HOROWHENUA ETHICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11301, 20 December 1898, Page 6

HOROWHENUA ETHICS.

TO THE EDITOR.

g ln) —While pounding away at the Government the other day oil account of their corrective action over the Horowhenua case, your editorial quoted with approval what Sir Robert Stout said in the House during the discussion: " Even if Parliament believes that Kemp got the land by fraud • ■ • this Parliament has no right to pass, sucn a billit has no right to bo a judge of what is fraud and what is not." This ..dictum might bo allowed to pass unchallenged if there were no distinction between-the "" legal" fraud that he (Sir Robert) 'evidently had in his mind and the " moral " fraud meant by die. Government, and which was proporly' punished by tho passage of the bill in question. It was, perhaps" natural for Sir. Robert Stout.to appear on that occasion as,the champion of public law. Public law, however, is not al-. ways consistent with the public sense, of. morality, which it is the business of the true statesman and politician to give effect to. Law and politics look at the. State from different standpoints.. The former is concerned, with the' maintenance of the present qpndi-. tions and relations, is conservative to the backbone—in short, schemes to protect the status quo. Politics,: on the othei hand, spells progress at present. It is furthering tlio means for social', advancement, and all those interested in tho continuance of the present regime—fortunately, a large majority of tho people—ought to give the Government full opportunity to. consolidate' the good already d6no', and extend the progressive legislation of recent years. ■ There ib no doubt about such legislation being needed and desired.' Legislation lags behind the public aspirations, and a bold and forward programme would meet with a wonderful amount of approval. —I- am," etc., ... -. ■•■ N. Sutherland. Dunedin, Decembor 12.