THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1912. POLITICAL FINESSING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10586, 18 March 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1912. POLITICAL FINESSING.

There are a number of political counterfeits in tliis Dominion who are deluding themselves into the belief that because the Leader of the [Reform Party did not pursue a course of vilification during the no-confidence debate, he has failed to establish that the Liberal party is unworthy of the renewed confidence of the country. Indeed, certain politicians of the Payne class are defending their political somersaults on the ground that Mr Mass-ey has misled the country concerning the reckless and extravagant administration of the Government. Such paltry suggestions are almost (beneath contempt. Was it not proved right- up to the hilt that -the Government had deliberately withheld information concerning its financial operations? Was it not -demonstrated beyond shadoAv of doubt that money had been squandered on co-operative works and useless railway*, -while the people in the back-blocks were crying out for roads and bridges? Did not the retrenchment scheme of Sir Joseph Ward prove conclusively that money had .been wasted on the public service? Was it not shown that the railways were being run to death, and that the land legislation of the 'Government was obsolete and inadequate? Was it not established that men were appointed to the highest positions in the land without the slightest qualification for such positions? Was it not proved that the acceptance of a baronetcy by 'Sir Joseph Ward and the conferring of a knighthood upon Sir John FincUay were opposed to the truest democratic principles of the country ?. Was it not admitted that the gift of a Dreadnought without consulting members of Parliament wa.s an outrage on political decency? Was it not

regarded as highly improper that the invitations to Legislative- Councillors to attend the Coronation ceremony should have been withheld? Was it not shown that the national debt had increased in a greater ratio under Sir Joseph Ward than under any previous administration? Was the fact not still rankling in the minds of the people that Sir Joseph Ward had delayed the crooning of Parliament without reasonable excuse? Was the country I not cognizant of the fact that the alleged Liberal party had played fast and loose on the gambling question? Had the people forgotten the impotence of the Oovernment on the racing question? Was it not self-evident that no attempt- was being imade to deal with the huge commercial trusts which were developing in the land ? Was it denied that the .bottom had fallen out of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act? Was it not proved that- the State coalmines were heing run at a loss? Was it not shown that the Advances to .Settlers Office was a dead letter? W T as it not an indisputable fact that for years the legislation of the country had been prompted by expediency rather than fey patriotic motive*? In face of such evidence; in face of the fact that men had crept out of the Ministry for very shame's sake; in face of overwhelming proof that the country desired an investigation of the pigeon-holes of the big buildings, a cleaning out of the Augean stable, a complete change in administration, how is it possible for any man of reason or common-sense to suggest that the people had made a mistake, or had been misled ?_ The man who makes such a suggestion is offering a deliberate affront to the people. No process of re-construction or political finessing can remove the stigma which attaches to a party which has 'been openly discredited in the country by its own acts of omission, and commission. To vary the. language which has on occasions been" employed by the ex-memher for Master ton, one may say in all truth:—

"You may alter the title as much as you will— The smell of corruption will~stiek to it still!"