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West Coast Times, 22 June 1912, Page 2

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How nicely (our contemporary practises what it preaches ! It has always been such a paragon of journalistic virtue and etiquette and has always kept its columns so free from personal spite and abuse and has always dealt with every question it discussed in such a fair, open, broad-minded and truthful manner that it swells with holy indignation and holds; up its hand* with Pharisaical self-righteousness when this journal has the audacity to place its unholy feet upon the holy of holies of Liberalism and Mr. Seddon. Really we feel so very sinful, as we contemplate the local Liberal apologist's immaculate record and its infallibility. it would never use an unkind word; oh dear no ! Never voice a "bricklayer'-' fiction; not at. .'any timo. 2fevor

feel malicious and never do a man an . injustice; it would sooner die. It has clean hands and a pure heart ! ! Such is the vision of our contemporary through its own spectacles. IVo aro always wrong: it is always right. It is virtuous: we aro vicious. It told us yesterday that Mr. Seddon, being like his father, made way for somebody else ! ! Good, is it not? The powerful iniluence was exerted “upon” Mr. Seddon and not on his behalf. Better still I Our Member had the loading politicians of tho Party literally down on their knees, pleading earnestly and longingly for Mr. Seddon to condescend to jon the Cabinet and save them from the jaws of the Reform Party. They cabled to Australia and Mr. Seddon rushed home—only to decline to accede to the pleadings of the ‘ ‘power fill influence.” But really Mr. Seddon could not see his way to oblige tho Party ! Ho wanted the job for an honoured friend. In fact that was one of tho conditions upon which tho Party consented to allow Mr. Seddon to deny the country the boom of his guidance and which caused the inevitable disappointment which deluged tho whole Dominion when ho declined tho honour; It is all so strange; so perplexing. Wonderful how quiet the whole business has boon kept and, now it is known, how disappointed the whole country will be. Funny thing that our contemporary did not bother to name tho “powerful influence”— at least, to use its own words: “Mr. “Seddon was very closely

“pressed by tho most powerful . iu“fiueuce in Wellington to “accept office.” Our contemporary made'this very important omission. It omitted to name the very “powerful influence.” Was it “The Dominion” newspaper; for probably Sir Joseph Ward and many of bis satellites now realise that paper as tho “most powerful influence” in Wellington? Was it Sir Joseph or Mr. .Mackenzie, or Mr. Millar, or Mi 1 . Payne, or Mr. Isitt? Maybe it was even a lady ! All those are influences. Our contemporary has omitted to mention the “powerful influence.” We know powerful influence was certainly exerted J ai-'teu Mr. Scddon’s return from Anstialia, accompanied by bis mother, but our information leads us to believe that tho influence tended in a contrary direction, to tiiat stated by oui' contemporary. In any case we aro surprised that Mr. Seddon considered his personal feelings instead of tho Party’s welfare ! Ho should have ' gone right in, and helped to patch up tho fast-sinking ship. Would his father have refused? Would ho have given place to tho Ells and tho Rnssells; stood aside for the Buxtons and the McDonalds ? What next ridiculous

thing will our contemporary endeavour to mako us behove. But some of its antics are excusable. It lias got one sore spot and wo know how to make it jump ! Mention “Scddon” and it fires up. It takes periodical sleeps and suddenly waking up it usually prophesies after tho event ! Take its last wriggle for instance. It said yesterday: “When this paper “ stated that Mr Scddon would stand “aside for others it gave an accurate “ forecast of what happened later.” ‘/cry good forecast.. But it is perhaps well to remind it that it was speaking of the Premiership! But after its astounding statement—quite unsubstantiated—'Wo expect next to hear that MV. Seddon did really stand aside to allow Mr. Mackenzie to have a temporary lease of the Pricmiorship. After our contemporary’s gnsh’ings of yesterday nothing it says will surprise it. However, now Mr Scddon has loft fir tho scene of slaughter it may take one of its periodical hibernations and regain normalcy. Tho feast of good things in those Ministerial telegrams, tho illuminated address, and the purse of sovereigns has given it indigestion.