The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1905. MR BEDFORD'S ADDRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7876, 19 July 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1905. MR BEDFORD'S ADDRESS.

Thai live local Young Men's Mutual Improvement Societv should have invited the youngest member of the House, and one of the coterie which forms the youngest party in politics, to enlighten its members upon the questions of the da\, was not to he wondered at, especially as there is probably an ulterior reason lurking behind the motive which prompted lire invitation, not altogether unconnected with a rumour relative to the possible candidature of a nominee of the "No-I.icensc" party for the suffrages of Ihe voters of this ileetorate at the forthcoming poll. Whether this be the ease or not time will show, but it is always well to unmask a battery, if one exists, in order to prevent possible damage. At I-.-as l, the visit of the senior mcni-l-er for Duucdiii ou a political mission may he regarded as a peculiar coincidence, and, though, after all, it may result from natural causes, it is not devoid of elements lending to il a a different construction. The ."ddress itself was thoroughly chua<'teristic of the speaker, and the views expressed were undoubtedly those ot the "cheap notoriety" party, ihe latest cult of political mountebanks, whose incessant cry for purity is somewhat overshadowed by the strength ami insulting vituperanee of language in which they de- , light to show their vindietiveness towards tire Government, and especially to tin' Premier. This outside pur- • iiy of the plaller, with ihe seething nature of its contents, was much in evidence on Monday night, nor could it be otherwise. This "young" party may be described as consisting ot a limited number of electrical units, each 'highly charged with a force thai impels them to destroy something or somebody, the chief danger, however, being in the co-relation of these forces to one anollrer whereby lire accident of a moment may shatter the parly to ii'liuitesvimal fractions. There are already signs of such a disruption evident, and in all probability ii left to the tender mercies of the Opposition, the young pariv will soon get tired of playing the cat's paw to the monkey. Meanwhile it is the aim of these apostles of purity of administration and lust for power to pose as a high spirited team, but their verbal prancings and curve!lings would not. deceive any wiloofcer into the belief that the antics were those of thoroughbreds, but rather pertained to a far different sort ot animals, whose only strong point consisted in Hinging- up ihe most mud possible on the persons of those, whom if tliey could they would like to kick to pieces. The dominant note of that part of Mr Hertford's address which related to politics was that of unrestrained abuse of the Premier and his colleagues in the Ministry, whom he described as "the weakest men in his (Mr Seddun's) party. "We," said the speaker, "who are elected to represent tire country have absolutely no voice in, the administration." For this, most people in the colony will be-devoutly thankful, as it will be an evil day when (if ever) the affairs of Ihe country are presided over by those who-do not even know how to restrain their envy, hatred and maljce. Mr Hertford's remedy is, of course, simple, but not logical, for, after hoisting Mr Seddon up as the stromc man surrounded by weaklings. Mr Bedford went on to say that the only way to get rid of one weak man w'as to turn the whole Government out.. As to the remarks of Hie speaker relative to the "appointments made 10 tin? legislative Council, they are deserving only of utter contempt, and prove beyond all question the animus which permeates this pure joung party. JVc are as a rule most charitably disposed towards condoning the vices and errors of youth, but there is a point beyond whicfi it is not wise So strain the prerogative of mcrcv, and .ihe Young New Zealand parly have ostentatiously crossed that point, and must suffer for their folly. They have yet to learn tnat thy good sense of Hie colony will not accept abuse as argument or degrading vituperation for manly independence. Mr Seddon and those associated with him in the Ministry have proved their worth, and Ihe statutes of the colony hear lasting testimony to Ihe wise and progressive policy which has characterised the tenure nl office of Ihe present Govern men t, ami all the furious language of the self-styled purists Will not avail one iota lo lessen the confidence of the people in llie Ministry which has accomplished so much lo'J the people's welfare. 11 they think rial by tunning candi-

dates to split votes they can effect their purpose they will iic greatly mistaken, nor will the bait which they dangle in the shape of the "Referendum" on all sorts of subjects be j readily swallowed. The time is, we are confident, a long way off when the paiplc of tins colony will willingly iu led into chaos, and long be-fore-Hi.'}' can he misled into false securitv the young party will, it is hope.. nave grown wiser with age, or have ~e.-n relegated to that oblivion which is lire fate of meteoric phenomena.