THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1911. POLITICAL PERSONALITIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10285, 13 July 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1911. POLITICAL PERSONALITIES.

Ministers of \tihe Crown are rtuhing about the country jußt now in a halfframbic imood, apologising to the people for their siliortoomiiigs, and trouncing the Opposition for daring to speak .their mind© concerning the hypocrisy and (humbug which dominate the politics of rtihe day. Speaking at Dalefield on Tuesday evening, the Hon. T. Mackenzie—who is a hybrid sort of "Liberal"— became quite hysterical over ih& personalities* which !he alleged were being indulged in. He did not give any specific instance of : personalities on the part of the Opposition; but he left ilt> to .be inferred that all the sins in this connection belong to those Avho have been demanding a reform in our political system. It need hardly ibe' isaid that the drawing of such an inference is absolutely unfair and unjust to the Opposition party. Can the Hon. T. Mackenzie name a solitary insltance where gross personalities have been indulged in by the Opposition? Can he name a [single Opposition candidate or mem- [ jjer of the House who has been guilty q£fitting below the belt? If he can, lei Mm do justice- by himself and the

country and name tho offender. If , he cannot, let him for ever hold his | peace on such a subject. The Opposition party is hitting hard just now. It is hitting often. And, if it can succeed in convincing the electors that they are the dupes of political time-servers' and place-seekers it will have conferred an everlasting boon upon the community. The Mia- I isti-y is feeling the position very acutely. It is win-ring under the criticism of those who axe daring to tell the truth and expose the hollowness and mockery of the alleged "Liberal- | ism" of the-tJay. And what does it do? Instead of hoisting its flag, and nailing it to the masft, it endeavours to appeal to the sympathy of the constituencies by bald .assertion and querulous outi3ursts concerning' personalities and unfair practices' which have existed only an their own limp imaginations. Why do they not come out boldly with their policy, if they have one? Why do they make reckless charges: when there is absolutely no reason or foundation for them? They must be in. a parlous condition indeed when they have to employ such questionable devices'. The electors are becoming enlightened, however, and they are not likely to bo side-tracked by political methods which are transparently elusive. 1