THE REAL LEADERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 18 July 1917, Page 4

THE REAL LEADERS.

SIR ORAIGIE'S VIEW. OUTSIDE PUBLIC EDUCATES GOVERNMENT. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 17. "I hope tho National Government leaders have come back broad-minded, not politicians," suggested Mr Craigie in the House to-day. "But,'' he added amid laughter, " I have my doubts." Some candid criticism of the Government followed. " Who are the real reformers?" ho asked._ " Not the Government! but the outside public." He said that not one member of the Ministry had the backbone before tho 1915 session to advocate conscription.

Mr Massey said everyone said it was needed.

Mr Craigie continued that one Minister who said we didn't need Prussianism in New Zealand got great applause. Then there wa.s a. cry from North Cape to the Bluff for conscription, until the Government gave the people what they wanted. Again the outside people were, the reformers. Take Hts local loan. ' We were getting ten millions sterling out of Britain in excess, of profits on our produce, but the Finance .Minister was at first unwilling to deplete the local money market by a local loan, and we continued to sponge on England. He wished to give credit to the " Lytfelton Timcß," Avhich educated public opinion up to the advisability of a, local loan, and eventually the Government adopted the idea, another instance of the outside public leading. He hoped members of the Government would become, statesmen and forget about the nextl election. " I don't blame them for things they have done, but for wha.ti they havo not done," concluded Mr Craigie.