SCURRILOUS CRITICISM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15715, 7 September 1911, Page 6

SCURRILOUS CRITICISM.

We are inclined to ngreo with Mr Fowlds that Ministers attach far too much importance to tho Opposition. They would bo better employed in listening to the advice of the progressive members of their own party than they nro in replying to tho silly criticism that too often conies from the other side of the House. But yesterday afternoon Mr T. Mackenzie had very good reason for protesting in strong terms against the scandalous charges that had been levelled against the administration of cno of the departments under his control. It had been suggested that a butter grader had been appointed at Wanganui as a party bribe to tlie constituency, and after tho member for the district had denounced this as a “scurrilous allegation ” the Minister of Agriculture proceeded to give a number of instances of tho same kind of thing. We need not quote tho report of his remarks, as it is open to everyone to read, but we should like to endorse Mr Mackenzie’s protest against a most contemptible method of party warfare. Abuse and misrepresentation seem to be the favourite weapons cf a certain section of the Opposition Press, and we can remember no other time when they were so rife in public life. It will be remembered that during tho strenuous campaign that preceded the Christchurch North election Mr J. D. Hall, one of tho most courteous of gentlemen ill private life, nightly talked about the “.bribery and corruption” of the Government as if they ought to bo obvious to every unbiassed elector. When ho was challenged to produce a single instance of impropriety on the part of a responsible Minister ho referred to a grant towards the cost of the Sumner Coronation Bath, implying that this had been made in order to help the member for Lyttelton at the polls. Tho allegation was silly to begin with, because no one can havo really believed that a single vote in the constituency would be influenced by the grant, and the simplest inquiry would have satisfied Mr Hall, who at least intends to be fair, that the payment was perfectly regular. This, of course, is one of tho mildest examples of the calumny that is going on all over the country, and we cheerfully acquit Mr Hall of any further responsibility than is involved in tho careless acceptance of stories that are put in circulation by the less scrupulous members of his party. But it is time that there was some plain speaking. on this subject, and vo hope that the supporters of Mr Massey as well as tho friends of tho Government and of tlio Labour Party will firmly set their faces against a practice that is rapidly bringing discredit on tho public life of the dominion.