WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1917, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

INDICTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT. AT THE HANDS OF A FRIEND (Our Special Correspondent) Wkia.ixgtox, July 10 - In a letter appearin' in the “ Dominion’’this morning Mr 11. 1 • vcm Haast says things concerning the National Government which during (he last few months have been in the minds and on the lips of thousands of people who heartily welcomed the merging of the two principal political parties in' the State and fondly hoped it would realise their ideals of national efficiency and achievement.

Mr von Haast was a zealous and very r effective worker in the interests of the Reform Party in the bad old days of division and strife, and 'doubtless when the country returns to normal conditions he will be found on the same side of politics ; but in the meantime he reviews the position with -the utmost candour and impartiality. Taking as his text Sir Francis Bell’s admission in the Legislative Council that the Government has “not oi’ganised yet” he frames a scathing indictment against the men whom he holds to he responsible'for the country’s unreadiness. -

AFTER THREE YEARS. Mr von Haast takes Sir Francis Bell at his word. He accepts the Minister’s confession that the Government has not oi’ganised yet and puts p,.series of pertinent questions to the world at large. ■“ For what purpose then,” he asks, “ have the members of the Government been elected by the people ? For what purpose have they been appointed to the high and responsible offices of trustees for the country ? (t For what do they draw their salaries as Ministers ot the Crown, if not to organise the country in this great.war in which the freedom, nay, the very existence, of the British Empire is involved P ” Of course he goes'on to answer his own questions and io allot the blame for the deplorable state of affairs they imply. It is not the fault of the civilians, who have offered to help the Government, he protests, nor the fault' of the patriotic bodies who have done splendid work, nor. of Labour, whose response has. been whole-hearted, nor of the yeoman farmer, nor of the doctor and lawyers, nor of the women. “It is the fault of Cabinet itself, which has drifted along, never looking ahead, never showing any foresight, and whose policy has been wait and see,”

OX . BOTH SIDES. , That very real dissatisfaction with tlie failure of the National Government to grapple with many of the problems created by the war is not confined to representative men on one sjde of politics alone may be judged from the speech delivered in the House by the new member for Hawke’s Bay last week. Sir John Findlay having been elected only a few weeks ago as a supporter of the Government, with the fullest freedom to criticise and suggest, may fairly claim to be the bearer of the latest miessage from the constituencies. He is in the House, as he-jJnt it himself, neither to bury Caesar nor to praise him ; not to gratify personal ambition,, but to do something if he can to help the country of his birth. If the, Government wished to have the support of the House, he said, after making a frank and generous acknowledgment of the work done by individual Ministers, it should take the House into its confidence. It had not done this. It had appointed a National Efficiency Board and then ignored.its recommendations, it .had shown a deplorable lack of initiative and courage, it had flouted the principle of equality of sacrifice and.it had tolerated blundering ineptitude on the part of some of its departmental officers,

THE SltW POSITION. So far neither of the paity leaders has dealt in any way exhaustively with the criticism they found awaiting them when they returned to the Dominion. They seem, iudeeci, scarcely to realise that the attitude of the country, towards the National Government has undergone a marked change during their absence.' Parliament is no longer to be awed into silence or into reluctant acquiescence by the appeals that, were effective enough a year ago." Members are going to speak their minds, without any lessening of their loyalty and ynlhont any desire to embarrass the National Government, and if Air Massey' and Sir Joseph Ward are wise they will adapt them , selves to the altered circumstances. Afr G. W. Russell’s attempt on Friday to brush aside Sir John Findlay's criticism of the Government .rather enhanced than otherwise the effect, of the new brilliant speech, i The Minister of Internal Affairs

wandered far afield for the material on which lie based his attack and finally brought from Sir John the pointed retort that when he framed his opinion of a certain kind of political humbug he had in. mind a gentleman who once represented the constituency of Riccavton !