THE WAR AND POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2474, 29 May 1915, Page 7

THE WAR AND POLITICS.

Sir, —Surely no better answer could be given to Mr. George Witty's. letter of the 2Srd inst., appearing in this morning's Dominion, than the Press Association message you publish on another page of the same issue, intimate ing that "Mr. G. Forbes (Opposition Whip), and Messrs. G. Witty (Riccarton), J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairarapa), and W. D. S. Mac Donald (Bay of Plenty) arrived at Whangarei yesterday ... to take part in the contest for the Bay of Islands seat." Mr. Witty confesses that he is "astounded" 1 So am I (and not a few others) at his impudent attempt to draw "a red herring across tho trail" of his Chief's doings in the north. Sir Joseph Ward had told the good people 'of Kawakaiva that he did not want the General Election to take place last December, and virtually accused the Government of being influenced by unpatriotic motives in deciding to hold the elections at the usual time. But he only stated half the facts, and when Mr. Herdman corrected and reminded him of a few little things that he had forgotten 'or overlooked, Mr. George Witty steps in to express his astonishment I Nor docs he leave the matter there, but follows it up with a confession of ignorance concerning the events that transpired at that conference at the Royal Oak, of which we have been hearing lately. "I do not protend to know," says Mr. Witty, "what took place at that conference." Of course, he does not- It would be highly inconvenient. for him to remember if be did, seeing that practically everybody in the lobbies knew, the evening, that the only offer Sir Joseph Ward made to the Government was that the elections should be postponed from December to March, or April, at latest*.

and that the Government had very properly intimated its preference for adhering to the constitutional course by going to the country at the usual time, la tliat sweet, good-natured style which so much becomes him, Sir Joseph - Ward attempted to make political capital out of the Government's action hy dark insinuations (he being the only Simon l'uro on the horisson) that improper and "indecent" motives were at the back of the Government's action. Then. Mr. Herdman having pulled him up with a round turn, by reminding lum of the things that lie had forgotten, Sir. Witty—Mr. George Witty, of all men!—comes to the rescue with his pleas of astonishment and "I don't pretend to know"! Neither does the "Heathen Chinee" when it suits his purpose to plead ignorance. Mr. Witty's patriotic heart was doubtless, filled with anxiety, at the prospect of the General Election taking place at the usual time; he would (poor fellow) i have gladly spared the country the turmoil and strife in which so many of his colleagues and the party Press for part, if thereby the interests of his party would have been advanced. But now that there is a ohance of averting further strife, he proves his consistency by rushing north, hoping and praying as he goes that good luck may attend his movements, and that he may help to reclaim as "a brand from the burning" the Bay of Islands seat from the Reform Party, and, by thus equalising parties in the House, pave the way for another appeal to the country.—l am, etc., GEORGE WASHINGTON. Wellington, May 26, 1015.