The Hastings Standard Published Daily MONDAY, NOV. 15, 1897. UNLICENSED SPEECH.

Hastings Standard, Issue 476, 15 November 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

MONDAY, NOV. 15, 1897. UNLICENSED SPEECH.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Uv to a cei'tain point the junior member for Christchureh City has done excellent service in the House. For instance his eflorts to obtain an inquiry into the organisation and administration of the Police Force was praiseworthy, and comparatively speaking his language was moderate. He met with success in this matter because he was moderate in speech and persistent in his demands. In other respects also Mr Taylor has scored well, but the attitude of Mr Taylor and the others associated with him and known as the " Left Wing " has been such in the opiniou of Ministers as to cause a severance of the Party from the Government following. The " Left Wing " has been left out of the Caucus and we can well understand that the component parts of the " Wing " are not pleased. They could scarcely expect any other treatment, and instead of using their new position, which may be fortunate or unfortunate as they choose to regard it—acceptable to the country and creditable to themselves, they are taking a course wliich will bring them within the range of public scorn and derision. More particularly is this the case with the junior member for Christchureh.

There was no justification whatever for the gross insult offered the Premier by the statement of Mr Taylor that £'2so of the Hobart expenses went to the private account of Mr Seddon. Mr Taylor in bis wretched apology inferred that this was merely a suggestion on his part—it was a brazen and impudent accusation, It would be laughable were it not so serious, and we are amazed that Mr Seddon should have allowed the junior member for Christchurch to escape so lightly. We do not think Mr Seddon acted wisely in accepting Mr Taylor s withdrawal. Mr Taylor's suggestion as we have already said was ridiculous. It is too ridiculous to suppose that Mr Seddon would make a political criminal of himself for the paltry sum of £250, or any sum of money. If money-making were the sole desire of the Premier it is obvious that he could have enriched himself with perfect safety and secrecy, at any rate Mr Seddon is not the man to place himself in go perilous a position foe W*

significant sum of £250, much less would he work his point in so clumsy a manner as to permit any discovery by Mr Taylor or anyone else. Apart altogether from Mr Seddon's explanation of the items of expense Mr Taylor's statement was supremely ridiculous, and the cnly view that can be taken of his action —and it is a charitable view —that he blusted out a libel whem suffering extreme annoyance—the annoyance of being kicked out of the party. Mr Taylor ought to have been humiliated to be made to feel that these periodic diversions in libelling and mud-throwing is not only not appreciated but merits the scorn and censure of the House. The affair has been treated too charitably, too kindly by Mr Seddon and his Party, and we blame the Party particularly for permitiing Mr Taylor to escape.