The Press. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1905. A TRIO OF POLITICAL SPEECHES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12350, 14 November 1905, Page 4

The Press. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1905. A TRIO OF POLITICAL SPEECHES.

So miny eager candidates for Parliament are now inflicting their eloquence on a long-suffering public that it is difficult, to make room for reports of their speeches, to say nothing of finding either time, space, or inclination to comment on them. Two or three of the addresses delivered last night are perhaps worth a few passing observations. It is amusing, for example, to read what Mr Laurenson, at Lyttelton, ond Mr Tanner, at Phillipstown, have to say in regard to their oonnection with the "New Liberal Party." Mr Tanner has evidently retired from that "littlo or- " gantsation, if it might be called an "organisation," to use his own words, and he apologised for his connection

with it in quite a shamefaced, way. As to Mr Laurenson and the New Liberal Party, he appears to jump in and out of it pretty muoh as a parched pea, in a state of extreme agitation, jumps up and down in a frying-pan. Mr Seddon having had enough of his vagaries, and indicated as much by selecting Mr Radoliffe as j the Ministerial candidate for Lyttelton, Mr Lauronson evidently thinks he had better take shelter under the New Liberal umbrella. With his customary assurance ho makes out that his devotion -to Mr Tanner's " little organisa- " tion, if it might be called an organisa- " tion," has never faltered—that he is quite proud of it. But Mr Laurenson is not content to play second fiddjg. He has great respect for Mr Taylor, but ho declines to acknowledge him as his leader. If there is any leader at all it is Mr Laurenson himself. It is a pathetic spectacle—this " little organisa- " tion, if it might bo called an "organisation." It numbers four members all told, and two of them are already disputing over tho leadership! It is Jiot without its humorous aspect. Most amusing of all is Mr Laurenson's explanation as to why it was formed im the first instance. It was because they thought the Government was "wc/bbling." The idea of Mr Laurenson), in particular, acting as a steadying influence upon other politicians who are inclined to waver, is to our mind exquisitely absurd. Walter Bagehot once wrote a work on "Physics and Politics." We do not know if he anywhere laid . down the rule that if you introduce tiwo instabilities in politics you thereby produce an equilibrium. If this be so wo candidly admit that

Mr Laurenson's steadying power must ba immense.

Although 3Lr Laurenson professes now to bo proud of the New Liberal party and his connection with it, there is one episode in its history regarding which w© should have thought that, for vtry shame, he would havo preferred to keep silent. We refer to the *• campaign of scandal," organised by Messrs Taylor, Laurenson, Bedford, and Fisher, for the purpose of making political capital out of the voucher episode. Mr Laurenson, who seems to have no sense of propriety where this business is concerned, does not hesitate to give his opinion upon the evidence tendered at th© voucher enquiry, although ho knows that th© Court has yet to pronounce its judgment on the case. He is satisfied that Captain Seddon did not receive the money referred to. He holds, however, that Sir Fisher was quite justified in bringing his charge, ond that Messrs Fisher, Taylor, Bedford, and himself were right in carrying out their soandal-mongering expedition, and so inflaming and prejudicing the public mind, and trying to make political capital for themselves. He simply denies that they were neglecting their business In tho House when they were co engaged, and evidently holds this to be ample justification for all they did. It comes to this, then, that if you aro n member of Parliament, it is quite open to you to bring a charge of personal corruption against another person, and to parade the country trumpeting i€ abroad, and assuming to yourself superior virtue, seeking to gather votes thereby. No matter if the charge afterwards proves to be untrue, it is sufficient answer to say that at any rato you were not neglecting the work of Parliament while you were spreading scandal abroad. Public life has indeed become degraded, when it sinks to such a level as this I j

As to Mr Tanner and 3lr Collins, the other candidates who opened their respective campaigns ket night, we do not know that we need say much on tbe present occasion. Mr Tanner was one of those who took shelter under the New

Liberal umbrella in the first instance,

but finding it very leaky, and hailstonss falling about his ears, he quickly "slithered back again," to use Mr Taylor's elegant expression, and was glad enough to take refug© under tho Premier's ample skirts. Mr Tanner on that oooaskm received th© fright of his life, and will be docility itself in future when Mr Seddon calls him to heel. Mr Collins, if wo are to accept his own assurance, is a, "Liberal of Liberals." This, of course, means that he also will do whatever Mr Seddon tells him to do. He assures us that his political views have remained unchanged during th© six years that he has boon excluded from th© House. Our readers will see for themselves that ho has lost none of his powers of frothy declamation—of the art of stringing together a lot of finesounding words, which make plenty of empty noise, but mean nothing in particular, and, therefore, commit tho speaker to little. If Mr Collins'6 views have not altered during the last six years, it is evident that ho has learned littlo in th© interval. Of this, also, fhero is conclusive evidence in his address.