THE BRITISH MUNITIONS MINISTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1916, Page 4

THE BRITISH MUNITIONS MINISTER.

I'; is a distinct slur on English journalism that the editor of the London Daily News should have used tiie column; of that paper for the purpose of making a scathing and malicious attack on Mr. Lloyd George. No matter how intense may have been t'he feeling over the question of compulsory service, there was not the slightest excuse for a responsible editor taking advantage of his po-sition to hold up the Minister of Munitions to the public as a politician only actuated by lust of power, and dominated by a selfish ambition to Income .a political Napoleon, and to post as the saviour of Europe. Not content with these unjustifiable insinuations, it was also stated that Mr. Llovd George was hand and glove with seme of the Government's chief assailants, thus implying that lie was a traitor to 'his colleagues. This vitriolic outburst can only be accounted for by the motive which was brought into being. Whether that motive was good or evil can best be judged by those who realise what Mr. Lloyd George has done for his country, and how his record stands since he entered public life. Ostensibly the "open letter" was published so till at "the country should not choose between Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George in ignorance," but the whole tenor of the letter k so grossly unfair and untrue that it compels the conviction that it was intended as a. weapon for Che destruction of the Minister's reputation and as a goad to evoke his resignation. Fortunately Mr. Lloyd George l\a.s weathered several political storms, and has each time emerged therefrom with added personal and (Parliamentary fame. Such attacks as that of Mr. Gardiner only act as His grindstone on steel, giving a finer and keener edge and making the metal more useful for the work it was intended to perform, Mr. Lloyd George

rightly treats tUe .letter with the con-it-nipt it deserves, mereiy remarking that lie will continue to tlo hij duty-ras he sees it—in spite of all criticism, Reynolds- Newspaper, however, takes up the cudgels in the Minister's defence, and verbally castigates Mr. Gardiner. The offence of deliberately, and of malice propense, pillorying one of the lhost active Ministers of the Crown at a time of intense crisis like the present is nothing short of criminal, for it is bound to play into the hands of the enc-my, who will not fail to turn it to his advantage, The Government should certainly compel the author of the scandal .to face the music and pay the penalty for venting his spleen in such, a public and barefaced manner. Xo reasonable person objects to fair criticism, but to abuse the privileges of journalism in trying to hound down one of the few men who have rescued the country from disaster is deserving of severe punishment. The Minister of Munitions tock just as serious a view of the recruiting problem as he did of the output of guns and shells. There was so occasion for him to be anxious over the money required to finance the war, but the other two requisites for victorymen and munitions—were equally essential, and lie has fought bravely to en-' sure that they shall not be lacking. The newspapers of the Dominion compare more than favorably with some of the leading papers of England in their whole-hearted loyalty to the authorities under the trying ordeal with which they 'have to contend, but a section of the English press has devoted its energies and opportunities to hamper the Ministry, and belittle their efforts to carry on the war to a successful conclusion, regardless of the imperative necessity for presenting a united frent. These malevolent activities were destined for making mischief, but so far their efforts have signally failed, but the spectacle presented by a free press striving to fetter the Government of a country is one that is repulsive to true British sentiment, and doufcly so under the state of tension that new exists.