A FRANK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2191, 2 July 1914, Page 6

A FRANK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Mh. A.. Ji, Mvßns, ex XEinistnv of Finance in tbo „M.\ckexzu; Aclmiiiistration, is a iiißmbfir of Parliament wiiii l?a® &giiyMish.eti for hiiwself therein; huion of being jt fair ra-.ticl upright, (jppanont- \viu> is hot n fra i :i to speak i'lis mind et f e6 vrl.C-ri it falls against his own sido. The speech \\iiicji lie delivered lit the $fci'Oon&doacq Debate yp"tfr;l;i.y will hi no way ii'.jvm: that rojiUtaf ion, but Will rather strengthen jt. It Vyfts as dif£erefit as pt)ss.i!bfc fr«m the (m-rago of the WotttberS 1 , of tfc party wuJi whom M«. Myers uaa j tli«_ misfortune _ U< be politically -a»> sflciiiteli prine!pii% fur die ri-ason } ilin!, iho jficmfei? fot- Amklaiui ISng't bi'o'ki: iiwiiy from in.: putty eonvpti- ( fcions ft£ HMfflsiflfc and rtoalib .with i n number is' - important qifestiitttis on ■ i hi'ir mevite. In particular he to]- | towi'd ihe gpoii .ex'a-i;ivplc yet by ti'.p j Hos. Jas. Au.kx in dealing with j tfcc subject of B-rcval tfctettee oh j bremdf Mif> party lines. JI u. MtEitS f Mot wly With the Lmdev of t!v OptiosiHo'B on, this subject, but goes ratiser lnfth-.'.r tfaii the Uin.yi!ir./;nt- has yot gtMie ifi _ ofnisbasisiii.g tho local resj;»iisibiiity lliat iscsts upon S<siv 2eai:unf auc! • >l»rr IJnmiuioKs >A (he Empii'' in the <>* naval preparation, Unlike his leader, vrfci> prmefes blind icliaii',!'- upon Uie !nnicvid authorities so far as mivitl delcßefi is eatu-enwcl, Mn. MyKrs declares outright, for Uie esfnUishaicnt nt the vi".(.-!"(is of u Jocni navy, .and ).w risthtly iiis.i&ta upon the importance

of building »;.{/• a naval .force ifl the I V'AfliJk, People may agree or disagree with Mk. Jitrffes its to the immediate steps, that sl'towM b.a taken in pursuing ill is ideal, but no whs I can dirsibt his earnestnosa or his ] patriotism. An interesting. section of the speech of the fnejawei' for j Auddaiad East was thai m wMch I lie dealt witli tlje finances of the] State Advances Office. Mu. Ajj.es ' had acknowledged on the previous' evening that Mil. JlvßKß_\vas left in a ditiiculf. po.si ts-sii by his prftdffcras-' so? at the Treasury (Sib .losr.rii W.utn), and Ms.. :M vf'iH frankly ■ thanked the Minister for his acknow- : lodgment and quietly a'CMpteit Ms ■ :-iatcment of th-ft pftsHwii. No doubt tvcily kindly CMsuWation fur Sift: Joseph Ward restrained hi.ro from: eidnrging upon the subject of tlift financial muddle., which lie- inherited in j iking afficc, but in any cay<; ids quidt aoSeptiinre of the position is ill-Most as damaging to the claims: which Sin. .!osn-u Ward persists til making as the virile criticism with which 'the .11 ixi.sTat op Fiksnce li.-rj time a-.tid again reduced ttee claims to rags_ and tatters. That 51 n. MvEiis is at variance with the Government upon a number of lltuncin. questions is a mattes' which •it is Unnecessary cither to conceal or to emphasise. l Setting aside mere differences of opinion it is refreshing to be able 'to acknowledge, 'that the* outspoken and yet temperate contributions which Mr, Myers makes t&_ political discussion are crcditabiu alike- to his intelligence and to hi? Acnsc of fair play, and are in striking; contrast to Most of the speeches which a.re delivered on th>3 Opposition ssd" of tiie House of Rcpi«'s°iita lives.