THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1911. NO BRIBERY—NO CORRUPTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10474, 10 November 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1911. NO BRIBERY— NO CORRUPTION.

11l the course of .his remarkable speech, at Wanton on Tuesday evening, the Prime resented, with all the vigour at his command,

the mjytbioal charges which had been iadd at tlie door of the Mini slay of "Tamonanyisim" amd "corruption." He endeavoured to make it appear that the "despicable, mendacious Opposition" attributed personal corruption rto menubens of the Ministry. A more reckless and unwarranted, suggestion has never been made by a re sponsible Minister of the Grown. 'llbere is not a member of the Reform party, firom Mr Massey downward, who has ever hinted at perison--Bi,l corruption on the part of me-mbefrs of tlie Miinistrv. Like Caesar's wife, they are above reproach. But there is corruption—land corruption. What can lve thought of the declaration made by Mir J. T. Hogau, the member for Wanganui, on. the very might that the Prime Minister was vindicating himself and his colleagues at Wanton? Mr Hogan is* a Government follower. He was returned as a supporter of Sir Joseph Ward, and on no occasion has been guilty of kicking over the traces. Mr Hogan declared that' "in the majority of constituencies members were returned on the strength of what they

could get for their owm particular district." Is tins not a orusthing indiotmeait of the Government of wfliieh. tine membeir tor Wangauui is a servile follower? What other conclusion can "be drawfl from these remarks than that the public purse is biuiisi ctiraun upon with the object of buying votes? To wtiiat degradation have politics in this oounitry sunk, when a person's qualification to leg Mate for the people depends, upon "wftiat he can get for his particular district?" Wlhto is responsible for this degradation? Are the members themselves responsible? A&Siuiredly not. Wfliy, even Mr Hogan. stated that ' 'it wia.s not a proper system, and he Hoped that tlie day would come w/hen they would wipe it out." The entire responislihilaty for the deplorable state of affairs which exists rests with a Glovernment wdiich has for years past beem attempting to corrupt the donsf*tuencies and bribe them with their own money. This is. the form of corruption wfhich tflie o|ppo>sition and all friends of clean and honest government despises. 'iLhAs ia tilie syistem which reduces statesman th-ip to tihc level of the parish putrp. This is the great blot upon our legislative institutions againnt .which the people aire beginning bo revolt. Mr Hogan sayis he hopes the day wiill come when the .system will be wiped out. 'lf he is sincere in that hope, he will tell the electors plainly to put out of office a Ministry which ba<s created the system, and is responsible ~s oifTSs perpetuation.