The press. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1893. MINISTERIAL TACTICS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8534, 14 July 1893, Page 4

The press. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1893. MINISTERIAL TACTICS.

The most ardent admirer of Mr. Sbddon will scarcely claim for him that ho is an ideal leader when conducting the affairs of the country in the House. The qualities which have forced him to the front in hie own party are not precisely those which enable a Prime Minister to lead the House when confronted with men who have knowledge of affairs and capacity i»r clear exposition and logical reasoning. Mr. Seddon never touches a question without leaving his hearers, if they endeavour to follow him. in a condition of perplexity and doubt. He makes up for the want of knowledge of hia subject and a grasp of it* bearings upou other matters by a vehemence of assertion, which can only 1 carry conviction iv the minds of those

who mistake sound for argument and a condition of mental fog for profundity of thought. Such methods of oratory may pass muster at public banquets aud on the public platform. But a House, accustomed from day to, day to listen to speeches and give some attention to sound reasoning, expects something very different from the head of the Government, It is no seoret that already there is a growing feeling of dissatisfaction with the way the House is being led. This dissatisfaction is due not merely to the manner in which the Premier deals with the questions before the House. It is, perhaps, morelargely in consequence of the overbearing treatment which friend and opponent alike receive at the hands of the leader of the House. Yet there can b9 no doubt that, in spite of this appearance of high-handed leadership, the House is in reality very badly led indeed. Pressure is put upon members at the time when they should be guided with a gentle hand, and, when control is needed, matters are' ailowed to go on unchecked. Nothing, for instance, could well have been mora disastrous to the influence of the Government than the unseemly wrangle which was permitted to go on between Mr. Smith and Mr. Eees the other evening. If the Prime Minister had had any regard for the dignity of the House, and any respect for Parliamentary proprieties, he would have shown his disapprobation of what was taking place in a most energetic manner. Bub no sign of dissent was apparent either on his part Or Oh that of any of his prominent followers. The member for Waipawa was sapposed to be making a damaging attack upon one who had had the temerity to expose the proceedings of the < late Native Minister, and he was allowed the utmost latitude in the performance of his task. A whole evening was wasted over a wrangle which should have been dealt with in less than an hour. Members felt that the House had been discredited and time wasted all because of the want of real leadership on the part of. the Premier. I. does n6t foliow* it is true, that such proceedings will have any immediate effect on the minds of the constituencies. It is one thing to disgust their followers in the House, and quite anothertodiscredittheminthecountry. The public at large take, as a rule, but a languid interest in the political wrangle which takes place on the floor of the House, 'The feeling which so largely prevail in America is growing in New Zealand also, that the game of politics is hardly worth the serious attention of the people, for they have other things to think about. It is nevertheless to be regretted that this should be the case. After all, the Legislature is entrusted with concerns of the very highest importance to the well being" of the community; and it is by watching what takes place in Parliament that the electors get a clearer insight into the motives which guide our legislators than by listening to heated platform oratory. The growing feeling of dissatisfaction which prevails in the ranks of the Ministerial followers in the House will, no doubt, in tim? extend to the country. It is, however, too soon yet to estimate the real extent of the revolt. That the labour members have had their eyes opened to the meaning of "liberalism" as practised by their leaders is generally known. y fhey4iQW.seß that their great, duty, in. the opinion of their chief, is to obey. Thinking for themselves is a thing not to be tolerated, and they now answer to the whip with a good deal of reluctance. But the elections are in the immediate future, aud those members toay, perhaps, distrust their ability to Btand up before the torrent of Ministerial eloquence which will flood the country, and which they may fear will oarry all before it. It is, therefore, not certain that the attitude vow taken up in the House by some of the rank and file of the Government party will be continued when the. elections come round. It is the misfortune of New Zealand to be governed on party hues when such a system is quite inapplicable to our circumstances and requirements. Were we free from it at tho present moment, we are convinced that three-fourths of the present members of the House would boldly tell the electors what they think of the measures brought forward and of the,manner in which the col on j is being governed. And these opinions would not be favourable to those al preseut entrusted with power. .Even under our existing system of parts Government we feel sure that were members to toll the electors precisely what they think about public affairs - they would win their approval..