THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 148, 23 June 1906, Page 9

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

o TO THE EDrTOB. Sir, — Now that we have made an adequate display, of mourning and given expression to our grief in' an ample manner, it ; is perhaps not uncharitable to give some consideration tlo the political situation. Humanly speaking, . the late Premier, had he lived, could have' continued in power indefinitely, for there was never the chance of defeating his party at the polls, because there was never a fair fight. For fifteen years we have had one party in power, and. for thirteen years we, have been living on what has been called "Seddonism." We showed at tfhe last election that we (wore willing to accept a further term of the same regime. We were apparently political tired, and gave a blank cheque fr> Mr. Seddon to do as he pleased. The tragedy of the 10th June may be the wiss*, dispensation of Providence to arouse us from /our political lethargy 5 afc all events, a new situation arises, and as a people it is desirable that we should satUsfy ourselves on several points before we commit ourselves fu,rther. Some points occur to me, and I jot them down for consideration : — (1) Are the finances" of tlhe colony in a sound and. satisfactory condition? (2) Are we right in borrowing sucb large sums annually, and are we getting value for the expenditure? (3) Are we right in toleratling a continuous Government, ond would it be to our advantage to Tepeat the experiment of a "one-man Governmentf' ? , (4) Are we right in tolerating machinemade politicians, and caucus-made politics? (5) Are we right in continuing the presenb system of administration, which is by implication impugned- by the Labour party, for, according to Mr. Arnold, M.H.R., the first plank of his party is "Purity of Administration" ? (6) Are, we right in paying members of Parliament £300 a year? Is not this big salary calculated to raise a crop of professional politicians? And does it not make the dissolution of Parliament except by effluxion of time a remote possibility? (7) Are we right in allowing employees of the Government to take an actfivo part in political affairs? Does this not necessarily mean support for the party in power? ■ (8)i Is the co-operatiive labourer an e.conomic necessity or a .voting asset for the party in power ? (9) How is it that erstwhile Conservatives have become political heelers ready to whip ,up votes for nondescript politicians selected as candidates by the p^rty machine? Is it due to the newborn zeal of apostacy or the prospect of personal profit? (10) Is our civil service overmanned? (11) Are we doing right in "booming" f We have boomed up land values, we have boomed taxation, we have boomed politicians, we have boomed political reputations, we have boomed our patriotism, and we have boomed our grief; are we right? — I am, etc., THOOMBAY. Wellington, 22nd June.