THE PATRIOTS!

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1901, 8 November 1913, Page 4

THE PATRIOTS!

Again in the House of jßcnrcsentativos yesterday tho Leader of the Opposition, this time backed by his whole following,' displayed to the country iheir inability to place in tho background their own selfish party interests and act in tho way best calculated to servo the interests of fcht) cotintry. Aft a fcimo when Ministers have their hands full in dealing with tho multitude of serious questions arising out of the strike—when they aro Deing flooded with letters and telegrams from all parts of the Dominion Calling for instructions and advice to cope with difficulties which have arisen or are likely to occur—this is tho time Sir Joseph Ward again chooses to endeavour to embarrass the Government In the House of Representatives yesterday, the formality of introducing a Bill to amend the Electoral Law camo on. It is a purely routine procedure, and in at least ninety-nine eases out of a hundred is treated as such. It, however, did not suit the party schemcs of tho Loader of tho Opposition to treat it as a formality on this occasion, and despite his professed desire to assist the Government in its presetit- difficult position, he deliberately instituted a stonewall to embarrass Ministers. He know, as everyoiao in I'nrliiuiiont toowp, t 0 diicnoo a Government Bill at ita intioduc-

tion and first-reading stago is quite superfluous, That tho fullest opportunity for discussion and criticism is afforded at the second reading, in Committee and at the third wading stages of the- measure. But in order to "play down" to his Labour allies, about whom he is so deeply concerned at the present, time, he has again gravely lie has again sTiown the insincerity of his professions, and again evidenced his readiness to sacrifice the general public to servo his own party ends, Thero is not the semblance of an excuse for his action, for if he wishes to obstruct the Bill and retain tho vicious Second Ballot system, with its unholy bargaining aiicj all the attendant evils of hypocrisy and deceit, ho will have amplo opportunity of doing so at tho customary stages. That, however, would not serve the purpose ho has in view. Ho wishes to attack tho Government at a time when their attention is concentrated on the strike which is dislocating tho business of tho country, and ho directs his attack to mate it appear that he is championing the causo of Labour. Ho is, as usual, looking for votes. What does it matter to him if the strike is prolonged, or if the Government is hampered in its efforts to push forward tho arrangements in hand for freeing the community from tho paralysing influence of the Federation of Labour's action? What does it matter to him and his party of patriots if tho farmers' produce rots in the sheds &nd tho business of tho place is at a standstill, so long as ho can pose as tho sympathetic friend of the Labour voters? But ho has again misjudged the public. His devices are too transparent, and unless we entirely mistake the temper of tho country, for every voto lie- may gain amongst the LabourSocialists of tho Bed Federation ho will lose the sympathy and support of double that number of fairminded, law-abiding citizens. Tho present i.s not tho time for tho petty tricks of the party politician.