The Taihape Daily Times THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1916. LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 123, 25 May 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1916. LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS.

AND WAIMAEINO ADVOCATE (With which is incorporated The Tai bane Post and Waimarino News.)

There are not wanting indications that the formation of a National Cabinet in New Zealand may bring ; about a reshuffling of the political cards not hitherto anticipated. The Government gives one the impression that they are endeavouring to lead the House by strategy and engineering rather than by weight of argument in discussions, while there is a ring of insincerity too frequently noticeable that is worthy of an American State legislature of the questionable character. The country has been treated to a fortnight’s vei biage which might and could have been leavened with satisfying words from members of the Cabinet, but they ha\ e not risen to the occasion; their contributions have not been above the average, and in several instances a long way below it. [When the Prime Minister thought members -nad been allowed what exigencies constituted a reasonable latitude in time wasting, he applied the irritating expedient of taking away all their rights to introduce subjects for legislation. It is not only the Leader of the House that is blame able for the costly waste, but he is largely responsible, because he failed to do anything towards creating an atmosphere of usefulness. He joined in the pin-pricking and baiting that is the understood process tor making speakers say more than they mean, discrediting their whole utterance, instead of showing a willingness to supply information enab mg them to grasp the Government’s attitude to the questions under consideration. Mr. Massey is blaming the ~ House for his own short-comings; he ; was not ready with Government work : and he has merely prodded members on to fill in the time, and now that be is ready he employs the doubtful expedient of taking from the House ■ its right to initiate legislation. He stands ready, gag in band, to strangle everything not emanating from the Government immediately the last word on the Address-in-Reply is uttered. Let it be understood that it is

not alone his old-time political opponents that are raising their voices against this application of the gag, it is also against the pleadings of such men as Mr. R. A. (Wright, who metaphorically wept for the slaughter of his “bantling” as he called it. No one can deny that under present fearful conditions, it is time to settle down to serious business, but it is apparent that Ministers are unjust in after contributing to an achievement of nothing, while they are feeling their way, telling members they are to be deprived of a well established right for the remainder of the session. Ministerial inconsistencies are obvious in almost all the speeches members of the Cabinet have made. Mr. Russell has injured his prestige with the liberals, with doubtful advantage from the other side view. He has fallen a victim to the urging on of those whose chief aim it is to cause dissension in the liberal ranks rather than to give consideration to measures beneficial to the masses. Although it is not intended to here discuss any particular legislative question, it may be remarked that Mr. Massey did not display either acumen, statesmanship or good common sense in assuming there were no cases of exploitation in New Zealand because the Cost of Living Board had not reported any. Mr Massey has previously admitted there are such which makes his present attitude one of deplorable insincerity. He mingles in the ruck of mediocrity and appears helpless to rise to the level of statesmanship his high office demands. If the Prime Minister would follow what we believe are his natural instincts and not sink to the brink of the cesspool of the methods of graft in engineering his party or measures, he might be a success, for what he lacks in some respects would be more than compensated for by his capacity for real hard work. He may fairly be accused of wasting his energies by the methods he is adopting to his own and his party’s disadvantage. Does the Premier seriously tell the country that butter is 1/7 a pound owhig to the increase in the price of lubricating oils and machinery for but-ter-making. The suggestion is utter nonsense simply because it is not the dairy-farmer who buys the oil and mahinery that gets the outrageous prodt—the profit the people are justified ! n protesting against. If the Government were sincere the greater part of jthe acrimony indulged in by the House would have been prevented. Had Ministers met the House frankly, and with some insistence have indicated Miat talk on the Address-in-Reply should be limited, as they were waiting with the Financial Statement and measures that were urgently wanted on the Statute Book, making it clear that the House would have opportunity of ventilating their views on matters that.-.were of great moment to the welfare of the people, as measures or reports thereon came up for discussion. the country would have been the trainer in every way. Some Ministers have so exasperated the House that others have found it necessary to defend them with a view of keeping the National Cabinet structure from falling to pieces. Some Ministers undoubtedly mean well, but they lack these qualities that are essential to instil the all-important feeling into the people that talk alone will not convey. If the House is to be led throughout, the session as in the past two or throe weeks, we may be on hio wk-onf for frequent squalls, if nothing worse. The beam needs removing from the Ministerial eye to give a clearer vision in removing any mote there may be in the eye of the Blouse.