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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 248, 23 November 1914, Page 6

The Liberal candidate for tlie Sehvyn electorate, Mr W. «T. Dickie, compassed a rather unusual achievement (for him) when he spoke for over an hour to a meeting of electors at Sheffield. In the House. 110 rtiember is more silent, less

inclined to oratory, than Mr Dickie. He neither instigates nor participates in the storms of political controversy that keep the pencils of "Hansard" working at top speed. He occupies his seat in the House—a model of complete reticence. He votes iegularly with his party, but unless it is in the Caucus or. the lobby, his contributions to the party's actual activities are not to be discerned. We very much doubt whether Mr Dickie, with all his vocal inertia, is fulfilling the functions allotted him by his constituents. His characteristic procedure in Parliament is to let others do the speaking, Avhile he does not move until the division bell rouses him into activity. If Mr Dickie, while in the House, has nothing to say, it were well he did not say it. Most people will prefer that attitude to the loquacity of members 1 who have a vocabulary far superior to their ideas. But Mr Dickie should have something to say sometimes. The country may not exactly pine for his oratory, but the Selwyn electors certainly expect him now and again to give expression to his principles, otherwise he will be in danger of being looked upon merely as a vote, or an automatic Parliamentarian. Anyway, he should be made to promise to take more interest in his job in future.