MINISTERIAL THREATS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10059, 10 June 1898, Page 4

MINISTERIAL THREATS.

The Premier has been electioneering in Nelson and Maryborough. He has addressed a meeting in Wakefield, a small village in the electorate of Motueka, which his henchman, Mr. Roderick McKenzxe, represents. And he has visited Blenheim, represented by the senior Ministerial whip, Mr. Mills. The usual three hours' speech was delivered without much variation from the Feilding speech—save a threat issued at Blenheim. Mr. Seddon and his colleagues have been charged with political corruption. There have been specific charges made. Hβ pretended the charges are not specific. May we mention a few? The Civil Service Act has beer* set aside, and cadets and others appointed

to the service in violation of its provisions. Men and women have been appointed to the service not because' of their fitness for their positions, but because of political influence. The police and other departments have been prejudiced, if not degraded, by political influence exercised through Ministers. The railway service has had its discipline injured if not destroyed through the same political influence. Government advertising has been bestowed on papers of the " right colour." " Spoils to the victors" has become recognised as a part of the Government policy. Districts have been rewarded by roads and bridges for the political support they have given the Ministry, /ammanyism rules. There are many other charges that might be made. The Otahu and Pomahaka scandals are not forgotten. We have, however, we think "particularised" enough. What reply has Mr. Seddon to make to these and other grave charges against his administration ? He does not attempt to meet them, but he first says the charges of corruption are not specific enough, and second he threatens that if such charges are repeated he will make " revelations." The Minister for Lands, at his meeting at Riccarton last night, pursued exactly the same tactic 3. He, too, talked wildly about " turning the handle" on those who have made charges against the Government and threatened to engage a theatre in Chrisfcchurch for the purpose. It seems to require a very strong inducement to persuade either Mr M'Kenzie or Mr Seddon to face a Chrisfcchurch audience just now. Whether the prospect of " turning the handle " on their political opponents is sufficient to enable them to screw up their courage remains to be seen.

The Premier has been hinting at revelations for some time. He threatened these about the banking affairs, and then he made a show of allowing a committee to investigate the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand, but he got the investigation " ruled out " as being contrary to or beyond the "Order of reference." If either the Premier or the Minister for Lands has any " revelations " to make by all means let them be made. The only members of the Opposition who have been in a Ministry are Messrs Kussell and Bolleston. If they have been guilty of political corruption or Tammanyism by all means let it be exposed. It is strange if they have been guilty that it has taken so long to discover it. It is fourteen years since Mr Bolleston was a Minister and eight years since Captain. Russell held that position. Is it only now that the present Government have made the discovery that they did something wrong? If there are to be past transactions and past history raked up let us have it done. It need not be confined, we suppose, to the doings of ex-Ministers in Parliament. There are members of the House who have a past in borough councils and provincial councils. Mr Seddon knows their names.

But this Blenheim threat is unworthy of the Premier of a colony, Hβ ought to "Be straightforward and courageous enough to meefcthe charges levelled against his administration. It he cannot meet them he should hold his peace. If he can meet them, then let him answer them. He will not frighten the people or Press of the colony by any threats of "revelations." If he had any " revelations " he would have used them long ago. If he has kept them back for years, people will doubt their genuineness. Outside of politics, it is the " blackmailer " who boasts of and threatens what he can do if he only opens his mouth. To the innocent such threats have no terrors. And happily for New Zealand the whole community have taot even been members of Parliament, far less Ministers of the Crown. We want the truth, and the whole truth, and if there are opponents of Mr. Seddon who have acted as he has done, by all means let their names be published. This very threat of retaliation shows that Ministers have no defence to the charges made against their administration. In fact, it is a tacit admission the charges are true. And if true, would it be any defence to Mr. Seddon even if he could point to some other colonists who have been as politically corrupt as He has been ?