The Secret Out.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15917, 2 June 1917, Page 8

The Secret Out.

"We think Mr Herries/ unintentionally lot the cat out of the bag when, according to one of the reports, he told the deputation w6o waited on him in roferenco to the urgent need of a later train between Lyttelton and Christchu>ch, that they had a great deal of argument on their side, but he had a letter from Mr Parr, of Auckland, to the effect th&t "if Lvttelton gets this "train Auckland will agitate until it "gets a train, too." It is nothing that the circumstances are totally different—that Auckland is on the waterfront, that no train is needed to prevent its shipping from being disorganised. it is nothing that Lyttelton shipping is bound to be held up if a train is not put on. It'is nothing that the chairman of the Efficiency Board, a body expressly appointed to advise, the Government in mattors where war efficiency is concerned, who himself has no interest in Christchurch or Lyttelton, attended with the deputation to state that in the opinion of the Board the train was needed in the national interest. The "Importunate Widow of "the North,'» who cares nothing for national'interests, even in a crisis like

the present, has given notice that if Lyttelton gets this train she will give the Government no peace until she gets one, too, and Mr Herries has too evidently cavcd .in at the threat. This is the only alternative, so "far as we can see, to the supposition that the Minister is entiroly in the hands of his Department, who object on general grounds to being hustled into any arrangement which is obviously for the public convenience.

Tho incident to which we have referred is another illustration that a " National" Government, consisting of the fusion of Wo parties, is ■weakest ■where it -was fondly hoped it would prove most strong. Tho public were justified in supposing that questions affecting national efficiency in regard to the war would surely he decided upon their merits, without regard to political considerations. Experience, unfortunately, has proved that politicians of opposite parties do not cease to he politicians when they are combined in one Cabinet. Each side is thinking of tho next election, and mortally afraid of losing votes. And as they are bound to respect each other's fears in this connexion, tho net result is a double dose of timidity, instead of courage and decidcd action. This, we fear, is the true explanation why, although the Efficiency Board must liavo made a good many recommendations by this timo. so few of them have been carried out.