AT LAST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7189, 6 January 1902, Page 4

AT LAST.

The Government organ in Wellington lias discovered who is to blame in regard to the co-operalivo bungle. The N.Z. Times says :—lf we assume, as we are bound to do, that the interests of the country us a whole, rather than those of the co-operative workers only, are to be considered, there is no room for doubt that Ministers have badly bungled in this matter, and must be held responsible for tho resultant loss and inconvenience, as well as for the opportunity given to enemies of the colony (o inflict injury on its credit. In his latest uttorancc on the subject, the Premier practically admits the blamoworthiness of himself and colleagues. It was their duty to see that there was neitherindiscriminate employment nor sudden and wholesale dischargiug of men from the railway works. If they had exercised duo foresight and management there would have been no "running too fast," and no need to "slow down" in the precipitate way that was adopted. The facts appear to be that the Premier, as Minister of Labour, kept sending large numbers of men to the co-operative gangs atwo.'k on the North Island Trunk Railway. His colleague, tho Minister of Public Works, found places for as many men as came along, until suddenly tho,Premier, as Colonial Treasurer, called a halt when he discovered that the expenditure was already in excess of tho Parliamentary vote. Of course, Mr Scddon may be ■perfectly honest in his declaration that he neither contemplated nor deliberately decreed such a state of things, but the situation has arisen as the direct result of the actions of his colleagues and subordinates, and he, as the head of the Government, must accept the respousfbility.