THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS CRITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15921, 6 May 1912, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS CRITICS.

We hops that the Prime Minister will adhere to his determination not to ho drawn into personal controversies with his political opponents. Some of his predecessors have set him a rather bad example in this respect. Even Mr Seddon was occasionally betrayed into discussing "challenges" and "charges" which he very well might have ignored and Sir Joseph Ward frequently fell a victim to the same kind of tactics. We must say, too, that on Saturday night when speaking at Balclutha, where ho appears to have had a most enthusiastic reception, Mr Mackenzie was scarcely so good as his admirable resolution. If Mr Massey really said that " a Mackenzie could always bo bought" with fipecial reference to the head of the Government, he was merely vulgar and there was no need for the object of his vulgarity to retort by quoting passages from Irish history which he thought might not, be acceptable to the leader of the Opposition. Fair play is bonny play and nothing else is profitable, whether in politics or in the less serious games of life. With thia exception Mr Mackenzie seems, oven from the fragmentary report supplied by the Press Association, to have delivered a. very frank and sensible speech on revisiting what his chairman very aptly termed his "political cradle." He might have found a better excuse than the fear that it would be "torn and riven " by the members of the Opposition for not producing his policy in the set traditional form, but he indicated it at least as clearly as Mr Massey has indicated his and probably the electors will be able to judge him better by his actions than they would be by his words. They have had quite enough of policies on both sides during the last few years and will be content to dispense with them for a timo if they are assured of progressive legislation and vigorous administration. Mr Mackenzie and his colleagues must realise, however, that there are two or three important questions upon which the public should know their intentions before tho meeting of Parliament. The land question is the most important of them all, and though a Cabinet composed of "freeholders" and "leaseholders " may bo an ideal one for the satisfactory solution of this problem the public is entitled.: to know how it proposes to go about tho task. Both parties are now inclined to -regard settlement as of more consequence than tenure, and it is~ to Mr Mackenzie's credit that he has done a great deal to direct their attention to the more practical ideal, but there are many details to bo arranged before settlement can proceed on an entirely satisfactory basis. Then tho Ministry must give the country a strong lead on local government if this question is to be /taken in hand by the present Parliament, as it should be, and it must show the way in electoral reform and in adjusting the licensing "majority." We trust that Mr Mackenzie is making himself better .acquainted with the operation of proportional representation than Mr Massey appears to be and that the day of decision will find him in no two minds in regard to tho licensing question. As for the rest we are satisfied that the qualities which made him such an excellent administrator in a subordinate position will stand him in good stead in his higher office. He lacks neither ability nor courage and his readiness to undertake the reform of the Civil Service along sane business lines without any fear of the bitter hostility he will encounter is peculiarly characteristic of the, man. If only for his candour and his thoroughness he deserves the "fair trial" which his 'friends are bespeaking on his behalf.