On the Wrong Track.

Feilding Star, 23 July 1907, Page 2

On the Wrong Track.

One of the worst appointments made by the present Government — if it was not absolutely the most unfitting — was the appointment of the member for Motueka to the position of Chairman of Committees. Whether by demeanor, ability, experience or appearance he is judged, he would be found wanting. Still, one would expect from the Chairman of Committees, who holds the second highest position in the House, some idea of the fitness of things, and yet his attack on Professor Salmond the other day was al>out the worst instance of bad taste we have come across. Referring to the explanatory note attached to Mr Major's Lamps on Vehicles Bill, Mr R. McKenzie said, "I rose to protest against blithering idots being employed at a payment of £1000 a year — a Professor from Victoria College — to teach us how to suck eggs." It appears that Mr Major had allowed Mr McKenzie to believe that tho explanatory note had been placed on the Bill by the Crown Law Office, of which Professor Salmond is the head, but, as a matter of fact, it was the production of Mr Major himself, and the "polite" Chairman of Committees was barking up the wrong tree. When the position was explained, even, he had not the. grace to apologise or express regret for the language he had used or the mistake he had been led into — but perhaps Professor Salmond will take abuse of the kind, coming from such a source, as the greatest compliment which could be paid to him.