The Dominion. MONDAY, JULY 13, 1908. A GRAVE CHARGE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 248, 13 July 1908, Page 6

The Dominion. MONDAY, JULY 13, 1908. A GRAVE CHARGE.

Many people will probably be wondering what the Prime Minister meant by his reference in Parliament on Friday night to "a strong general effort" that ■' has been made for some time past to woaken the general finance of the country." Sir Joseph Ward went on to say: "That is a serious statement to make, but I can prove it, and if I get the opportunity "I .will do it in a manner that will astonish the House. If I can get permission to use correspondence that I have in my hands I will prove it up to the hilt." For months past tho Prime Minister has boon denouncing in, unmeasured languago tho critics—The Dominion amongst them—who have protested against his attempts to create in the public mind a belief that the prosperity of. the country warrants the abandonment of prudence, and who have advocated tho exercise of propor business caution. In the case of this journal, ho has excelled himself' in violence in attempting to 'answer our strictures upon his extravagant financial ideas, and has oven, gone the length of crying out against what he is pleased to call our " abominable and outrageous " policy of decrying the country's credit. Were it not for his threatening references to certain " correspondence," the public would suppose Sir Joseph to be merely reiterating his foolish charges of disloyalty against the critics who, so far from seeking to injure the country's credit, are chiefly anxious to protect it from tho injury that it may suffer from Prime Ministerial incitements to plunge. But Sir Joseph Ward's serious statement can'only mean that he holds in his hands letters or documents in proof of an organised conspiracy to disseminate untruthful reports with tho objcct of bringing about a catastrophe. Should such a conspiracy -exist., it is tho

Prime Minister's business to expose it without delay without waiting for anybody's permission. If, on tho other hand, hj holds no evidence of such, a conspiracy, hit conduot is in tho highest degree reprehensible. Party politics employ many strange and unfair weapons, but it is really difficult to believe that a Priiif. Minister would resort to vague hints about conspiracies in the hope that by doing so-he might poison tho public mind against' tho critics of Ins financial policy. The general public in this country, however much it may ordinarily doubt the sincerity of party politicians, yet inclines to believe that when tho Prime Minister makes a grave charge against anybody hi does so with a full sense of responsibility. The public, therefore, will have already formed all kinds of injurious suspicions respecting many quite innocent people. The Premier must publish his proofs of a financial conspiracy without delay. If he cannot do so, and cannot make good his words, the public will form its own conclusions upon the character of such tactics. Is this the beginning of an attempt on tho part of the Government to stifle all criticism of its policy? One can readily understand that many critics, who would otherwise speak out, will prefer to remain silent if speech is to be the signal for a vague Ministerial statement that will poison the public mind against them.