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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 253, 28 November 1914, Page 8

In .1911, before the people of the Dominion gave the Liberal Party its walking ticket, the free and independent Mr L. M. Isitt did not hesitate to express his candid opinion of the then Government. The mantle of Mr T. E. Taylor had not yet slipped from his shoulders, for the understudy could find it in his heart to say this (it is so recorded of him on November 14, 1911) of Sir Joseph. Ward and his Ministerial colleagues: "Its (the Government) fault was that it was weak and vacillating, and composed of opportunists." Mr Isitt, then in the first flush of political life, said other unkind things about the Liberal Government. His attitude towards those Ministers who have for the past two and a half years, been mere members of a somewhat disjointed Opposition, has changed to-day to ! one of unstinted admiration. The reverse suffered in 1911 has made the '' weak and vacillating'' strong in political integrity; has turned the ''opportunists" into men in whose hands repose the salvation of the country. Such a miracle has defeat worked in the Liberal, Mr Isitt.

The Moderate League has issued a manifesto outlining some more or less important reforms it desires to bring about in connection with the licensed trade. These are all very well in their Vay, -alid- some of them,, at xsould operation with ■; considerable benefit to the community.' .It seems to "us' rather unfortunate, how?. ever, that ; the Moderate League did not coriflne itself to announcing. its proposals Without pretending to -absolve Parliamentary candidates" from pledges they may have made regarding' the prohibition poll. Who is the Moderate League that it has the right.to give "formal notice to all candidates and political parties- that it considers such specific pre-election pledges ultra vires, and declines to/recognise the same as binding upon those elected to represent air classes of the''community"? The only people wlio can release a member of Parliament from his pledges are his constituents,' and : a candidate who secures votes "by pledging himself to support the bare or any other majority cannot be released from the obligation to .pbseri:'e .his l pledge by the executive of any non-political organisation, however influential it may be. The Moderate League can do good and useful work by energetically, endeavouring to get Parliament to give effect to its proposals, but the'public, will watch very closely to see whether it shows the same zeal after the is ; over that it is displaying on the eve of the licensing poll.