The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1907. Suicide by Politics.

Feilding Star, 4 June 1907, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1907. Suicide by Politics.

The late Premier Seddon lived only for, and died prematurely through the strenuous political life. True, tbe sort of thing he made of politics was largely of the junketting, the banqueting, and the verbose side of life; but it was all done as a means of keeping himself in the public eye and under tho limelight. It is not to be denied, therefore, that the late Premier committed suicide through politics. One might use the term "political suicide," but the phrase would be too loose for these daj's of precise, expressive, and accurate English. But we are not in any way desirous of lecturing tho departed. We desire to keep the living from .following a bad example. The Hon. Wm. Hall- Jones has served the colony so faithfully and cosscientiously that every colonist wishes him well. But, bore comes word that, despite the two sharp warnings Nature gave him at Christchurch and at Wellington, he has ignored the warnings, and has endeavoured to carry «n the affairs of State when he should be doing his best to fight for his life. In response to urgent advice from his friends and well wishers, the ActingPremier has stated that there are things which must be done — and that he must continue to do them until Sir Joseph W r ard returns. If it were not rude and seemingly unsympathetic, we would like to retort: "Rubbish!" It is always fair and courageous to face and fight death by any and every possible means; but to continue to do serious affairs of State when the heart gives repeated warnings against such a course is nothing short of suicide. It seems necessary to indulge in plain | terms on this topic, for Mr HallJones has done so well for his country that everyone would like to see him "pull out" whilst yet there is time. It is better for him to pull out than to have to be pulled out. Better a live colonist than a dead Minister.