INNOCENTS ABROAD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1578, 5 March 1919, Page 6

INNOCENTS ABROAD.

Sir Joseph Ward has got into the cables again. We suppose it is necessary to mention .him.now and again, otherwise there would be a danger of New Zealand forgetting it had a second peace delegate over the wafer. Sir Joseph, it seems, is a busy man these days; so busy, indeed, that, we presume he has given up all thoughts of carrying out his previous threat and returning home. That by the way. Snatching a few hours from arduous diplomacy, Sir Joseph has been interviewed in London on ihe work of the Peace Conference. It is an easier matter talking platitudes to a newspaper representative than investigating Poland's unhappiness from the inside. The Liberal leader did not unburden himself with any sensational results. He betrayed no confidences. To begin with, he hazarded the opinion that "peace conditions would be exacting." He took no risks in making that statement. That it was worth while cabling it out here we very much doubt. Again: "Everything was being done to speed

up the work of the conference." News, to be sure! Nobody of any consequence in this country has charged the peace delegates with idling their time away. Of course, 'we are glad to have Sir Joseph's confirmation of a well-grounded suspicion, but the observation is about as illuminating and informative as though he had told us the plenipotentiaries were all eating and sleeping as usual. The' reference to the rumoured interference with Britain's naval strength is little more impressive. Sir Joseph doesn't know; he is merely expressing another opinion. In short, what he passed along to the interviewer was quite innocuous and valueless. Platitudes and banalities are none the more acceptable because served up by a Minister of the Crown. The cable message referred to does Sir Joseph no real service. On the contrary, it suggests that he is being employed on odd jobs in the anteroom of the major assembly. Meanwhile, the expenses bill mounts, and work of an urgent nature remains undone at home. Included in the latter category is a task with a definite bearing on the political future of both our delegates. Mr Massey, we believe, has no qualms concerning his position in this country. By some amazing process of deduction he has convinced himself that he still retains the confidence of the nation. The evidence is all against him, but it cannot shake the delusion. The Prime Minister feels that he has only to lift a little finger and his old following will render him instant obedience. He is due for a rude awakening. He has had his chance, and failed egregiously to make the best use of it. And what is said of Mr Massey can be applied in general terms to Sir Joseph Ward. \ There is unveiled dissatisfaction wjjh both leaders, as they will discover on their return. As we pointed out yesterday, the country requires a radical change of government: a party nationally-minded and fearless, and, above all, competent. In the absence of the two leaders, the tide is steadily setting against them. They will rush back about the middle of the year, rush through another frenzied session, and charge headlong into a general election. Then and there disillusionment awaits them, if we are not mistaken. What they did as heads of our War Cabinet will not avail them. Their strivings at the Peace Congress will not wipe out their past delinquencies. If the new elements now in motion can be consolidated in their opposition to the "old gang," our absent junketers will have cause to regret that they spent so much time away from the scene of action. Thus, while Sir Joseph's uninspired opinions on familiar matters make Us impatient, they also induce a measure of melancholy. It is saddening to see him and Mr Massey in their innocent good nature trying to please New Zealand while New Zealand—or a section of it—is sharpening its axe for their particular benefit.