The West Coast Times. FRIDAY JUNE 21, 1912. ELECTIONEERING AT THE STATE’S EXPENSE.

West Coast Times, 21 June 1912, Page 2

The West Coast Times. FRIDAY JUNE 21, 1912. ELECTIONEERING AT THE STATE’S EXPENSE.

Those who bad charge of the arrangements for tiio social tendered to M’n Seddon on 'Tuesday evening evidently had one eye on the social and the other on a cheap advertisement for Mr. Seddon. No reasonable person would take exception to tbc lidding of a social in honour of a member, but the people have certainly strong and valid reasons lor offering vigorous protests against making the social an advertising medium for which the country bad the privilege of paying the piper, i he function referred to was distinctly a partisiau one, indeed, the apologies for "unavoidable” absence indicated very clearly the political colour of the gathering. The choice of their guests is, of course, only the business of the promoters and ' nobody has a ligld to interfere, but when most of Hm Cabinet Ministers take advantage of their positions to use the State services in order to promote the welfare <>i the Party, then every taxpayer lias an inherent right to raise his voice in pretest. At the social given to Mr. Seddon, apologies were received from

most of the Ministers, and the sole, purpose of the telegrams was to gain a cheap advertisement for the Party. Ibis, too, at the expense of the country. The Chairman read many telegraphic apologies and all those trom Ministers were sent in memo form. But the members of the‘Stop-gay Ministry were not satisfied to send short apologies but some of them went so far as to indulge in little speeches by telegraph. Nine Ministerial messages were received, totalling in all 835 words ! ! Below wo append the little list of electioneering telegrams, sent at the country’s expense:—

Words Hon. Thomas Mackenzie 149 (Urgent M'emo—take precedence). Hon Thomas Mackenzie ...... ,5Q Hon. A. M. Myers qqp Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald ... 120 Hon. J. A. Hannan IQ2 Hon 11. G .Ell ' 09 Hon. James Colvin 67 Hon. Dr. Buck 65 Hon. George Lanrenson 64 Total Words "535 Non if this is not Ministerial abuse of the public services we do not know what it is. Over eight hundred words sent to a function which was considered of such little importune© that a Ministry which had gained quite a record for attending all sorts of socials and banquets did not take the treuhle to

send a representative. Indeed, the Hon. James Colvin, who had been branded the Minister' for Secondary Banquets and Funerals did not bother to come down as far as Hokitika, although he was in Westport on the previous day. The abuse Would not bo So bad were it an isolated instance, but we notice that at the socials given in honour of any of Mr. Mackenzie’s following, a number of apologies wore respired from the Ministers all, personally, at the country’s expense. It may he interesting to mention that an apology was received from Sir Joseph Ward for whom the slnyoo was primarily intended, and, although Sir Joseph spun his abject apology out somewhat, profusely into 172’'words, bo paid for his wire like an, ordinary citizen. There is only one other feature of this telegraphic , electioneering at the public expense, | which demands attention’ just now, and that is in connection with the Prime, Minister’s second telegram. It ran into 149 words and was handed in at Auckland after nine o’clock on the night of the social, being marked : “Urgent memo, take precedence,” That is to say that the whole of the telegraphic business between Auckland and Hokitika was hung up whilst the Prime Minister sent tin’s rubbish to the faithful gathered at Hokitika:— ‘‘Regret to find that Hon. Mi’. Colvin cannot got through to Hokitika to-night to represent Ministers. It would have given mo very great pleasure to have been with you to-night, hut I am busy keeping the flag Hying in the north. I feel sure that one and all will have a most successful meeting. In hohonring your worthy member you are honouring yourselves. I am indeed pleased at the tribute which you are paying to my dear friend, Mr Soddom Ho is a fine young fellow who will yet occupy a very prominent position in his country’s life. I have most pleasant recollections of my last visit ti the West Coast and .consider that the time is in sight, when the Const will occupy in agricultural matters the high position ’won in days when gold- raining was so prosperous.” There is a lot of urgency about such trash ! It seems to us, however, that there is urgent need for ' another crusade against the abuse of the State scivices for the good of the Party in power. But wo can take pleasure in the prospects for the future when Mr. Mackenzie and the members of his Stop-Cap Ministry will bo given their marching orders.