THE PREMIER AND RETINUE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 76, 7 April 1913, Page 8

THE PREMIER AND RETINUE.

[To The Editor Stratford Post.] Sir, —The Premier and his retinue, after spending an extremely pleasant, and expensive holiday sight-seeing in the South Island, reached Stratford on their northern tour on Wednesday evening last. I have followed the utterances of this strange band of irresponsible contradictions, and I believe all men and women, competent to judge and unbiased enough to express an honest opinion, must admit that Mr William F. Massey is an arch-political enigma. I know many wise men who, after a careful study of this oblivious politician, are inclined to concede to him the right to make any statement to advance his party’s interests and damage the poh ticnl integrity of such a statesman as Sir Joseph Ward. For fifteen years or more Mr Massey has, with consistency, characterised every surplus oi the Liberal Government as a men figment, and the public will easily recall how he, before the last election, in a delirium of excitement, delivered himself of endless platitudes on the bogus financial position of the Domin ion. I have before me many of the “counts” set forth by him to sub etantinte his harangues, and for pur poses of clarifying the point whici I wish to make, I shall set down a few bearing on the surplus previou to last election: (a) There is qo ac tual surplus; (b) it appears on tin books only; (c) borrowed money ha; been used to meet expenses tha should stand against the consolidated revenue; (d) money voted for public purposes has not been spent, but add ed to swejl tho surplus; (e) the system of departmental book-keeping it all wrong; and so on.

‘ Now, this same gentleman has bee: in office for nearly a year, and the same systems prevail in every department; the same officials are respon siblo for keeping and managing tlu public accounts; the surplus this yea, is being arrived at in exactly the sameway as in previous years, and we have the same Mr Massey telling us last Wednesday evening that the conn try’s financial position was simply splendid, and what he considered a mere figment when Sir Joseph Ward was Colonial Treasurer, has, under the wizard-like genius of one of his Ministers, become transformed into a big handsome surplus!

I reluctantly turn to refer to Mr Hine, for about a year ago I endeavoured to coax him into a discussion on certain of his public utterances, but ho was a little wary, and I suppose he knew his man. However, I quote the following which stands in the is sue of our local paper of April 3rd under the name of Mr J. B. Hine, M.P. “As parliamentarians, they did their best, though it was probably not verymuch.” Mr Hine has spoken truly so far as usefulness is concerned. When Mr Hine was conducting his last political fight ho pleaded hard to secure the Ministerial benches for 'his in order that they might gel a peep into the “pigeon-holes,” and thereby reveal to the public the w icked doings of Sir Joseph Ward and his followers. Now, after nearly one year, in which doubtless Mr Hine ana his political associates have had then inquisitive noses in these “pigeon holes,” Mr Hine is credited by th; “Stratford Evening Post,” of Aprh 3rd, with paying a high tribute to Sir Joseph Ward’s administration. 1 give, in indirect speech, the matte: vised by Mr Hine: It was this com-non-sense that was also expected of parliamentarians, and, provided that quality was there, the high level of the past Parliament would continue to obtain. lam afraid lam going to trespass too much in asking space for this somewhat long letter, but I shall draw it to a close and trust that 1 may have an opportunity to follow up this hurried introduction to a subject of vital importance to every elector in this province.—l am, etc., THOMAS BOYLE.