The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1912. AN IGNOBLE APPEAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1369, 21 February 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1912. AN IGNOBLE APPEAL.

Those who were present during the no-confidence debate in the House of Representatives last evening could not fail to have been struck with the extraordinary outlook on politics held by the Prime Minister. For Siu Joseph Ward, it must have been apparent to everyone, there was only one real issue at stake; only one absolutely vital question to be considered, and that was the best way out for Sir Joseph Ward. His speech was almost entirely confined to personal matters affecting himself. He amazed the House with tho narration of all sorts of extraordinary things that some person or another had told him were being said about himself; denied all sorts of rumours, real and imaginary, and generally behaved as a man docs who feels that it is safer to deal with vague nothings than with established facts. The role of martyr was rather spoiled at times by the somewhat violent outbursts of abuse with which the speech was freely sprinkled, and which were hardly in keeping with the pose adopted for the occasion, and were certainly far from elevating. But this is really a minor detail when noted in conjunction with the fact that the head of a Government under motion of censure, instead of devoting the time at his disposal to a defence of his Ministry's administration, and to a rebuttal of the charges levelled against it, was more concerned to place on record his assurance of his own personal incorruptibility and superiority to the weaknesses which assail commoner clay. It quickly became plain as lie proceeded that the party's interests were a quit*' secondary consideration to its leader's desire to cover liis own discomfiture as best he could.

Wo should imagine from tin; reception accorded Sin Jnsi;pit W.msd's remarks that I he course he pursued on the no-confidence motion was anticipated by his following in the House. The per?"nnl note apparently wqp dr. signed to lead up to Iho claying of

what must be regarded as Wardism's last card. Realising that he has been judged and condemned by the electors of the country, Sin Joseph Ward is now seeking to create a situation which will enable him to claim that his retirement from the position of Prime Minister was a quite voluntary act. The course mapped out would appear to be something on these lines: First, an attempt to appeal to the sympathies of members bv creating the impression that he, as Prime Minister, had been made the scapegoat of the Ministry; then lo heroically announce his readiness to sacrifice himself rather (ban imperil the fortunes of the party; and,\finally, and most important'of all, to attempt to secure a temporary majority hy announcing his willingness to retire from the leadership of the party fiflrr (lefcnlinij Ihe im-miif'ulfiitr viiilimi. Jn other words, his carefully planned speech was little more lliaii a pitiful appeal to those members pledged to vote against him to break their pledges, so that he might bo spared the humiliation of defeat; for which kindly consideration he would be prepared afterwards to band over the reins of leadership to .someone else hi the party. That is the situation in a nutshell. Sin Joseph Ward, it is true, tried to gloss it over by saying that he would not attempt to cling to office on a narrow majority; and thus strove to make a virtue of necessity, but the plain meaning of his remarks is as stated.

It is hardly worth while reviewing the speeches in the debate, so far as it has gone. The mover and seconder of the Address-in-Rcply, knowing what was to follow, sought to show the Independents and Labour members that Wardism was their only hope, and Mr. Massey and Mr,. Au.en made a number of telling points against the Government. The outstanding facts in the situation as now revealed, however, are the impossibility of Sir Joseph AVard retaining ofiice, and the readiness of his own party to throw him over. We have held throughout that whatever happened Sir Joseph Ward would not be able to continue in office, and after his speech last evening it must be plain to everyone that he knows this himself. He would have strengthened his position with the House and with the country had he frankly faced the situation at the outset, instead of clinging to office under circumstances which mi bis own showing make. it impossible for him to hope to carry on for any length of time. Such a speech as that which he delivered last evening could not have failed to create a bad impression on the younger members, who might reasonably expect to find some signs of dignity and self-restraint in the utterances of the Leader of the House, especially on an occasion of such moment. As it is, it will probably have the effect of impressing on all parties the desirableness of a change, the speediest and safest road to which is the early carrying of the amendment moved by the Leader of the Reform party.