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Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1378, 2 March 1912, Page 3

tionto tins, Baying that h« was apparently leaving these financial problems for his successors to deal with. Nelson's warcry \vns_ "Duty." How does tho Prime Minister's action oome up to this moaning of ethics? wc have the Government Just clinging tn the Treasury benches hv tho votes of pledge-breakers, another departure from the point of elliics Hint we are iiofr consuU'rini;. Tho press tells us, too, that some of tho Maori members, on tho result of tho division beimr determined by the casting vote of tho Speaker, danced an exultant liakn outside tho Native. Minister's room, thus bv their action showing that they endorsed tho tactics ot the Government in arriving at tho end they aimed at by methods that Mould not have commended themselves to a student of ethics. The l'rimo Minister having stated that he is going to resign, which is tantam.m'» t to i* Pledge, it is the ethical duty ol (ho House, to compel him to do so before it prorogues, or a dissolution granted, more especially an theie are some important appointments in tho Civil Service now pending; tho latest was so hurriedly done that it was nn admission of weakness in the power of (ho Government o retain offico. Tho question may now bo put thus:—ls tho commercial morality of tho country duo to past financial extravagance of the FO-callcd continuous Liberal party or not? All sorts of promises have hoon mado to influence votes, thus Gapping the moral instincts of tho community, for wo find land speculators iip to all sorts of dodges; wire-pulling is known to exist in every wav, and tho public fleeced for the benefit of a syndicate or an individuali AVo know of many in high commercial circles who havo benefited at tho expense of others, who they havo ruined. Borrowing, borrowing, by State and local bodies and individuals; speculation in land, mining, etc., cannot continuo without the moral fibre being affected. In the old days a man's word was his bond; nowadays it is only treated ns "a joke." Tho pendulum may swing back Bonio.-day, but it is, I fear, a long way off. Reference to Parliamentary debates does not leave a pleasing impression on tho mind. 0 New Zealand, lot every man do his ethical duty financially, politically, commercially, individually.—l am, eto.. m A NORTH ISLANDER.' Wellington, February 28, 1912.