“REFORM” UNDER DISCIPLINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8363, 25 February 1913, Page 6

“REFORM” UNDER DISCIPLINE

The squatters’ organ is beginning to talk plainly to the Tory’ Ministers whom, it flatters ifself, alone and unaided, it placed in office. It rebukes and admonishes them with the sternness of a pedagogue, birch in hand, and we have observed that these are the only occasions when the Hon. W. F. Massey is not moved to merriment, Air Massey takes his verbal castigation very meekly from the pen that is supposed to have made him. While the squatters’ organ is displeased with some of its Ministers, whom it indicates with a sufficient clearness to establish their identity, it is more than satisfied with the Hon. W. Fraser; Probably, a reconstruction of the Uab-. inet would .be more satisfactory to the squatters’ organ. As if is, the man in the street knows that Mr Massey, in the position of Prime -Minister, is not approved of by the head of the, Buthie clan, while the Hon. H. IV Bell, on the same authority, would make an infinitely better leader of the Government. This is certainly very interesting. But why not have some more squat- - ters’ journal changes? Why not invest the Hon. Charles Johnston with a portfolio? His services to the “Ko"form” party, behind the throne of th* squatters’ organ, certainly entitle huu to this preferment and emolument. That is, of course, if the existing Ministers are hot satisfactory. But on this subject, let the squatters’ organ speak for itself:— Mr Fraser does not go about with honeyed words, building hopes incapable of fulfilment. - Ho has not the glib, smooth tongue which ignore* pi-i iit facts and is only anxious to please. And so, when tie socket* after railway® and other public work* come eta mom ring for benefits for their districts, they are not misled by the ‘‘kept steadily in view” and other stock phrases of the timeserving and popularity-seeking politician. They are promptly told the plain unadulterated facte, it is easy, very easy, to pick the gentleman with the smooth, glib tongue, and the honeyed words. But why, oh why, is the squatters’ organ assailing him? We thought the squatters, figuratively speaking, had taken him to their bosoms. But Mr Herriea, and Mr Massey, and some of the others, barring Dr Pomare, who is. politically speaking, missing, have surely not been putting off the railway construction seekers with promises to keep their requests steadily in view. If wo mistake not. Mr Massey promised severa! new railways in the Auckland district straight out, and Mr Herries, between banqueting intervals, certainly gave Foxton reason to hope for a ne;w. railway; while Mr Fisher, glib of tongue, unquestionably promised,. amongst many other things on the West Coast, that the Otira (tunnel would be;pushed on farter than ever. But what of it, after all? The Hon. W. Fraser, straight, honest, but dour, is the man of the moment with the Duthie political clan. Let us cancel the promises of the rash and indiscreet Ministers, let us hang up all- the new railways, just as the Napier-Giahorna railway Was abandoned a x both ©uds* let us stop the dock of progress. .The London investors want 6 or 7 percent, for their money, and, as Mr Fraser frankly lays, public works must wait* -