A BAD EXAMPLE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 116, 14 May 1912, Page 4

A BAD EXAMPLE.

[ The Prime Minister amd the Leader of the Opposition have been indulging in a little game of something very much like "slang-whang-ing." Mr Mackenzie certainly does not come out "second best" from the verbal encounter; but not a few of the honorable gentleman's friends and political supporters will, we believe, join' with us in regrettting that he should have ever troubled to reply to the original offensive remark attributed to Mr. Massey, "A Mackenzie could always be bought.'' Mr, Massey is personally a good-natured man ; but every now and then he gets afflicted by a sudden desire to throw political mud. His bark is, however, .very mueli worse than his bite, and the Prime, Minister would have'acted more wisely., had he refrained from taking any notice of this latest outburst of jealousy plus 'wrath in which the Leader ..of the Opposition has so foolishly indulged. Mr Mackenzie has macV such an excellent start as Prime Minister that we do not wish him side-trackeS from the path of administrative duty into excursions of recrimination with Mr Massev. The latter, of course, i^ sorely chagrined over the results of the recent session, when he made such an tmliolv mess of his party leadership. But because he is anpry with Mr Mackenzie for having installed himself in the Prime ■Ministersliip. for which the Massevan soul has been

pining in vain these many long years, it does not follow that Mr Mackenzie should take his petulaaice and jealousy so seriously as he seems to have done. Ministers one and, all should treat the sneers and offensive remarks of the disappointed party with silent contempt, and continue to devote themselves to quiet, effective work in th© service- of the country. Sir Joseph Ward was far too easily "drawn" by the Opposition, and by his unnecessary readiness to make lengthy reply to the small jibes of his opponents often played into their hands. It is to be hoped that Mr Mackenzie is not going to fall into the same error. So long as the Prime Minister does his work faithfully and well he need' not trouble his head as to any particular silliness or ill-nature in which his opponents may indulge.