TROUBLES OF A PREMIER.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 7, 20 March 1911, Page 9

TROUBLES OF A PREMIER.

We have reecived a pamphlet entitled "The Premier and His Troubles," being a reproduction of an address delivered by Mr A. R. Barclay, ex-M.P. for Dunedin North. Mr Barclay takes Sir Joseph Ward to task for his speech in the House vindicating his character from the aspersions cast, ivpon it by an anonymous writer. Mr Barclay's pamphlet" is a trenchant critique of the attitude taken up by the Premier. The vulnerable points in Sir Joseph's speech are cleverly seized upon and turned into effective weapons against himself. Throughout, the pamphlet maintains calmness of judgment and dignity of expression, though one or two interjectorv sentences might have been omitted with advantage. Mr Barclay, while disapproving of the "Black pamphlet, more strongly condemns Sir Joseph's mode of reprisal, and clearly states his opinion that the scurrilous and "unauthorised biography" was not libellous—a fact which explains the failure of the Premier to seek redress in a Court of law. . The attack on the Premier's politics and principles is caustic and convincing, but we do not share Mr Barclay's opinion that the Workers ought to replace the indiarubber Premier (as he terms Sir Joseph) and his indiarubber Government by following the example of several Australian States. That, in our opinion, would be to exchange indiarubber for caoutchouc. The workers had better go in for backbone —-otherwise Industrial Unionism phis Socialism.