PATRIOTIC POLITICIANS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 150, 25 June 1912, Page 6

PATRIOTIC POLITICIANS

While some politicians are saying, apparently in all sincerity, that party politics are an unnecessary evil, the Hon. R. M'Kenzie, Motueka's exMinieter of Public Works and Mines, says that "the non-party men are the curse of the present Parliament" (according to a Press Association report from Nelson to-day). The thought in the mind of Motueka's representative probably is that events liappened to enable the non-party men to dictate to a party or parties, and to prove ihat an "independent" part was greater than the party. Last February the '"nonparty men," in the sense in which Mr. M'Kenzie used the word party, had power to keep parties in fear and trembling—to lift one or other of them on to a sun-kissed peak of Datieh, and then dash it down into the cold gloom of a chasm. Hence the vehemence of Motueka's legislator,, and his grumble as to a. "curee." Not for him, some time warrior in a dominant tribe, tho ignoble fate of being at the beck and call of recruits of doubtful coloui'. He ,sings of battles with old stalwarts, when, his voice was resonant amid the shouting^) ih» £&p£ftii*£. anUju'w, Jwj.ba.ttis-gcarred,)..

is to fetch and carry for upstart eoldiere of fortune! This for a M'Kcnzie, and a M'Kenzio of Motueka! Never! Yet Mr. M'Kenzie, for the purposes of getting tome kind of a. solid paity in the ascendant, presents himself as an independent just now. .Fox* purposes of strategy he is a "non-party man," with words to put a quake into either party. His speech is essentially v, M'Kenzie edition of Mr. Millar's Dunedin remarks of last month. Like Mr. Millar, Mr. M'Kenzie is in favour of a coalition or an appeal to the country, and is unwilling to help the Mackenzie Ministry to have the mastery. In all this, Mr. M'Kenzie is not concerned for him> self. He has over before him his duty to the country; he is a patriot rather than a politician. "He could have been in the present Ministry if he had desired," he 'said, "but felt it his' duty to himself and to the country to decline." It is rather regrettable ihat this conscience about the country did not develop in Mr. M'Kenzie at the time when he was forcing his undemocratic Tramways Bill through the House of Representatives. Mr. M'Kenzie waa one who fought doggedly for the right of the Governor in Council (practically the Government of the day, or even a Ministry) to tyrannise over local authorities. It is extraordinary, also, how Mr. M'Kenzie, again like Mr. Millar, has readjusted himself in relation to certain non>-party men. To th& two ex-Ministere, the notion of a nairow majority for a Government party or group is abhorrent. Before the division of last February was taken they seemed to havo a different opinion. Finally, Mr. M'Kenzio remarks that if the High Commissionerhip is offered to him, ho will have to "seriously consider his position in the present crisis." Will this. mean a third edition of Motueka'e member in polities? There was the February M'Kenzie, different from the Juno M'Konzie, and there may be another. There was tho February Millar, the May Millar, and there may bo another. Thoi'o is, of course, n.> question of self in these arrangements. They aro all for New Zealand, all by way of duty to the country. Frankly, wo feel sure that these declarations of politicians' eagerness to be patriotic will deceive nobody. As far as The Post is able to judge, on the evidence available, they are playing for their own hands. It may happen that such tactics may turn out best for the country eventually by hastening a rearrange- . ment of parties, but the country has cause to think that some of the politicians, professing unselfishness, are working 'for their own political interest.