LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1368, 20 February 1912, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT, Sir,—There is no doubt that a quito extraordinary nmount of interest—interest compounded of many elements, curiosity, hope, fer.r—gathers ' about the present Parliament. If it does not. represent tho suildon emergence of a new force in Dominion politics, it mnrks a complete transformation in the character of tho Now Kralnnil Parliament itself. That Parliament is no longer a bundle of minorities. At one time, and for n long lime, did Iho "grenl Liberal party," by its ill-Rained majority, ride rouph-shod ov(T the will of the people, and by tlio will of the same, parly, it mnybo added, which not only tolerated no differences of opinion betwixt its members, but even concealed tho fact, that any differences existed. It first of nil settled all' questions of policy under the shelter of tho mighty caucus: then emerged from the caucns.as a.unit, to effect in public what has been agreed upon in private. • From tho party point of view, this arrangement is most effective. Whatever discords exist in the party stop short at the' voting point. But from the public point, of view this method is a deadly peril, and for the Labour party itself tho caucus is certain to become, sooner,or later, "a gun that kicks." : .

The two Chambers met last week, with all the usual outwnrd show of koiy-tow-ing, bowing, and scraping,-which counts for nothing, is .costly,- and should bo abolished. The real Parliament, in Sir Joseph Word's opinion, is the one that met at Awanm House last week, andvwas attended by all his' Liberal adherents, at which, in strict secrecy, tho wholo course of PUBLIC BUSINKSS (including the farcical Governor's Speech) -was determined to their own satisfaction. That the Government are not in earnest *s regards this advanced policy goes without saying;' they merely desire another long tnrnv of office and power, at the expense of the long-sufl'ering-taxpayer. Now, it is certain Hint no Knglishspeaking community, with'the stubborn solf-respect and love of openness characteristic of thei type, will any- longer tolerate its Parliament being turned into a. machinery for registering the resolutions of a caucus which meets in secret and outside its- walls. Tho. members of the Reform party, as also the Labour members, are unjust to themselves in this arrangement, and'should condemn the Administration's Star.Chamber methods in politics. In conclusion, I trust that Sir Joseph Ward and his narty appliiudfrs.will be hors do combat on and after Tuesday next.' and sincerely hope that Mr. Massey will not pay out any more rone to the derelict Liberal Government.

I cannot close this lptter \ without thanking your paper for tho fair and njioverboard manner in which you have shown up the despicable methods adopted bv'tho would-be continuous.- Ministry. Trusting' that yon- will publish this lengthy letter/ and thanking, you "in -anticipation- therefor,--! nnv etc.. •'. ■ \ DREADNOUGHT. Wellington, February 19,\1912. ' .. V ■■ ' < v ■; ;"• .'./:' ■' ■■.' ■ = ••• THE COMING DIVISION. Sir,—ln your comments on. Hie political situation in this day's issue, I notice tho suggestion'that the member for-Grey Lynn. (Mr. Payne), .may- pair with..Mr, Wilford. •• First, 1 would like to askYChn a pair be constitutionally arranged with a member who has not been sworn in as a. member of the House of Representatives?. Second, , also: Is it.lawful, for a member .against.. whose .election', n petition has been lodged, to take- his. teat and vote .before l.he inquiry has brien held? Thankirig-you in anticipation;—l am, etc.,

[The v point, raisetl by. our correspondent as to a pair , being given to Mr. Wilfor'd is ..of. interest. Mr. AVilford could not vote until he was'sworn, in. as a member. Pairs, however, are merely a. matter of convenienCß, as between members, and are not formally recognised bv the Standing Orders-of'Parliament, although recorded in Hansard.. (2) It.is.lawful.for a member, to vote until a charge is proved .against him.] , • THE LAND 'QUESTION. Sir,—lt ie highly amusing to read the bouited AlinistaiKu divereioiiii ou Ine land (jutstiou. ont) suouiu tuiuK (iliac witii me Ifjw't'i-s tho party has possessed lor tuo past zl yea.ni tuty wouiu nave long since MJCtleu uus tralifceiiacntaiiy ini|,orumt matter. iNot ao, However, lor auritijj vjic past full Uoren years tins party Has Iretn uevelopiug m an acme ol nt-iiecvion a "liuiuuug aud Jioiuny" iorm ot govoruing tins glorious country. All questions qi moment to me wviiare ot the community we Jiumbugged and honiiiica upon, while the mana of vain lritn KtcKing nosurdiy imperialistic au<t titled ini]xiri«iu.'O was suppo'netl. Ao liritisu cauntrj' yet lias. hau such an expericuoo ot' wealth aiid titie-creatiiig.'poiiii(.'ians' as New Zcalimd, has had lacoi'y, ami it is stu])id to tlunk that amidst such a glamour of vanity and wsll-scekiug tlio interests of tho people can receive attention.- 1 look cuntemptuo'isiy upon the 'ilumbuf arid Homily' -party's protestations:about 'settling tho great land question; 'whicu, once fottied.-will iset up suoir an'CTa of prosperity in this-country-that will mesmerically, ,attract the attention of all Australasia. ■ . '.. ' ■.'••...

•1 take it. that Mr. "Masscy is to sec that every willing, intelligent, pers'on, will lie given a chance to establish liihifelf as a iretholdor, and deductively, thei-eforo, as an , affectionate and .-patriotic member of tho community .' 1' take it, also, that the best and most up-tc-da.te .educational ot:portunities willibogiven'for the scientific working of the land, .1 take it, also, that means will lie devised whereby the largo freehold holdings' will ■ be made, as demand occurs, available in au equitable and progressive manner for further small fettlement.' Let'.equity and progress'go haml in hand. But one'thing above all'l won't take, and that is that the "Hiiin-bug-Homily" Government can over deal prjperly with the great land question, or, indeed, 'any other question, Excepting:, of course, tbo.'monientous questions of strutting about vain-gloriously, titlecadging, land syndicate floating, making high acolyte Government appointments, while tho burden-bearers are overlooked, trading on the political ignorance of the masses by contemptuous disrespect for all constituted forms of government 'Oh, such odious vulgarity of Government!— I am, etc., ■ • . HOPE TTNDEFERKED. HOME TRUTHS, Sir,—Lady Stout's hysterical assertions regarding tho prosperitv of this country require an emphatic denial. Her distorted visious of our supposed prosperity can only, be attributed to her long alisenco from tho Dominion. In the. strenuous struggles of Suffragetti&m at Home she. has not had tho ■ lime to acquaint herself with a correct kuowlcdgo of, our position here. Tho defeat of the Govcra* ruent at the last election should have boon a hint that there, is almost, universal dissatisfaction over past, political administration. While.she, is struggling with the franchise at Homo wo.aro struggling with the pennies for the pounds havo gone long ago. Would not it be better for Lady Stout, if she wishes to discourse on' New Zealand affairs; to abandon, those "rejected women .political aspirants" for a time, and return to acquaint herself with Hie true state of affairs'generally, ?■ There has been nlore.thau sufficient evidence in the hundreds of vacated shops and houses that Wellington has, and .is experiencing, one of th« worst d<-pjvss:on,s «v'cr known hi-re—and in. ilie iiiiuirance of lliis stntp.of thinss, lo d«siro. further, ininiivi'iitiou is. tlip.inost piTDostcroiis siipgcsluwi. Dui'ns my, rec<\*"> visit to England I.«nv tIKMUiK'h-a(U-ei:l;is«l indiiecmerit's offered.to.ouiiKrants, enticing thyin to. this land, \rlieli>.thvit< is not suftieient business unit work for. those already here. It's the iiilhiled ucvuuir.r. .of our iiilpposed prosperity, .(Jivuehsd so much., at Home, Hint onus. , ! immigrants un nrrivnl.tu wk such ottlrageous nuufs;- and whon <=nlightened, only to find they, have been du[j:'d. Our land of "milk nnd liuiiey-," •ulvcrlised on tlir.o'.liei , .ijdtf, i" a "myth" here of sriirontic .'prO|iort.iun, nnd. the re-Inrii-to F.n«Uni(l of imuiii;iimts ftas. fully justiiii'd .Mr.: .lellicoe's statement, printed in the "Poll's"' issue, of. J.-imiary." 8, 1912.'! regarding the "Dominion oil !ho verse of ruin." The labour, laws wliich T.ailv. Stout <o eniogises are now, a -spur' which .is' fast driving the capitalist' out of.. New Zealand, and the immigration suggested ' is welcome to take over .the.country, Government, lock, stock, and barrel.—l am, ctv. ■ •..-'■ *t,d up;