COMMENT BY THE "DOMINION"

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16701, 9 December 1919, Page 6

COMMENT BY THE "DOMINION"

SOME HOME THEUSTS. fsprctAi. to 'in* hibj.") WELLINGTON, December ?. Tho "Dominion," commenting on Sir Jdseph Ward's attack on the newspapers, says:— >

"It is quite like old times to have Sir Joseph Ward Lack in Lis role of the much maligned party leader, poadt>d by an unsympathetic press. In Christcluirch at the end of List week, he was in one of his most recKIcss moods, railing r.t the Ci:ri.->:-chui"-Ii ' Prosi' and nfferirg to "put up' £500 to te?t the rights arid wr ings of assertions relating to his att:t::dc towards Labour. Sir Joseph \\ :;rd is fortunate in being able to bar!: his opinion in such sub.<tanti ll sums, hut it is after all a homc-.vh.it tory method of controversy. The real trouble tha Loader of tho Op-

position's own door, and if people misunderstand his attitude a"d read i u^° his uoi>ls and .if.irns bnir.oiliinj* which is not iv.iilv tl ere. lie h.i< only himself to blame. AY) v does lie nt clearly ami de!i:rte'v di-na r any iiiten'.ien of Itoldi?U; iVjtce hv means ef the votes of any ct the teTi ia 1 I. Iw;;- candidates? 1< is a i ; ni".'(' cno 'i'h thinn tar him to do. nssum ; n ' taut th.it i< lsis real attitude. Whe-i ho diselaims anv ii:;«»'i;ion of h:ol !in•' o'"i'e hv tl'.e votes m Messrs l!.r!an-!. Sctnp'e and Fra-er. he knows, or he should 'know, that there are he:v. e"n :'0 and 4<> ot' er .'.'ieial Labour ' an.'.i iates seeking election on exact.v th.e s-T'e plat farm and ro'.iev as the L-e-.t lerr.en named. Moreover, lie ; -'.v.-. s or sho'iid knew, that s-me oi

these cr.rdiii.iies have a nil h hotter ei'-ree rf h'eina elected thin have Holland and Sempie. Sneli heitir: the case, -why does he not take th.e country fullv into his confidence and do ' .re urettlv and frank'v that it' J,., i. i!ei o" ! t 'or votes ef CIV of th.ese ofiieia: candidates of the Holinrid part v. lie w:d " t t." 1 e eliiee at all? Can' he h'.ame the _ ('h.rist'. hureh ' Press ' or anyer.e else if his evasive i to the tva'tei* ]irovokc stispieion and distrust S"''