The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1883. CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1476, 6 September 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1883. CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST.

One or two sharp lessons have been taught to raombers of the Opposition this session who have indulged in the practice of " throwing mud," Major Atkinson, who has been the object of their attacks, has brought them to book, and the injury they intended for him has recoiled on themselves, Mr Dargaviue, a promising politician, lias lost casts by abandoning himself to practices of this character, Having made serious charges against the Major he partly shuffled away from his ground, and then when cornered utterly failed to substantiate any shadow of a case. Major Atkinson's reputation for integrity is absolutely vindicated, and Mr Dargaville's word is proved to be unworthy of credit, On Tuesday evening Mr John Buchanan was foolish enough to follow Mr Daroaville's example, and put his head into the lion's mouth, He had, however, the sense to withdraw it at the first opportunity, and so has come off better than Mr Dahgaville. Even Sir George Grey burnt his fingers a little the same evening, and hid to eat his own works at the suggestion of the Speaker. Sir George Grey is clever enough to throw stones and yet keep himself under cover. His followersMessrs Dargaville and Buchanan -no doubt deem themselves equally astute, but they have not been in training long enough under the old knight to be trusted with pop-guns. Tho Opposition party is chiefly distinguished this session by abusive language. Calling names appears nowadays to be the whole art of Opposition Statesmanship. The Ministerial party is ba4 enough. It is deficient in backbone, and too subservient to popular opinion, but there is not tlv,it atmosphere of falsehood about it which surrouuds the other side of the House. We have had occasion frequently to find fault with Major Atkinson's political mistakes, but we have nover questioned his political integrity, and we are very glad that he Ims been ablo to rout his detractors and discomfit his inalignea New members ought to have learnt a lesson this session as to tho danger of making charges which they cannot substantiate, and possibly will behave bettor next year. They have set a bad example to the country which has been freely followed by that section of the press which support's them. We hope that the check which has been put by Parliament on slander will operate beneficially on the party organs, and that evil speaking, lying, and slandering, will cease to be cultivated as one of the political line arts in New Zealand.