The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1912. THE TONGUE OF SLANDER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8340, 29 January 1913, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1912. THE TONGUE OF SLANDER

The fact is recognised on both sides in politics that some of the ablest meh in this country, and those best qualified by intellectual capacity and experience to make useful politicians, persistently decline to offer themselves to the electors. If a sound explanation of this regrettable fact were sought for, it would probably bo found in our lack of appreciation of the services of our public men. However disinterested they may be, the basest motives of selfinterest are imputed to thorny however honest, they are denounced by their opponents as unscrupulous rogues; however capable, their brainiest efforts in the service of the State become the gibe of every narrow-minded voter who conceives that vituperative abuse is the most effective method of opposition. In suggesting these conclusions, we do not blame one side more than another, because the deplorable habit has grown common with custom, and is becoming fairly general. But, apropos of the custom, it. is pertinent to suggest that there is no parallel in the political history of New Zealand for the campaign of malevolent slander and malignant misrepresentation with which Sir Joseph Ward has been pursued during the last year or two. We need not remind our readers of the extent to which this detestable and contemptible method of political warfare was employed during the last general election to poison the minds of the people against him and bring about his defeat at the ppll. And yet. at the same time, the most violent of his opponents confess, now that he is driven from power, that his name stands out distinctly with those of Ballance and Seddon as that of one of the greatest statesmen that New Zealand as produced. Unquestionably it does. The point of our article lies here. The slanderers of Sir Joseph Ward are not even now content to leave his name and his reputation alone. The envenomed tongue is still at work. Since his recent departure, it has been insidiously and maliciously suggested with untiring persistence, though, from a wholesome fear of consequences, not very openly, that the main purpose of his mission to England was to injure the credit of the Dominion in the London money market and thus prejudice the Hon. James Allen’s prospect of floating the proposed loan and carrying out his financial arrangements for the future. The suggestion is unthinkable in, its despicable baseness. That it has been and is being circulated is a fair evidence of the malice that is working against Sir Joseph in certain influential quarters. As we pointed out in our Monday’s issue, though unconscious of the slanders that are being set afloat to his detriment in his absence, Sir Joseph has emphatically demonstrated their untruthfulnesa in the interview with the “Financial News” referred to in our cable messages. What better proof could bo furnished of the incontestable fact that his patriotism and desire for the welfare of New Zealand rise vastly superior to the petty feelings engendered by party bitterness and resentment than his own publiclyexpressed sentiments evidently designed to prepare the way for the Hon. James Allen’s mission and render the floating of the loan easier than it otherwise would be? Why otherwise should Sir Joseph be impressing the people of England with the fact that our financial position is thoroughly sound, that the overwhelming _ bulk of the public debt is invested in reproductive work, and that New Zealand offers the surest ground in the world for the investment of capital? This is all the cable message tells of tho interview, but it is enough. Does it suggest that Sir Joseph Ward has gone to London to thwart the Hon. James Allen’s financial plans? Does it warrant the slander that he is anxious to prevent the million and three-quarter loan being raised ? Does it even lend colour to the unworthy suspicion that lie would condescend to imitate the policy of the self-styled Reformers, and vociferously “ cry stinking fish ” in the hope of making political capitalagainst his opponents, though, by doing_ so, harm might bo caused to the Dominion and to its credit? These are not. and never haro been, Sir Joseph Ward’s

.methods. Tho people of New Zealand, if they are prepared to concede to him iho scantiest measure of justice, know that ho would scorn such despicable devices to prejudice the cause of his political opponents. Nevertheless, with the cabled outline of this interview staring tho public m cold print, the slander continues to circulate. Tho veiled insinuation, the whispered suggestion, tile paltry innuendo—they are doing their work. And, meanwhile, Sir Joseph Ward, unconscious of tho dishonourable methods of his implacable and malignant enemies, is doing his utmost to strengthen the credit of the Dominion in London, though wo are told it has enormously improved since “ Reform ” came into power, and thus assist tho Hon. James Allen to raise tho loan money that is imperatively necessary to replenish our finances and enable the Government to proceed with its public works policy.