THE H.B. TRIBUNE. TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1911. THE BATTLE OF THE “INS AND OUTS.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 163, 27 June 1911, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1911. THE BATTLE OF THE “INS AND OUTS.”

The people of New Zealand, no matter whether Liberals, Oppositionists, or Labour, must before now have been led by the recriminations that are being hurled by the leaders of each party against one another, to the conviction that there is something wrong either with our political system, or with the men who are sent to Parliament to govern the country. Every one of the speeches now frequently made contains more abuse than argument. Mr. Massey daily reiterates the inference that the Government is unclean, dishonest, and wasteful in its administration. Sir James Carroll replies that “the Opposition party does not play the game,” that “it hits below the belt,” that they play the flute,” and that they trespass into the Liberal “backyard.” They say hings about each other that one might expect to hear said by unruly Schoolboys, and which one feels disgusted to hear from men in any walk of life, let alone from those who fill the highest places in ‘ the Dominion. It would appear by the conduct of our Parliamentarians that people are showing signs of decadence when they- tolerate public men who stop over the border line of decency and engage in battles of party abuse ; for it must be remembered that it is the peo- ( pie who are responsible for the conduct of their leaders. What is wanted at the present time is an uprising of the public in strong protest against the appearance of anything approaching caddishness , in the political field:—a vigorous, endeavour to stamp down the practice of political mud slinging. Each and every person has a right to his political views and also to express them ; for it is only by courtesy and fair discussion that public opinion can be guided into the right path. But read any of the speeches that have .been made lately by the leaders of both parties, and search in them for sound argument and honest expression. You will find that Mr. Massey does not credit the Government with any , good work accomplished, and that Sir James Carroll* has nothing but. . ridicule to bestow on the Opposition. Every sentence they utter tells you they are fighting the baU tle of the "ins and outs” and that “political dishonesty” is their battle cry. It is for the electors to say how long this sort of thing is to continue. It is for* them to exercise their power to improve things next November. Let them ask. themselves what they want, and what sort of men are most likely to do best what they want. They must use their discernment and select men of principle, men they would be ready to trust with the management of their own private business. They must do this even though they may find it necessary in some cases to sacrifice party for principle. For instance “the tub thumping type of parasite and flatterer ready to promise at other people’s .expense anything which will gain votes,” yet who still may have the Government brand, must, if we are to improve Parliament, be rejected in favour of the Candidate whom all men trust and’ honour, no matter what his political creed. The flimsy plea that an elector must vote for his party must be thrown aside if a leven is to be introduced into the House of Representatives that will awaken members to the knowledge that political honour is a thing to be guarded quite as sacredly as private personal integrity.