BIG AND LITTLE ISSUES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2542, 17 August 1915, Page 4

BIG AND LITTLE ISSUES

Conditions now and strange have been created in our politics by the formation of a' National Cabinet, conditions to which our public, men and indeed our pcoplo may find difficulty, in adjusting their ideas. The united Government will not find its path strewn with roses. .So much may bo said with certainty. It will have to tread a very difficult and thorny, .path. The least that people here may do is to see that the difficulties besetting the Government are not rtiade greater by any acts of theirs. It is an unfortunate thing that this country is afflicted with politicians who, oven in such a crisis as the present, cannot put aside their little party prejudices and concentrate 'their minds and their energies on the bigger and vital issues which confront them. With the formation of the National Ministry it might have been expected that party bickerings for the time being would be thrust into the background; but instead we find in - two cases at least which have come under our notice that even tho formation of the National Cabinet is seized on to ai> tempt to make party capital: Thus we have Mr. 0. it. Poole, in an interview. published in an Opposition journal at Auckland, proclaiming that:

".The vindication of Sir Joseph Ward, is clearly 'established by his being called upon at this critical juncture to put tha finances of the country in order. So, after years of harsh criticism, the • Leader of th.j Opposition finds himself in charge of the exchequer, and solving the problems of Now Zealand's financial future."

Mr. Isitt, of Ohristchurch, in another ' interview, used almost the same phrases: „

"But what a vindication it has been of the man who was attacked right and left, and who now, by the obvious wish of the whole of the people, in the moment of'trial, is placed iii'charge of the country's finances."

Everyone who has followed the course" of events in political circles knows quite well that Sir Joseph Ward was nob given the portfolio of finance 'in the National Ministry because it was necessary to "put the finances of the country in order." The public are well aware that the finances of the country were* in excellent order when the National Cabinet was formed, and they know also that Sir Joseph Ward was given the 'portfolio, of Minister of Finance as part of the bargain between the party leaders, which resulted in a union of forces for the period of the war. It happens that neither Me. Poole nor Mr. Isitt is a person of much consequence\ in political affairs, and what, they think about the National Cabinet does not much matter. But their statements show how lamentably even some of our politicians fail to perceive the seriousness of the real issues in the affairs of today. It matters not at all for the moment whether Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Massey has scorcd a triumph by reason of the formation of the National Cabinet. Neither, we believe, would bo so petty as to seek to claim it for himself. Both the Phhie Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and their respective pairties made sacrifices in ; order to enable a National' ■ Ministry to be formed, and the motive which prompted their actions was to secures that complete unity of effort in the conduct of the Dominion's share in the struggle which could not be attained by any other means. To attempt now to make party capital on one side or the other out of the arrangement entered into can only do injury to the purpose which wc should all have in view. It is a pleasure to turn from the pettiness of the Pooles and the Isitts to an utterance by the Hon. Dr., M'Nab on the subject, of the new Government. Speakin- at Ashburton a few days ago, lie said:

"However much I might be inclined to wish it were otherwise, I cannot but admit that tlio tremendous national cr'sis which lias to be faced, and which brought about my restoration to Ministerial life, robs the occasion of all measure of personal gratification. Would .that, through tho absence of tho cause the promotion had not come! But it has come, ami personal gratification lias to be put aside, personal conflict on political lines has to bo stayed, and tlioso who have beon friends and foe; in tho past have all to unite as friends for tho future for tho one suprenu) purpose of helping the Empire through the greatest trial it has known in its history. As a means of securing the maximum contribution to (he common cause, I. ltolieve that the National Ministry- will prove a profound success, anil if it does that, what matters ii- if in every other direction it proves w equally profound jfaikatf-

If the National Government approaches its tasks in this spirit, the people of New Zealand need have no fear of tho outcomc.