The Dominion THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1917. THE NATIONAL CABINET

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3146, 26 July 1917, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1917. THE NATIONAL CABINET

In raising doubts as to the internal harmony of the National Cabinet when ho spoko in tho House of -Representatives on Tuesday evening, the member for Hur,unui possibly hoped to serve' some useful purpose, but it can hardly bo said that ho succeeded. It is in fact obvious that such a lino of criticism as Me. Forbes adopted must tend definitely to provoke tho dissension he is professedly anxious to avoid. No good purpose is to be served by raising party strife at a time when tho attention of Government and Parliament' should be concentrated undividedly upon war measures, and tho somewhat artificial grievances upon which Mr. Forbes based his remarks'might with better wisdom have been ignored. The existence of the National Government —which represents ,no party but the country as a whole—betokens the recognition of politicians and tbo public that this is a time at which party differences should bo sunk, and it must bo said, that in general members of the House of Representatives have adhered loyally to tho party truce. It is, of course, on all grounds necessary that this state of affairs should bo maintained. Serious work claims the attention of the Government and Parliament, and there should bo no question of wasting timo in political bickering. Though he emphasised the fact that tho successful working of tho National Cabinet depends upon tho loyal co-operation of both sides of the House, Me. Forbes showed an insufficient appreciation of these considerations in bis speech on Tuesday evening. In alleging that the Liberal members of tho Cabinet had been denied the_ consideration to whioh they aro entitled ho raised party and personal questions which might very well havo been left alone, the more so since his allegations rested upon an exceedingly slight foundation. It is impossible to attach sorious i importance to his suggestion that Sir JosEpn Ward was slighted'in not being invited to join Mr. Massey in receiving a deputation from the Second Division League, and the readjustment of portfolios which followed tho return of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward from England affords an equally slender foundation upon which to base a theory of internal dissension in the National Cabinet. It must be perfectly obvious to anyone who knows SI is Joseph Maud that ho is quite capable of holding his own and satisfying himself as to tho recognition and facilities ac-

corded to himself and his colleagues under the 'existing political arrangement, but' the rather querulous criticism of the member for Hurunui is chiefly open to exception as a departure from that loyal spirit of co-operation which is so eminently necessary and desirable in the present critical period. . When he was welcomed in Parliament on his return from England, Sir Joseph Wakd expressed a. hope that all members of tho House would be able to rise above any petty party matters and devote themselves to helping to win'the war. This' was excellent advice, and tho member for Hurunui anfl thoso for whom he spoke would do well to take it to heart.

Suggestions that there -is a. lack of harmony_ in the National Cabinet are heavily discounted by' the fact, emphasised Tn Tuesday night's debate by Mr. Herman, "that its members have worked together during a period of two years in a fashion which seemed hardly possible when it was constituted. Mr. Hbrdman confessed that it'was a matter of surprisevto him when the National Government was formed that'such a collection of hostile elements could be brought together. AVhat at first looked like a doubtful experiment has, however, been attended by remarkable success, and, as the' Attorney-General remarked, the hostile elements in the Cabinet have become homogeneous and have worked happily together. Unless it is needlessly disturbed there is no reason why this state of working harmony should not be maintained to the end of the war. It is plainly in the interests of the country that it should be maintained, and members of Parliament should shape their tactics accordingly. Party bickering and attempts to provoko useless'"strife arc above all open to condemnation as usurping the nlaco of legitimate criticism, the need for which is intensified instead of being reduced by the fact that such diverse elements arc joined in the Government. It is the- chief fault of tho National Government ■' that it is often slow to act even when an excellent case for action exists. Private members of the House of Representatives will find ample scope for useful service in stimulating • the Government and overcoming its tendency to inertia, but attempts to stir up party strife arc at best a waste of time, while if they were crowned with success tho result would be to throw the affairs, of government into confusion at a. time when smooth ' working and continuity are supremely necessary.