SIR JOSEPH WARD AND HIS DEPARTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1379, 4 March 1912, Page 6

SIR JOSEPH WARD AND HIS DEPARTMENT.

Sir,—Will you please do me the favour to publish tlifl following? Sir Joseph Ward's department, during the last threo or four months, is deserving of some notice. For some time previous to tho general election the Premier had evidently been planning to secure another period of Premiership with honour.and distinction, and that end and purpose he made strenuous efforts to accomplish. A few weeks before tho election there were strong indications that the Government party would suffer loss. Nevertheless, Sir J Joseph Ward, in skirmishing the country, declared that his party's prospects were never brighter thnn then. He knew better, but he hoped that a bit of "bluff" would help him. Alas, it did not succeed. The first ballot gave him a minority, at which result he affected to bo undismayed, and intimated to his party that lie was confident that he must win at the second ballot, for, as ho thought, there was nobody else for it. His favourite Act, the Second Ballot, in which he had placed so much confidence, gave him no better standing. Perplexed and bewildered at (he result, that people could bo so unmindful of him after all his gracious' and humane legislation, ho now realises, after a lapse of two months, that his position as Premier is last. Stung with remorse and disappointment, lie fumes, and threatens that he will become a dangerous man when he is relieved of responsibility. That is, ho is going to be a veritable dog in the manger. Sir J. Ward has had a long run of Ministerial office, and during the last five years, while he has been Premier, he has on several occasions taken unduo liberties. The Dreadnought offer was nn unpardonable offence. Tho passing of the Defence Act without first submitting it to Iho will of the peoplo was also a great fault. And, in ray opinion, it was a very improper thing for Sir Josenli Ward to submit further policy proposals to tho Governor when he had no wnrrant to think he would be able to carry out thoso I proposals. That was partly due to his ! tenacious clinginc to office, and I think partly due to a desire to bring confusion unon the political situation. Sir Joseph Ward's latest stratagem is Liberal nnd Labour. Labour is no more solublo with Liberalism than the South of L-eland is soluble with Enelond. The abundant stigma cast at Mr. Mnssey and his followers by Sir Joseph Ward is bound to. fall upon his own pate, and all tho animosity that he ,has displayed towards them *is .becauso they are in opposition to his , own personal and ambitions purnoses. I consider that Sir J. Ward has, by his retaliatory attitude, both spilled and spoiled himself. . In the matter of J. Payne's affair, according to Wardism. wrong-doing consists in the exposure of wrong-doing, not in the committing of it, so low: as it is (lone secretly. Police, the anger and bitterness in the Ward camp becnus" another foul spot had been unveiled. Deny it who will, political corruption is practised. Generally speaking-, those who am dishonest enough (o bribe are dishonest enough to deny it.— I am, etc., JAMES FORTUNE. New Plymouth, February 2G.