The Hastings Standard Published Daily MONDAY, JULY 19, 1897. POLITICAL MORALITY.

Hastings Standard, Issue 376, 19 July 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

MONDAY, JULY 19, 1897. POLITICAL MORALITY.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrongs that need resistance. For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

There is at the moment considerable discussion with respect to Mr Ward's position. Is he or is he not eligible to take his seat in Parliament if re-elected for the Awarua constituency ? We have to bear in mind the fact that Sir Ward is at the moment in the clutches of the Bankruptcy Court, and to all appearance it is quite unlikely that his discharge will be obtained before Parliament reassembles; is he then under such circumstances if returned competent to t ike his seat inthe representative chamber *? That there should be any doubt about the matter is a striking commentary on the shameless manner in which latter-day legislation i 3 performed. Either through incompetence or worse the work of Parliament is " scamped," and laws are made which are absolutely useless and fail to effect the purpose for which they were intended. The Electoral Act and the Disqualification Act make no direct provision for the exclusion of bankrupts from the Legislature, and Mr Ward supported by the opinion of two of the alleged leading lawyers of the colony has announced his intention of again contesting the Awarua electorate and if returned of taking his seat in the House. Ex - Speaker Major Steward concurs in the opinion that Mr Ward notwithstanding his bankruptcy can take his seat. While one party holds this view there is another which maintains that Mr Ward cannot sit in Parliament while in the condition of an insolvent. This second party rely upon the reading of Section 130 of the Electors Act—- " The seat of any member of the House of Representatives shall become vacant if he is bankrupt within the meaning of the law relating to bankruptcy." The interpretation put upon this section is that bankruptcy does not preclude a bankrupt from seeking election but it dots prevent him taking his seat. To apply it in ths present eise, Mr Ward can, if he chooses, go to the poll, but if when Parliament ine?ts he is a bankrupt within the meaning of the law relating to bankruptcy he cannot take his seat in lie House of Representatives. It is difficult for the lay nio<l to

to express an opinion that is worth a moment's consideration ; but when lawyers differ it is only possible to get at a settlement of the matter when Parliament meets. We have not the least doubt that the question will be fully discussed in the House if Mr Ward attempts to take his seat, supposing that he is still a bankrupt. To all those who have the political welfare of the country at heart such a discussion as is now proceeding must be disheartening. Surely there can be no moral justification for a bankrupt being permitted to sit in Parliament ? There may be occasions when bankruptcy may be the result of pure misfortune, and exclusion under such circumstances would be hard ; but on the other hand we have not to consider exceptional cases but the average, and the average of bankruptcies are not brought about by misfortune. In any case we must see to it that our public men possess the highest character, and the bankrupt by the mere fact of his bankruptcy loses character. A man that pays his creditors a few pence in the £ instead of the regulation 20s, whatever might be the contributing cause, cannot truly be regarded as au honest man. It would be a very hazardous thing to allow even Mr Ward if he is a bankrupt to enter the House. The principle would be indefensible, and the act would open the door to the scum of the political world. Above all things let us insist that our public men shall by their conduct under all circumstances show themselves to be true and honorable men and worthy citizens. It is the duty of every elector to see to this, and we appeal to the men and women, to the fathers and mothers to use their influence to this end. Some of the men that seek Parliamentary honors now are bad enough ; but if we do not draw the line tightly we fancy that the legislators of the future will be dissolute and dishonest individuals with a fluency of tongue and a plausible address. Are we to teach our sons that the road to Parliament lies in being able to drink whiskey, in coarse ribaldry, in absolute dishonesty. A fine ideal for the coming generation of electors ! Even now we think that if the characters of our public men, either in their social or political aspects are considered, it will be admitted that there are many who would be better'out of public life. The political morality of the country is at a low ebb, and the nation that allows itself to drift into moral langour is in danger of disruption. It may be that the one-man-one-vote system has by admitting to the franchise a body of irresponsible electors lowered the level of our political morality. The irresponsibles have nothing to conserve and therefore- do not care, and being in the majority they control the position. We wish it were possible to rouse up the best men in the community to the dangers which lurk in this moral indifference and get them to engage in a vigorous crusade against it, but we are afraid such a thing is impossible, and the country must go on as it is.