THE Wairarapa Age WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1908. WHAT IS WANTED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3029, 28 October 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1908. WHAT IS WANTED.

The "New Zealand Times," incredible as the fact may seem, has discovered that "what is wanted in New Zealand is less and better legislation, and more and better administration." Exactly how such- an improvement is to be effected in our politics the Ministerial organ does not state. It scornfully rejects the suggestion that the best men who oiler their services to Parliament should be returned. Such a proposition is utterly preposterous — because, of course, if put into operation it would mean that quite a large number of Government supporters would never see the inside of Parliament again, that is as members of the Assembly. The paper in question derided it 3 contemporary, the "Evening Post," until it must have used up pretty well the whole of its vocabulary (judging by the

autology of its remarks), because he "Post" urged the electors to eturn the best candidates, irrespecive of the party to which they beonged. The "Post," no doubt, isually displays itself to advantage is a "rail-sitter" of the first order, mt it gave good advice in the irticle to which we refer, and vhich so excited its ancient local norning contemporary, but it would 36 interesting to know how the 'New Zealand Times" would bring ibout what is wanted—viz., "less md better legislation, and more and setter administration," since party men only must be returned, and the party to which they should belong, according to the "New Zealand Times," is that party of which Sir Joseph Ward is the leader, that is to say, the Government Party. The "Times" declares that the Auckland "Herald," which has never been at a/iy time a sycophantic party journal, has committed a volte-face, because that paper has remarked in a recent editorial that "any citizen may support either the Government or the Opposition without altering his political ideas one iota, and as long as we retain we only strengthen those who have a distinct and unvarjing aim in their political actions. The sooner meaningless political differences are ended the better for the country, and the sooner we shall have better Government." If the "New^Zealand Herald" has performed a volte-face, what on earth has the "Near Zealand Times" done, for it says: "What is wanted in New Zealand is less and better legislation, and more and better administration."

However, we are glad to add'that the "Times" has really accurately stated what is wanted in New Zealand, and we will go fa little further than our contemporary in question, by adding that the only way to secure such a desirable change in our national affairs is by the electors returning Independent and Opposition candidates, who are worthy of becoming the people's representatives, and who give promise of checking the unbridled extravagance of the Government, and of infusing some genuine spirit of progress into the administration of the country's affairs, and especially to that part relating to the carrying out of public works. A deplorable phase in political affairs is the over-whelming majority of the Government Party. The people, for their own protection, should see to it that that majority is, at least, largely reduced. Yes, better legislation, and better administration, that is what is wanted, and if the "New Zealand Times" can only succeed in impressing this truth upon the people of Wellington before election day, it will accomplish good work, although it may not win Ministerial approbation.