Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1909. LEFT TO DRIFT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7817, 9 June 1909, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1909. LEFT TO DRIFT.

Supposing a ship were under full steam on the high seas; that she carried a valuable cargo and many passengers ; _that the safety of the- first and the well-being of the latter depended on the vessel keeping steadily on her course; that the master received a wireless message from a distant island saying that the senders would be pleased to have him with them on a given date to discuss a new policy concerning the construction of moles and break-waters; and that, ignoring the passengers and the interest of the cargo, he called the crew together and told them that he must respond, m person, to the message, and that, while he was away, tl-.v-y must leave-the ship to drift as Mie liked; and suppose, further, that the cie-v.. by a majority, actually agreed trv+hv. utterly appalling and preposiciw.s. 1,10----position: what would the passengers be likely to think of the master, anH I what of the majority of the crew? NY doubt they would think what tfc<*. people of New Zealand now think of the Premier and the majority of the members of Parliament, who coolly propose to suspend the functions and business of Parliament for three months while the Premier attends a purely tentative, purely consultative Defence Conference m London. They would, however, probably go much further than the people of New , Zealand have the means to do right off; and would assuredly tell the master 'and. his crew that they must at once make a choice of three things: to jump overboard, to submit to be put m irons, or to stick to their duty like men, even if the master went at his peril, and another officer took his place, m that general interest which the master counted as nothing m comparison with his own predilection. , We do not think that there is anything extravagant m this analogy. Then there is another point that appears, to be overlooked by the Premier and his friends, but which will probably be considered very closely and very critically by the people of New Zealand when they come to' deal with *the whole question m dead earnest. Had the Premier and his followers put the case which has now arisen, to the people at the time of the general election, and told the electors bluntly that they would act as they are now acting; that they would deliberately hang up the vitally urgent business of Parliament for three months, m order that the Premier might, attend a merely consultative conference m London, and that the urgent business of the country must stand still during his absence, out of. deference to his personal wish and convenience —would the electors have voted as they did for tho Premier and his supporters? Perhaps we may have to wait till the next general election before we receive an effective answer from/the people,"but no doubt they will give it then with an emphasis sufficiently convincing to all concerned — that is, if the Parliament turns its back on its duty to the country for three months, while the Premier attends a merely tentative and purely consultative conference m London. If this is done, then New Zealand will assuredly m due course, say to the Premier, [n the language of the ballotbox, what Othello said *to his lieutenant— Cassio, I love thee; But never more be officer of mine.