Canterbury Shamed.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15605, 1 June 1916, Page 6

Canterbury Shamed.

Canterbury has long had to hang its head in .shame on account of the exceedingly small calibre of most of the members supposed to represent this district in Parliament. In "Wellington our Thackers and our Wittys, to say nothing of tho unique McCombs, are looked upon as politicians with mingled derision and contempt, and visitors to tlio House ask if they are fair specimens of the Canterbury people, and if so, what is tho reason of tho intellectual blight which has fallen upon a Province which at one time was looked up to by tho whole Dominion. If we had reason to be ashamed before, what can be said of our humiliating condition now that Xcw Zealand, in common with the rest of the Empire, is involved in a tremendous crisis, calling for tho highest qualities on the part of its public men? Taking tho representatives for Christchurch and the contiguous doctorates tho only member, apart from our representative in the Cabinet, who has really risen to the occasion is Mr Isitt, although wo gladly admit that Mr Ell, in a quiet way, has also dono good work. Sir Wittv's outlook on Imperial questions extends no further, as wo pointed out yesterday, than the pricc of eggs in Riccarton. The inanities of Dr. Tlinckcr havo long since ceased to provide any amusement and now excite only disgust. Tho raucous voico of Mr McCombs never rises to a single note of inspiration; his aim appears to bo to vie with Mr Wobb in seeing who can do most to prevent New Zealand from following to its full length tho path of honour and duty in connexion with this war. Fortunately tho sturdy patriotism and robust intelligence of the Parliament aro equal to the occasion. Tho Webbs, the Wittys, the McCombs. and tho Thackcrs will be brushed aside. New Zealand will do tho right thing, and in years to come will be able to hold her head high in the consciousness of having done her duty. In the meantime, it has been within the limited scope 'of the puny creatures we have named to inflict shame on the patriotic people of Canteruury, and they havo done it.