is,.in tho ''-Wsfifltejeste ■of the' Doniuiioj; that ' the Government' should be turned out ;,oi office.". ' ■ . 'Other resolutions similar in: purport need not bo quoted here; but I think that ■those I have yuobid should, in the interest of historical fidelity and ethical exactness, be included in the'small things, "not particularly, creditable," .■ as "liaving been done in his absence.- by tho people of New Zealand. I think, too, that the Premier's declaration that thoso things did "not perturb him in tho slightest de<reo" should bo thought of in closo comparison with his actual behaviour, which was (figuratively) that _of the Scotsman, whose feelings constrained him. "to rush into the street and swear at, large."-! am, et,., Qp