The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1914. MR. FOWLDS' RESIGNATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 65, 7 September 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1914. MR. FOWLDS' RESIGNATION.

When Mr. Geo. 'Fowlds joined the Ministry it came as a surprise that he, a single-taxer, should consent to do so. The uncha.rita.ble went so far as to say that it was an excellent method of '•drawing his singile-tax tooth," ifor, ol course, ill'. Fowlds dare not preach the doctrine as a Minister. When Mr. Fowlds resigned from the Ministry the other day the suspense appeared just as acute. Mr. Fowlds is a- very worthy man —not I brilliant, or particularly constructive, not an orator, not a statesman —but a plain, sensible Scottish gentleman with fixed views, which he has had to conceal in more or less degree as a Minister of the Crown. To regard the resignation ol Mr. Fowlds as a political catastrophe, or to suggest the downfall of the Government on that account is to pay Mr. Fowlds a very great compliment, and one that will assist him very materially in any designs he may have in revolutionising polities and in 'cleaning the Augean stables. Mr. Fowlds has been | behind the scenes for some years, and lins, therefore, a most intimate knowledge of the politics that arc not always made public. He is in the position now, therefore, of being able to use a knowledge which lie could not have possessed bad he not the unique advantage of familiarity with the policy with which he disagrees. No one can blame him for ''pulling out" if his conscience dictates this method. But one may find it in' one's heart to wonder why his conscience did not knock sooner. His views ha.ve not changed. He has simply kept them under for years, lie has been cruelly kind to the Government in his valedictory remarks, and is not in agreement with the Opposition. Critics are again too complimentary to Mr. Fowlds in saying that this gentleman who has suddenly developed a lone-hand policy can lead public opinion and perhaps' lead a future Government. In his future political fight Mr. Fowlds must necessarily be critical. His criticisms must be aided immeasurably by the knowledge he has gained as a member of the Ministry. They must be destructive of the work done by the Ministry of which he has been a member. Mr.' Fowlds finds very late in the day that his dignity and self-respect will not permit him longer association with his late colleagues. This is not onlv harsh on the said colleagues, but is distinctly uncomplimentary to himself, who baa been such a very long time discovering that his official comrades were not fit associates for him. We .believe Mr. Fowlds to be a useful politician —honest, plain and straightforward—and that in immolating himself on the suddenly discovered altar of conscience, lie is fully conscious of his martyrdom. But if Mr.. Fowlds ha.s resigned in order to have freedom for a single-tax propaganda, we take the liberty of submitting that he should never have accepted a position that made it necessary for him to 'keep a quiet tongue on this—to him —great iiuestion. If single-tux i« necessary now it was necessary five years ago. and Mr. Fowldis has not been quite fair to the people of New Zealand in keeping them waiting for its real or alleged blessings while he held a verv important office' which prevented him becoming its I greatest missionary.

XOT MOVTXO FAST KNOUOTT. Mr. Fowhls thinks the present Ministry is not advancing sufficiently: he twants to see the pact- accelerated, but a great many people will argue that wo have been moving just a little too fas);, that we have bitten off more than we can chew, and that what is needed more than anything else just now is a period of legislative rest, during which the laws that now do service might be perfected and more attention given to the great essential —the clo'er settlement of the country, whether it belong to the Crown, the Maori, or the big Kuropean holder. We do not think this will .be brought about if Mr. Fowlds' views are supported by the country. Said lie: "T consider one of the most urgent things to lie done is to make a serious effort to reduce the cost of living; and, in my judgment, this can best be done by increasing the taxation on land values and using the proceeds of the tax first to abolish duties on the necessaries of life, and, secondly, to reduce railway freights in order to bring the produce

of the country to the consumer morel cheaply." As we have said beifore, Mr. 1 Fowlds is an avowed single-taxer, and as a single-taxer he is evidently going forth to battle. He may succeed in establishing a small party, for we believe that in the urban electorates a big .section of labor shares his view that the present Government are not moving ahead fast enough for their lik- | ing, and will give support to candidates enunciating like principles; but the coming into existence of a third party would prolxtWy have the effect of bringing the liberal Oppositionists and the moderates of the present Government Party into closer relations, out of which might be evolved a strong party that the extremists to lie found in the present Opposition or the new Fowlds element, would be unable to dislodge. This would not be an unmixed blessing. Mr, Fowlds lias no love for the Opposition. Hear him: "Some of my friends on the Opposition side will probably say that I am scuttling out of a sinking ship. The only inducement that would have kept me on the Government ship would have been that of battling with adverse Opposition gales. In my judgment the present Opposition do not constitute a factor in the future political life of this country. As far as that party is concerned. 1 believe no Government in Xeiw Zealand ever went to the country with less to fear." There is this to be said, that Mr. Fowlds is prepared, even at the eleventh hour, to make sacrifices for his political principles, which he is desirous of propagating untrainmcled by party ties. His action may be courageous.; it is certainly not that of a . weak man; hut'we cannot help thinking ■ that lie is doomed to disappointment so far as converting the country to his way of thinking is concerned. We regard him as a. misguided leader of a forlorn hope.

A PROGRESSIVE POSTMASTER. Tlie public of New Plymouth have good cause to esteem the local postmaster, Mr. Dryden, for the many great improvements lie has effected in the conduct of the people's postal and telegraphic business. The latest promised improvement in reward to the ■collection ami delivery of mails is a highly desirable and necessary one, while the additional posting places will be a distinct convenience. Amor:« other improvements instituted since Mr. Dryden came, there is the continuous telephone system, which has already proved a boon, the occasional irritation caused by missorting is not now felt, and the extension of the time at ■which the postal box lobby is open is a valued convenience. One other important change is to be noted. Formerly it was necessary to pay insurance premiums and to transact some otheT business in the postmaster's office, which sometimes occasioned delay and inconvenience. The public can now transact all such business at the public counters, and are duly grateful. Mr. Dryden obviously conceives it to be his duty and his pleasure to offer the publie- every convenience possible of attainment. At a time when New Plymouth is on the eve of a great awakening, it is fitting that an important )>ost office should be in charge of a progressive and obliging official, who is to he heartily thanked for effecting so many valuable reforms in administration and the extension of conveniences.