POLITICAL MYSTERY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1327, 3 January 1912, Page 4

POLITICAL MYSTERY.

GOVERNOR RETURNS TO TOWN. WHAT WILL THE PREMIER DO? The only information obtainable from the Prime Minister's office last evening was that Sir Joseph Ward will leave for Christchurch to-night. Nothing could he learnt as to tho object or the duration ot the trip. In this connection it may ho of interest to mention that the Governor and the Priino Minister will both be in Wellington to-day. His Excellency the Governor left Christchurch for Wellington last evening, and will arrive this morning. Lord Islington has altered his plans, for it was his intention, as announced a few days ago, to return to Wellington tomorrow—not to-day. Lady Islington returns on Friday, and the household tomorrow. The following item from the Hastings correspondent of The Dominion may, or may not, be regarded as an indication of tho intentions of the Ministry in regard to retaining office: —"A local deputation, which is to visit Wellington to meet the Minister for Public Works with a vieir to discussing the proposed route of the Hast Coast railway, has been informed that it will Ix 3 received on Friday next, January 5." MR. ATMORE'S VIEWS. PABTST V. PEOPLE. Sir,—The newspaper comments on' the recent elections have been very interesting, but lew show any indication of an. attempt to interpret the will of the people as oppressed at the polls, so, with your permission, I should like to make a few deductions from the event.

I believe it has been clearly shown that the peoplo revolted against tho Govern-I nient on tne extreme party lines en which / it has been conducted during the last feiTJ years, when party interests have invari-l' ably be-eii considered of greater import-) auce than public welfare. i^ The people are now of opinion that it is high time Parliamentary control waa re-established in New Zealand to supersede the very absurd autocracy which has controlled this alleged democracy of ours. Let us havo "government of.the peopla p by tho people, for the people, , ' in its en- / tirety, and not government;.of the people/ by the party, for tho .party, such as we/ have had in recent years.-; . ■ V That party put through some remarkably fine legislation, which will stand to "I their credit, for all time. but.their ad-I fninistration left a whole lot to be desired; I for it; was permctted with the most,per-/ nicious principle of tho "spoils to that victors." '■ ■;■'.'

* In brief, it may almost be said that the Government legislated for the people, but administered lor themselves. ! When tho people realise (as they are now about to do) just what "tho sovereign rights of the people" really nieaii, it will bo impossible for any Premier to give a Dreadnought without first obtaining their consent. Many of the candidates who gave an unconditional party pledge were defeated, for tho electors saw that a man should bo pledged to principle and not to party. In addition to party, the land question' loomed, large in the considerations of the people during the recent contests, and the verdict must bo taken, as one favourablo to tho freehold.

The people have seen that it is in the best interests of the .Dominion that facilities should.be provided whereby every industrious settler has a cha'nce'of acquiring the freehold of his holding, and if he is animated by this hope, it will act as an .incentive, snurring him on to make his land produce up to its utmost capacity. ...... .... ....... The-idea of small freeholds as the- ideal land tenure is beginning to. take firm hold of the people, of this country." The result of the elections as a whr.le showed this clearly in the number of freeholders elected, but I should like to refer 'par-ticularly.'to-.the' Palmerston North' contest, where Mr. fiuick defeated Mr M'Nnb. Tho latter gentleman is one who deserves well of this country, for his unsparing efforts in' trying to arouse the people tfl a sense of the, danger arising out of their defenceless position, but he is usually considered only as the author of tho most rigorous leasehold Bill (1907) ever put before a Parliament within the Empire. ;

Ho was defeated ' in. 1008 in ' a fanner's electorate, and . has again suffered defeat in ■ • o,'. • ■ constituency ntairdy dependent on atfriciiltnre. Ho is an able man, probably abler than his successful opponent:, but his leafeHold views will always' militate against /his chance of success in an acriculiural district. The leasehold tenure, is not tho last word on the land question, as soiuo laud reformers seem to think, but is merely an illustration of tho working of the law of polarity. When, with tho spread ot education, men began to think on social f|uestions, they naturallv revolted against the evil of unrestricted private ownership of land, and flew to tho other extreme, arguing that if all the trouble arose from private mviiershin then no one should own Jaud, but that' all laud should bo held by the Stale. Hence the popularity for a time of the land nationalisation theory. Now peoplo'ai'o Feeing more clearly, and are perceiving that you do not "get rid of tlis evils of landlordism by having tho State as a landlord instead of a private owner —you have merely changed your landlord. They havo also seen that tho evils of private ownership in the past were due to tho fact that there wns no restriction of area. The way being thus cleared, they have arrived at the conclusion that unrestricted private ownership is wrong; that nationalisation of the laud or nopriMito owiiei'M-ip is eoually wrong-, and chat J:he middle course is the only safe one name- • ly, restricted . private ownership, or ft syflcm of freeholds of limited area. Havo your land laws, so that every worker in town or country has reasonable facilities for .becoming his own landlord, and you will then have a contented, happy, and prosperous people in. this Dominion, and will have administered an effective counter to tho spread of Socialism, and will have done much to decrease the.cost of living—one of Hie biggest questions which.the'new Parlin-' meut will havo to face... The large estates must be dealt with by a proper application of the graduated'land tax. and if this is properly applied there will be no need to fear anv. possibility of a reaggregation of the largo holdings. I believe tho people' have indicated (heir desire for a broad,; comcreheusive land policy (hat will give, so far as one generation can, some finality on the question of land tenures. They want leaders who will lead, and not those who only follow. This brings to mind Disraeli's biting jibo: "Time was when English leaders led; to-day they mostly follow."

Use the leasehold as a stepping-stone to the freehold, for that is its preocr use. Whether the land is held collectively by the million people of this country (and that would mean land nationalisation), or whether it is held by the million under individualised title?, (hero need be no fear of tho revenue, for that ran always be obtained; but if the land is settled under the freehold in small holdings, then you would have such ah increase of prosperity, due to increased production, such as we have never yet experienced.

The. people have also signified llieir (losiro for inoio economy in administration, and they objected most /■mphatieally to extra* payments to official*, such .as the .C-1000 made to the Chief Justice. I'J'his gentleman already receives .£201)0 wicr annum, and the extra payment of IC-lflOO- favours too much of the process complained of in the Scotch proverb: ("It's ill-work greasing the fat sow." " This strange 'generosity with (he people's money shows up in sharp contrast with the Government's action when dealing with the railway workmen, who asked for 9s. |icr day. They were receiving Ss. 3?d. per day, and Mie Government, on the eve of the election, raised it—not to the !)s. a«kcd foi —but up to Ss. (id., by giving the nrincely increase of 2}d. It is a wonder, Mr. Editor. th»v coiil'l spire it. O.iiir'-'rr it with the .frlOOfl given to Sir. Robert Stout. It would take a working man over thirty years, at Bs. per day, to eurn

the sum given to the Chief Justice by the Government in one year. I believe the public conscience has awakoncd. and a closer watch will bo kept on tho doings of Parliament in the future..

Tho people have also demanded an elective Upper House, to that they may be in closa touch with both Houses of Parliament, and ■whichever party has tho reins of government it will bo forced to comply with this demand. A Parliament truly representative of tho people will chidy the people's needs, and must deal with the cost of living, which is beconiin;; almost unbearable in large centres. A storeman was sentenced recently to eighteen months' hard labour for appropriating £U worth of goods to his own use. He was in receipt of 45a. per week. I.bolieve—not a princely wage considering the cost of living in a large town and tho fact that he wax.bringing up a family. I am not defending the theft, but I am wondering how far tho people of New Zealand are responsible, for it 'by allowing a worker, whoso work is absolutely necessary for the carrying on of tho business of a: civilised community, to bo in such a miserable position, owing to the beggarly pittance given him as wages. A labourer is worthy of his hire even if he does not happen to be a Chief Justioe.

The treatment meted out to the storeman when compared with that accorded a certain politician who dealt in thousands makes one wonder whether thero is special justice.for prominent party men. Tho poorer man gets eighteen months and the prominent'party man gets a special Act (the Judicature Amendment Act, 1910). put through for his benefit. I am taking up a deal of space, Mr. Editor, but musing on the present situation convinced me that there are many wrongs to be righted, even in this socalled God's Own Country, and I wished to express my opinion on the position as it appeared to me. Should you have the space to spare, I should like to write further in the near future.

Let me conclude by saying that this Dominion requires a strong Government —not two or three , strong, members and the rest marionettes—;who Vill be imbued with a dominating idea ('.hat they are in the position for the welfare of the people : as a whole, and not solely for the good of their party.—l am, etc., HARRY ATMORE. Kelson, December 22. ■■__••.' "WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT." A COMPLETE CHANGE. .. (By TeleeraDh.—Suecia.l CorresDondenM Auckland, January 2.

Tho "Herald" to-day says: ''The Prime Minister is not likely to place himself in tho odious Dosition of appearing to cling to the privileges and emoluments of ofiico when he is no longer clearly entitled to l«inain in power. He himself has laid it down as tho cardinal principlo of his political conduct that the first duty of a statesman is to ascertain what the people want and let thorn have it. Sir fceph Ward must know that tho people I ave declared in a manner that leaves no room for doubt that they ..want a. change ot Government, not a reshuffling, of port-folios,-or a reconstruction of the Ministry, but a 'complete and .radical change. His own admitted duty in these circumstances is at once imperative anil pliin. It is to allow them to have their way and to facilitate f.lie inevitable, course of events. To relinquish power long enjoyed and to lay down office after many years cannot fail to give rise to seus-r.-tions not. wholly agreeable, but it is the common fate of all politicians.anil s.falestifi. Wo belio-'o that Sir Joswh Ward will be found preoared to step aside nithnut any undue or unseemly delay. Parliament will, wo hope,- meet this r.u-nth, and all parties will then know hj v they stand. Another reason why it - should meet thus early- is that the. new Government should have .sufficient time to make itself acquainted with the real position;of affairs before tho House reassembles in the ordinary course in June next In all probability- tho next Government will consist of men all new to office, and it is 'only reasonable that they should be afforded an opportunity of becoming familiar with tho details.and duties of their various Department? ■before.-tbey-are, called upon to face : the House. -We' believe also "that tho financial position of the country calls for the earlv termination of the present uncertain condition of things. -, THE RECONSTRUCTION IDEA. "A CONDITION OF SUPPOET."

The ''Auckland Star" publishes the following from its Wellington correspondent: "The opinion in well-informed circles here' is that members will. make a complete reconstruction- of-, the Cabinet a condition of their support. ■ The sweep made of Ministerial - supporters in tho North Island is acceptod as a cloar indication of wanl of confidence ill the Government throughout the Northern electorates, and the Ministry must bo strengthoned by tho inclusion of some capable North Island representatives. Messrs. A. M. Myers and Vernon Reed are spoken of,as the most likely members in the running, as Ministers representing Auckland, and the fact that Mr. Alyera sits for a city constituency and ■was returned by such an overwhelming majority is regarded as giving him the hrst claim. But a seat in the Cabinet in view of tho state of parties is not an office to bo coveted, and any member asked to accept such a position would doubtloss hesitute before placing himself under fare: ti-oiii an Opposition, who will bs embittered by any attempt to them ot the fruits of their successes at the polls, lhe political situation is' altogether a very interesting one, and 1 be--I,cv e. l '.at Sir Joseph' Ward will find grant ciiftcuity in forming a Ministry, which could carry on tho business of tho country through next session of Parliament.

"V f W cdl , n , "T/espondcnt of the Poverty Bay Herald" states that at (ho Chnstchurch caucus there was no demand for immediate Cabinet reconstruction As a matter of fact, Sir Joseph Ward »« S|wn a perfectly free hand. He lias hrst to ascertain, after consultation at ■ nnnrfn, y° T k ,riU I- his -northern* * nnorters, if certain contingencies are likely to eventuate. If so, he will fill at least two, ]f uot throe portfolio" am Ktobo'" ;l l?* il . i 0» <* enounce jftdt ae can command a reasonable workforfhr^- nt:l 4 U tbose enarentees arc Ou the other hand, if these guarantees are not forthcoming, Sir Joseph Ward HAiL 0 ? 0 nc \ (,m V n advising that Par' lament meet early in February, so alr - 3 °r y '? ■β^llcnge'his po S , f'on. Ac statements that there 'is tn h= an announcement that willl surnri n Jn-AnW 5 ' ■ aml - " a P° siibil J' °" $ ,hi"n P r f fl ard S I^"I™''1™'' from hfi leador. ship ot tho party' are wholly imaginary.''

At Latnboth Pulaco on November 14 tlm