"SICK LEADERS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 6

"SICK LEADERS."

Although he suggests that Mr. might be waiting for the mantle of leadership to fall around his MacClure does, not apparently denyi the argument put forward by Mr. Lttps I think Mr. Lee is right when he states that the sick leader of a group, or'' party, political or otherwise, is only u encumbrance to the progr e» of thtti group, or party, however popular tlw leader may be. As a matter of fact, the greater the popularity of the leader, the greater the encumbrance, as, naturally, the average fair-minded man is loth to offend, as he himself might well become'unpopular by being too • caniid in hie criticism of the popular hero. Whether Mr. Savage was the subject of Mr. Lee's ' statement is a matter of opinion, bnt two facte arise from the discussion, namely, that it is the exception rather than the rule, that a leader with lb. Savage's peace-minded, lovable nature, makes a good political leader, generally taking the line of least resistance rather than make enemies, and that s leader to be truly worthy of the title, must-he most aggressive to gain his objective in these days of crooked diplomacy' and politics. Even his enemies, if he Jus | any, would suggest that Mr. ; Savige is aggressive even in a mild -way, bjrt he is •undoubtedly the greatest 'political statesman this country has had. However, selling a policy is quite a different matter from carrying that policy oat, as the one needs only good salesmanship, while the other requires, more eft en than not, definite aggressive action, QUID PRO QUID.