Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 8,500 Copies Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1910. PARTY WARFARE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9159, 8 March 1910, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 8,500 Copies Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1910. PARTY WARFARE.

Ministerial journals are making much of a speech delivered by the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie at Cheviot last week in which he objected very vigorously to what he called "the system of discrediting this country abroad." The Minister worked himself almost into a frenzy of indignation over some statements that he says have recently been appearing in London and Washington newspapers, but as to whose standing or influence he gave no hint. It would have been more in keeping with Ministerial dignity if the assertions had been quietly ignored, for such official references only elevate the statements into a position of undue importance. An attempt is being made., however, to fasten the responsibility for them upon the Opposition, and it is hinted that the exaggerations published by obscure American and English journals devoted to sensationalism had their origin with the Reform Party. Nothing could be' more unfair than the suggestion—made for party purposes—that Mr Massey and his supporters have deliberately circulated statements calculated to injure the Dominion's credit abroad. They have at all times being unsparing in their criticism of those actions of the Government Avhich appeared to them to be against the interests of the country, and it is well-known that the Government's policy and administration abounds with instances of ineptitude. But they have never exceeded the bounds of fair and reasonable discussion. It is the duty of the Opposition to speak out plainly -when they see abuses and incompetence in the conduct of national affairs. That is what His Majesty's Opposition exists for, and no such despairing cry as that voiced by the Hon. Mackenzie must be allowed to deter the critical party from fulfilling its proper functions. How little the Government relishes pungent criticism may be gauged by the fact that it now takes shelter behind the old excuse about "discrediting the country." Lt the Government eschew extravagance and mould its policy on progressive lines, and it can afford to laugh at the misrepresentations that it now complains so loudly about. But whatever course it adopts it should not seek

to prejudice its political opponents by charging them with the responsibility for exaggerated statements that no New Zealander has any sympathy with.