The Dominion. MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1912. THE MEMBER FOR AWARUA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1462, 10 June 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1912. THE MEMBER FOR AWARUA.

The member for Awarua has at last condescended to inform the public of his intentions regarding his appointment as New Zealand representative on the Imperial Trade Commission. After accepting the office, and after for two months leading everyone to believe that he intended to perform the duties, he now suddenly discovers that he cannot attend to his Parliamentary work if he retains his seat on .the Commission, and so ho has resigned from it. The conduct of the ex-Prime Minister in this connection is open to the strongest censure. It must be borne in mind in the first place that this Commission is to sit very shortly in London, and that the action of Sir Joseph Ward in clinging to the position until this late hour will in all probability prevent New Zealand being represented in the early stages ot the sittings of the Commission. Apart from the lack of consideration thus shown to New Zealand, the fact cannot he ignored that his unexpected action is far from courteous to the Home authorities or to the other members of the Commission, who have been led to believe that the Dominion's representative would be in attendance. The excuse put forward by Sik Joseph Ward is so very flimsy that very few people, we imagine, will believe that the member for Awarua has disclosed the real reason for his conduct. When he accepted the appointment he knew that the sittings of the Commission, would extend over a period of something like two years—no said so himself—and ho knew that if he acted for New Zealand on the Commission it must interfere with his Parliamentary duties. Wo pointed this out at the time. On April 6, tho day tho announcement of the personnel of the Commission was made, we wrote:

"Perhaps ho [Sir Joseph WanV) will make clear in duo course, what is certainly- not dear now, how he can travel about tho Empire continuously for two vcars, most of which will bo spent in "other parts than Now Zealand, and still occupy a seat in the Douse."

Wo have put the same question since, but Sir Joseph .Wakd has all a one professed to believe that he could fill both positions satisfactorily. INOW he suddenly discovers otherwise, ami he must not be surprised if the public look elsewhere than to the reason he gives for his change of mind. The country endured Wardism long enough to learn that above all else it stood for self-Unit whenever Ihe interests of the party conflicted with the interests of the people, it was not, the partv tliat was called on to make the sacrifice. Sni Joseph Waiid ninv have made, personal sacrifices, although they are not on record, but ho certainly has taken care (hat he should receive a larger share of rßwds than has fallen to the lot of way other

poliiiwiUfl here, including, th'fi'l i.mly hereditary title evw .bestow- ' ed on any public man in this, coun? | try. The fact csmwit, I lis overlooKcd in forming an opinion .i):s to the fcn.snns influencing his iititfo.iis. tu-clrtjS | When the Hon. T. MACKEXzra i was selected as Si it Jdsepii Ward's, successor to the office of Prime Ministin- there wrts a good deal of specula-1 Lion as to how large a share, the oul> going Prime Minister had h'sui jn. the choice. Later, when Mitt.- fi.Viik'ES'zie; ohose as his colleagues., .tlic Curious' mixture of Ministers which no* constitutes the Cabinet, the. question' again arose as to how largo, a share/ the member for Awariia had had in. influencing the selection. N.o fIUS expected such a Ministry to last long,; and most people expected what ftfitti* ] (illy has happened: that, is, thai; l.b.j would split the party.. Tli.iis it. sitiia- ] tied lias been created, in which the ■ Ministerialists are matte jo rippciji* even worse off than whe;ii Sift Joseph. ; Ward led them. How far thp member for Awarua is responsible .for this situation we do not pretend ty. be able to say; but it; must be very, plain to evoryone that; hacj a strong, man, unfettered .by any gthc'r considerations than, the fbrnja-. tiou of the strongest possible ■• Ministry—say Mr. M.i^Eii-bee.ii. chosen to replace Sir. .J'osEiiii WAidr as leader of the party';,. ..it.might have: been in a stronger p'psj.tfen thari it is to-day, and Sin J/QSeph : . iir that case, would have':'sunl< fcorhpjetely into the background,. As: : .it ■is'j.wo. shall not be in the least; surpri'satl to find that his sudden determination: to relinquish the position.' of:' New .Zefc. land representative 'pn-Ahe Imperial;: Trade Commission ««■' intention to once more 'Maclv. wit., after the Prime Ministership,. lie may hope to take advantage; of dissension in the Ministgriiil under its new leaders' t,q regain'; his. grip on the party and: tabririg'.into, heel again those the peril his lcadership,:ha;d,:d>aggc.d. them into, and ism had proved to ths; : fqrtiifios; of &i&\ party. It niay be ''taken M. ah .-■ey.if--dence of the hard -straits.in;.whichy "Liberalism" fincls,itselr :: 'tpr.day..tliat: it should be credence;:' to the idea that thß"' : paiity:- .may he.; forced to fall baclotprja. .leajlei; pn the member who so'signally ■fajlg'd:;in; that capacity, ./his:. career with %/rpcojr.d.;;iPajprA ity, only a month~:6Y' ; .Jib; was compelled to relinquish'the .office-; to save his greatly?:i-cduce"d; ;i party;: from defeat. 'yhat'qyer.; Sir Joseph tions' may be, his conduct ;in,;conrice>: tion with the ImpenalfTradq-Cpm?' mission, and also th£&i|dpjui-e; concerning his action: ''oyb^th'i? ; '.|6'UV,; million loan, are •;tp" arouse any enthusiasm''' :thVmighput'. the country for afTe,turri'. to: W'a,i'3'-J-. ism. i>v- ■*■'.