Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1899. A NEW POLITICAL SPECIES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11320, 2 September 1899, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1899. A NEW POLITICAL SPECIES.

Politics arc degeuerating sadly. That is the cdso al all events in regard to New Zcalaud. A century ago the prize-ring was a " noble " institution. Any scion of an aristocratic lineage who aspired to figure in polite society was a patron of the renowned science, if not a participator in its joys. Now its supporters are obliged to " back their fancy " in private, and the encouragement of pugilism is not an absolutely necessary qualification for one desirous of attaining to the privileges of the bon ton. In these days political life is supposed to be fostered by " the cream •of the country," as that devotee of the single-tax, Mr O'Kegan, once remarked was the case. Possibly in the course of time anyone who is proved to have taken part in anything connected with politics will be advisedly shunned, or prosecuted for being implicated in proceedings of a low and debasing nature. It is already becoming dangerous for anyone with a reputation to keep up to be seen in Ministerial precincts. The sycophantic legions which form the bodyguard of members of the Cabinet already to a great extent govern this country. No person with an dtom of self-respect cares to be seen much in the vicinity of Government offices, as it might be presumed he was working some iniquity or another at the expense of the guileless electors. Mr John Hutcheson's interpretation of the speech by Mr Fisher in regard to the " charwomen " incident was the more emphatic because of the strong aroma of truth animating it. "If the Government persist in rewarding political services with material advantages it would result in time in a nation of suckers and crawlers ' being raised up " This new political species is already in evidence. It is being generated in the noisome atmosphere of political corruption and chicanery. A prolonged term of the Seddonian reign .of terror would altogether eliminate private enterprise. The Government are indeed shaping to that end. Their endeavor is to bring all industry, all functions of any class, within the radius of the influence of the all-devouring political machine. Presently, if a man wishes to obtain employment of any kind whatever, he will have to apply to a Minister. The Government will be the only employer of labor. Private enterprise will be hedged round with such restrictions that it will never be able to compete with the protected organisation. None of these benevolent measures introduced by the considerate firm of Seddon and Co. to presumably protect the worker apply to the Government as an employer, None of the Government offices are "factories" within the meaning of the Act. The Administration, of course, is above suspicion. Under such a system the workman is not likely to receive better wages. Becent revelations in regard to the estates under the control of the Government show that sweating is not confined to the cities. The Government, 88 an employer, is extremely anxious to increase the margin of profit. A profit of a substantial nature is necessary to maintain the higher offices of the gradational pillars which support the whole sublime edifice, and it must be remembered that even those in the lowest grade must own to a sort; of feudal authority, and promise aid in the hour of need for the compensating benefit of " a pound a week and tucker." Many of the men employed on the estates comprised in the Globo assets properties do not rise to this lucrative height. He has only one vote at his command, and every vote purchased at that price means a large sum out of the pocket of the man who pays the taxes. The tone of political life has degenerated. Every session there are exhibitions on the floor of the House, which, had they happened in the old days, would have driven from public life the men who ruled by the power of intellect and were animated alone by the desire to build up a Britain of the South,. a worthy offspring of the Mother Nation. A comparision- of the Hansard of. today with that of the past shows that although we have added considerably to our vocabulary, the addition is not a national gain. The prizering of a century since and a debate in the House at the present time are remarkably alike. The latter, perhaps, in vituperative force is the more to be admired. Not very long since Punch had a picture of two costermongers settling a little difference by a verbal encounter. One is silenced by the superior vocabulary of his opponent, and to the query of a bye-stander, "Why don't you answer him back ? " he replies, ruefully, "He's used up all the best words." And that's about the position of the Opposition after a Ministerial speech. Personalities and vituperation have taken the place of argument and gentlemanly debate. Tet New Zealand boasts of its universal educational system, and the higher social plane to which the individual is lifted thereby. " A nation of suckers and crawlers " is -not an inviting prospect. It is true that in attaining to this national ideal we must have a Seddon, or someone with similar autocratic tendencies in supreme, power. So scarce would they be in time that it is probable this necessity would have to be imported. The present Government, ever since they have been in power, have been extending their influence among the electors, not even refraining from trenching upon private life to further this end. "Adopt every means to keep in power'" is their motto, and the rest will follow.