TRANSVAAL CONTINGENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11202, 24 October 1899, Page 5

TRANSVAAL CONTINGENT.

DEPLORABLE PARTY TACTICS. [di TELEGRAPH.— corresponds

Wellington, Monday. It is a great pity that the Premier should have marred the movement for sending the contingent to the Transvaal by making use of it for party purposes. It is deplorable that Mr. Seddon should thus attempt to spoil what has been regarded by almost everyone as a national affair, by converting it into a means of discrediting certain of his political opponents. It seems, however, that nothing is sacred in the eyes of tho Premier. On Saturday afternoon the only false note at the demonstration was struck by him when he indirectly referred to the fact that certain members had voted against sending the contingent, and during the discussion on the Estimates to-day attention was drawn to what looked very much like an attempt to make political capital out of the movement. It was pointed out that a pamphlet had been issued by the Government Printing Office, containing the speeches made in Parliament on the motion to send a body of men to South Africa, and the names of those who voted for and against. The issue of the pamphlet had not been authorised by the Printing Debates Committee, but the Premier had taken upon himself to have the work done at the country's expense. Mr. Seddon denied that the speeches had been circulated for party purposes. It was a national affair, and it would be a good thing if the pamphlet reached every home in the country. The spirit of patriotism was not strong enough among the people, and ought to be cultivated in every possible

way. Mr. Sligo denounced the attempt to cast a slur on certain members. He gave them | credit for being conscientious, though had he been in the House he would have voted with the majority. _ i Mr. Crowther condemned the Premier's action very warmly. He believed the pamphlet was ordered to be printed for the ■ purpose of showing up the action of five members who voted in a certain way. Thosp men voted according to their convictions, and they had a right to their convictions. | He emphatically denied that there was any lack of patriotism in New Zealand. We were the most patriotic people on God's earth. After the demonstration on Saturday afternoon, could it be said there was any need to rouse them with a blue book like this (holding up the pamphlet with its blue cover). How could they know the motives of those members who voted against the contingent? It was not right to blacken their characters in this way, and that was the only reason why the pamphlet had been printed. He (Mr. Crowther) asked one of the contingent what his mother had said when he went away. The lad replied, '' Don't mention it. My mother did not want me to go away." It was, said Mr. Crowther, the patriotism of these men, and not any lock of patriotism like that to which the Premier had referred. They were all Britishers in time of need, and if not soldiers in action, they were soldiers in mind and heart, and readv to defend the Queen. Mr. Fisher (who followed Mr. Crowther) taunted Mr. Tavlor with want of loyalty. Mr. George Hutchison: " Mr. Taylor is rot disloyal." 1 Mr. Fisher replied that Mr. Taylors loyalty was at any rate a peculiar brand. The whole tone of Mr. Fisher's remarks was that (in spite of the Premier's denial) party considerations had a good deal to do j with the issue of the pamphlet.