BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 85, 15 February 1902, Page 8

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.

No Early Session of Parliament. QUITE an amusing little comedy in three acts has been played out under the public eye just lately First of all, the "New Zealand Times" came out with a longwinded leader ' adducing "weighty leasons," and giving chapter and verse, why there should be an early session next month It was an extraordinary article for a journal which affects to speak the mind ot the Government And its style ot argument— well, it was too funny foi anything If we did not know that the "Times" jokes with difficulty, we might charitably assume it was trying its prentice hand upon the elaboration of a laughable skit which would be sure to take the Post ' m ♦ ♦ ♦ But it was painfully and solemnly s enous In so many words, it declared that Parliament was quite incompetent to transact any effective business, and, m fact, could do nothing more than waste time, if it sat while the Piemiei was absent in London That was one argument why an early session should be held before he left, to be follow ed by another after he returned A second and equally silly argument was the mcompetency of Sir Joseph Ward to lead the House without tangling up the Government policy and making a mess of things generally There were additional reasons and confirmations—the "Times" called them 'pointers"— such as the stoppage of public woiks indicating the need of fiesh appropriations and so forth Then the "Post leaped into the aiena and went for the 'Times both tooth and nail It was grievously exercised in soul over the outrageous insult offered to Sir Joseph Waid What had he done to deserve the imputation that he could not be trusted out of Mr Seddon's sight— to be spoken to as if he were a subordinate in leading-strings'? Was the Premier jealous of his able lieutenant, and influential colleague? Awfully funny m the reflected light of six or seven years ago, when the "Post" could not find one good word to say for Sir Joseph Ward, and seemed determined to drive him out of public life, and pass sentence of perpetual banishment upon him What a striking contrast between

then and now ' Verily, Sir Joseph Ward has had his revenge when his ancient enemy becomes his eager champion * *• * So passed act the second Then, the Preimei came on m propri a persona in Act 111., and showed how completely both journals were at sea In his address at the Liberal picnic in the Wairarapa, he bluntly said he wanted no early session ot Parliament and there would be none He had the utmost confidence in Sn Joseph Ward Parhar ment would be called together in his absence, and things would go on mst as well as if he were there The finances weie all right, the policy was all light. Ward was all right 1 It was a speech which threw the electric light upon the "Times bailung up the wrong tree, and upon the ' Post cavorting around on a wild goose chase. ■* • * Of course, the "Times" hastened to climb down, gnashing its teeth at its contemporary, and uttering apologies and regrets to King Dick and Sn Joseph But the Premier's speech has also knocked the bottom out of the shrewd conclusions of the wiseacres who wjere qiute confident that the stoppage of public works was but the prelude to an excuse for sounding members by wire on the expediency of summoning Parliament together for an early session All out of it— even the trusted "Times " Every bit of guessing wide of the mark Richard has dished all the prophets and sooth-sayers once again He is a bit too smart for them. As foi Sir Joseph Ward, it would be absurd to doubt his absolute competency to fill his leader's place m Parliament with conspicuous tact and ability The Premier knows it, an<knows too that his brilliant colleague is worthy of unlimited trust and the utmost confidence That is why no early session of Parliament is needed