STRAIGHT OUT CRITICISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3743, 26 January 1907, Page 2

STRAIGHT OUT CRITICISM.

The appointment of Mr M, Gilfedder as a Judge of the Native Fand Court is one that presents just about as sharp a contrast to the appointment of Mr Sim to the Supreme Court Bench as it is possible to conceive. We ventured to hope from the way the Ward Government started that it was going to improve on its predecessors in the matter of appointments, and that it would not be found placating disappointed political incompetents with responsible positions at the public expense. In the bad old days of Seddonism the flagrant fashion in which patronage was bestowed to political supporters gradually dulled the public conscience to the enormity of a procedure which has done so much to degrade politics and the public service in all countries. There is ground for genuine apprehension, therefore, if Southland, under Sir Joseph Ward, is to produce claimants for Government billets with the freedom of Westland under the late Ministry. Whatever qualifications Mr Gilfedder may have for the present position, it can be truthfully said that they do not lie on the surface, nor in his most luminous moments did he ever betray them from his place in the House as member for Wallace, If Sir Joseph must reward Southland friends and supporters, -it is better for him to stow them away in the Upper House, where their influence is neutralised by others, than to give them responsible judical positions. Christchurch Truth.