A GALLERY

Evening Star, Issue 20263, 26 August 1929, Page 7

A GALLERY

[Writ ton by Alan* Dam:, for the ‘ Evening Star.’] 37—HR E. F. HF.ALY Mr E. F. Healy is an Irishman with an Irishman’s geniality.'Mr llealvlikes life. ‘ Wairau, when it returned Mr Healy, know what it was about. He has a charm.of manner, an ease with all manner of people,, which is characteristic of Iris people. His Celtic look is accomSanied by Celtic fluency and by an nnerenrrent of romanticism, possibly unsuspected by Mr Healy and certainty not apparent to his opponents. But there it is, moulding Mr Healy’s thought, colouring his language, and generally shifninering somewhere in the background of his mind. For Mr Healy is one of those people who rarely sit down to think. His conclusions, formulated by the ■ machinery of . his intellect, force 'their way to the top, rounded and complete. There is no conscious shaping of opinions—that is going on all the time. For Mr Healv is one of Nature’s critics. H» knows what he knows and every piece of observation is an added experience. It must not be thought that there is the traditional Irish brilliance in the speeches of this new member. _ There !s limpid thought, thought which bespeaks a cnnclent mind and expressed in neat and attractive phrases. It is the thought of a man who buds liyirm an adventure and who will never tire. But it does not overwhelm with magnificence of nhrasing or high development. Mr H°aly is no man fo paint yon a subiect in mural decoration, but he is an exc'flhmt man at •'’••■"atures. 38.—HR A. E. AHSELL Mr Ansell, the new Reform member for Chalmers, is the motorists’ friend. In motoring politics he has been a prominent inan for years, and such was his known capabilities that it was obvious he would be a strong candidate for hk chosen scat. Mr Ansell is firm. He is a man whoso opinions are set- and ) who has reached his present plu'nsonhy by years of trial and error. Ho has learned, and realises it. The shrewd ness and penetration of his judgment are undoubted, and with experience be will niako a good speaker indeed. But Air Ansell’s philosophy is not quite complete. Little things annoy him. The red reflectors decreed by the Public Works Department, for instance, annoyed him' intensely. The irrationality of others is always atrial. The Reform Party being what it is —only three of'the twenty-six elected members who are actually in the House are new to Parliament—Mr Ansell has not as yet been given the opportunity to reveal his real strength. Seasoned campaigners have been entrusted with the tasks at the sap-head, and have been tossing across th-rir lighted bombs. But the member for Chalmers will not have to wait long, now. The arrival of the Government’s legislation is certain to provike a heavy barrage whe-o lone guns have been speaking, and then the new members’ turn will come. Then will be realised the truth that M» Ansell, in sheer, hard common sense, :-s one of the best ,incs in the House. As a new member he may bo diffident, or he may tend t-o talk on non-party lines, but he will be worth listening to. Especially when the talk is of Highway Boards, highways, and those things of traffic development and control whidi lie understands so well. 39 MR W. LEE MARTIN In a Parliament of moderate men there is no greater moderate than Mr W. L. Martin. Nominally. Air Alartin represents the electorate of Wnitonio. Actually he represents the dominion’s good. “Sane Labour” is a phrase to which one becomes increasingly accustomed. Those who group the less rash members of the Labour Party under this head will find no difficulty in including Mr Martin. Like a hero of one of Bnmcjs books be fivhts for moderation with i flail. Like the more members of his partv he realises the limitations of any Government, and does not expect the reign of Labour to initiate the Afillenintß. Like his reasonable colleagues he is prepared—anxiously prepared— to co-operate in anything 'aimed at improvement of the conditions of the country and alleviation of the present undnnbted distress. There is a tendency, of course, fo reo-nrd legislation as the remedy for ail ills. That tendency may pass, but it is donbffiil if Mv Mnrtin’s nt'xr characteristics will change—a steady flume, ft_, spirit wbmh Arealisation in. service, which is painfnllv anxious'to d ■ tcover the riflit. whirii will not accent readv-madc solutions of any problem, but- has an almost scientific -passion for verification, analysis, and examination. That sfifl figure and deliberate manner hint at a thoroughness of annronch which is confirmed as soon as one meets this man—one of the most interesting of Labour merrilwvs and n being who is so anxious to a : ' l b ; s follows ibat be frets at delay Air Martin would get there by the. route. But he would first of all be sure. It is a combination excellepflv good. (Concluded.)