THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1911. "GRAFT."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10310, 10 August 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1911. "GRAFT."

A case which has been brought to light in Diunedtfm., in which a prominent oitizenAihias admitted having 'ireceved a. isuitf (of clothes in recognition of (services' rendered (to a retiring official, and has, iim. consequence, retired from, public life, 'wall isierve to direct attention to a practise which is ikmowm to be gpowlimg dm New Zealand. However much one may deplore ithe fact, it is nevertheless comimon property that 'the system of "gratfit" is islowiLy but surely creeping into (tihe public life of the Dominion. It .mSigbJti mot be fair .to assent that prominent polticrianls hiave deliberately countenanced the practise. It is fair to say, however, that (the method Tinder which Parliamenltary rotes are made and public positions are obtained, lends itself to the isnispicion that eveffytfliilng 5® mot isquiare amd above board. Tihe revelmtionisi made by the Hone Oomimiaisdani hardly touched the fringe of '», ,sy«te<m which possesses

all the elements whiah go to make Tammanyism not'only possible, but perilously easy. And, if it is passible lor a state of things (to exislt, iiij regard- to the highest offices of (the land, wnuchi may not stand the scrutiny of investigation, it is- irab difficult to conceive that a isiimiliar condition obtains in, regard .to minor positions. Indeed, it is stated tliat "jobs" nave been perpetrated in conmeiptdon' <with local 'bodies in. isome of i tdie 'larger towm® wihiicb would malse the Itaniedin- incident pale into insigaiiiiean.ee. The standard of puibiio morality lias been sensibly lowered in recent years through th© niouwecognition of the code of honour wMcJi at one time (regulated, the 'hiablits 'and doings of those charged •with tbo control of public aiftwrs. And one cannot sliut his eyes ito tihe < fact that it his has been largely the result of. the professionalism which has crept into our general politics. If the .truth were knowm in megaird ,to .many transactions in recent years, a state of things would he revealed which would isiliock the public conr science. But, for on© oa:se which its' brought to light, scores are cloaked, palliated or 'screened. It 'WouM appear What it'h© only safe@ua.lld to the public is .a. frequent change in the adaniiiniistiraticaii of general, as well as local affairs. By this mean* the temptation to "graft" would >be serusihly diminished. It lis. painful to have to suggest the existence of a state of things which, is akin to scandalous, (but no persom who has been) associated with public life ini (this Dominion for aaiy length of' time can: fail to realise' the dangetr wihicih is lurking in l the distance. With the lowering of the standard of public 'morality, 'the necessity for vigilance becomes the imore pressing.