THE DIFFERENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 10

THE DIFFERENCE.

Nothing seems to afford the Opposition organs more intense satisfaction than our admission that Liberal Govern-

ments are not always absolutely; perfect. It will bo remembered ! that for weeks before the general election of last year they were blazoning abroad tho fact thai after the election of I9OS we had criticised Sir Joseph "Ward for going to the country without a definite policy. Before the election of 1908 they reminded the public that after tho election of 1905 we had reproached Mr Seddon for not strengthening his Cabinet, and before the election of 1905 they gladdened their hearts with some similar reflection. Now they, are gloating over our statement that if the present Government should remain in office without substituting some system of preferential voting for the Second Ballot Act it would deserve to go out of existence for ever. Of course all this is very gratifying to ourselves. It shows that our contemporaries have noticed our desire to be perfectly impartial in discussing political questions, and that in their more generous moments they are ready to acknowledge our candour. We appreciate the compliment, and we wish wo could say as much for our contemporaries in return. But we cannot recall a single instance, before or after an election, in which they have admitted that a leader on their.side of politics has fallen short of perfection in any particular. Whatever Mr Massey or Mr James Allen or Mr Herries may do-or may leave undone it is just the thing that should have been done or should have been left undone. The tale never varies. They even commended Mr Massey for his leadership during the short session, and applauded Mr Herries when he talked the rankest Socialism, in direct opposition to all the tenets of their party creed. The politician who votes consistently against Liberalism and its exponents in Parliament can do no wrong. It is just hero - that the difference between the critic and the partisan lies. The Opposition Press is always the partisan.