LEADERS WANTED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 22, 27 January 1931, Page 8

LEADERS WANTED

(To the Editor.) Sir,—lt is indeed soothing to find a correspondent like Mr. John Castle, who, to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, can "speak his latent conviction." (Vide your issue 26th . January.) It is very evident that a leader is required in New Zealand, one that our imaginations may conjure up, "some mature, patriotic man with sufficient independence to -enable him to, rise above the status of a mere leader of' a political machine." These leaders, doubtless, are required at • the moment, in practically every country in the world. They exist—but where? How are we to find them? When we do find them, and eventually elevate them to a position where ( they can carry out their and our patriotic ideals, can a single mind withstand the adverse pressure of a dozen? The sympathy of all thinkers must be with . any political leader who is given a , Bpace of three years only, to rejuvenate, a ' country./'A governor or leader.has hardly time to make himself inwardly known to his people. Six years is little enough. In the space of three,..after rightingopossible wrongs of predecessors, another party might arise to undo the good that has been done.. Even so with our present leader; haying heard his politics privately, and his views on life as a man, and these before he or his party came into power, I am convinced: that," given .another three' years of office,' he will prove equal to gracing the pedestal that Mr. John Castle, in his .patriotism, would like to build. ' I agree with your correspondent that "elections (on party, lines) .are humiliating,"'arid, while admiring his courage, together with his letter, T must by virtue of a 1 Jong experience and study of human nature1, express my firm conviction, that the present leader is the man for the job, and, given a chance, will prove it.—l am, etC'' * T. 0. TREMAYNE. 1 "The whole of the people of the Dominion are waiting lor a leader. Not one class alone,, but every section will be glad to hear the tones of a voice giving a clear call announcing a plan,of action to regain normal conditions" (writes "Fiat Dux"). "Our lack of leaders—financial, commercial, political, and religious—has never* been so marked. The intimation that a conference of the leaders and Parliamentary members of the Reform Party was being held, inspired the hope that action might result—some plan that would afford hope and1 encourage the return of that confidence which is the first essential to a return to normal conditions. All that we have had given to us has been two uninspired products—a resolution repeating the suggestion for an economic conference, which died at its birth when first made, and a pointless statement issued to the Press by the leader of the party on the economic plight, of the farming community. A sterile result, Burely, from such a. gathering!'- These considerations lead to'another: The conference passed the usual vote of confidence in its leader—but what is its value? If the Reform Party can do nothing more than evolve hopeless generalities without • constructive leadership, what is the value of the professed confidence?" The correspondent concludes: "Sir James Parr will arrive in the Dominion within a few weeks enriched by the five years' experience as High Commissioner and his association with the leaders of the Empire. Sir James has undoubted qualities of leadership, ability, courage, and resource. His career is proof of this statement. There is no other, save Mr. Downio. Stewart, whose health unfortunately precludes. him as a leader, to compare with Sir James Parr as an effective leader in the political life of this Dominion. Knowing something of the strength of party loyalty (so called), one despairs of a serious effort, within the party itself .to remodel, but the rank and file may demund a change, and, by firm insistence, may fore& a change. Otherwise, the possibility of Sir James Parr, Sir James Gunson, Mr. G. A. Troup, C.M.G., and other gentlemen of similar calibre, getting together to form a party which might assimilate the best elements in the Reform, the United, and Independent sections, must be considered,; and such a development may hold out the largest hope for our political future.'