CHILDISH SQUABBLING.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 254, 13 October 1911, Page 4

CHILDISH SQUABBLING.

The incessant squabbling which is carried on between Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey has become something more than irritating; it is positively childish and quite beneath the dignity of the high offices they hold. Sir Joseph has lately been so criticised by the Opposition members and press that it is jilainly to be seen the strain has gbt upon his nerves. The comments of the Opposition are an ever-present nightmare with him, and he finds it almost impossible to make a speech now without drifting into explanations of how both the Cabinet and country nave been grossly and unfairly misrepresented. A good deal that has been said about the Premier may be safely classed as exaggerated remarks, no man could possibly be so bad as he is painted and remain out of gaol, but it is to be regretted for his own sake that his political skin does not harden with age. Sir Joseph’s increasing sensibility under criticism is noted with pleasure by the Opposition, which never loses an opportunity for pinpricking or rubbing salt into old sores. The spectacle is not one which conveys a very high impression of Parliamentary life to the public, and the sooner the lueaders of the parties call a halt in this direction the better. The squabbles of Sir Joseph and Mr. Massey may be very interesting to those two gentlemen and a few friends, but they have little to do with the business of the countrv and onlv encourage a feeling oi I i ten e si huh is I < ttci oul i t P u hanientarv life. One of the- latest examples of this feud of recrimination was afforded yesterdar. Dm Wellington t itv Empowering Bill was under discussion and Mi. Lil set up a stonewall because it was proposed to give, the council power to charge for admission to certain public domains on certain daxs in the. war Sir Joseph had not long been upon his feet before he wandereel away after his old nightmare and accused the Opposition of delivering machine-made 1 speeches'. Mr. Massey promptly accepted the invitation for another childish quarrel, and twitted the Premier with the fact that Ministers of the- Crown were absent from the House electioneering at the public expense. The usual polite exchange of compliments followed and Mr. Massey taunted Sir Joseph with the statement that they had no room in the North for Southern rejects. By way of retoit courteous the Premier invited Mr. Massey to come clown South and contest. Awarua. So the thing goes on day in. day out, and politics have become absolutely degraded by the persist ent wrangling or er trifles. Incidentally in his remarks Sir Joseph Ward made a plea for a more rational spirit in New Zealand politics, and we could heartily wish that he would work to bring this about. He can do it by killing r .-.rochialsm ami the pump politician, giving us scientific representation and abolishing the public grant abomination. For a commencement ho should get rid of the nightmare. Mr. Massey s jibes cannot cut very det-ply if treated with indifference. At the present time the Leader of the Opposition is undulv inflated with the prospects of the elections. The party will unquestionably be strengthened by solne good sound men, but they will not have to thank Mr. Massey lor much assistance. Sir Joseph’s own peevishness does more to weaken his cause than the ill-timed prickings of the Opposition. ' It will be a bud tiling for the country if we are compelkd to accept the present position as one of contending policies, there has not been three-pennyworth of policy on either side of the House the session.