The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JUNE, 17, 1910.

Gisborne Times, Volume L, Issue 5201, 17 June 1919, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JUNE, 17, 1910.

It is certain that when the deputa-

An Amusing “Rally.’’

tion from Wairoa were ushered into the presence of the Hon. W. D. S. Mac-

Donald on Saturday evening, its members had no idea of what was in store for 'them. The visitors were apparently somewhat timid for they, selected as their guide, philosopher and friend for the occasion that astute political general, Sir James Carroll, who would seem to have been in one of his happiest moods. As far as we can gather the deputation left Wairoa determined to impress very strongly on the Minister the need in which their unfortunate district stands for help to enable it to combat the further disadvantages which have arisen owing to its harbor problem in addition to its lack of railway facilities and adequate roading facilities. Maybe Sir James Carroll feared that the deputation uould speak very plainly and forcibly on the matter for, in opening the proceedings, ho set about to interest —and disarm—the visitors by entering upon a discourse relating to the difficult political era which has been entered upon and the need for the marshalling of a strong political force to cope with the problems of the day. We should say that by the time Sir James Carroll had concluded the visitors were not a little tired, for it would be difficult to imagine a more amusing string of platitudes than that which lie contrived to thrust upon his audience. “In choosing their political representatives it behoves the people to make up their minds that they must have progres-

Give, sound, enlightened and common ; sense men” was a really sage remark which Sir James managed to sandwich in his address. The public by , this time secretly believes that such j a duty lies before it, and we trust intends, when its gets the opportunely, to act on this very sound advice. The mandatory character of j the words ‘‘must have” is signifi- j cant, coming as they did from such ( a source, and, we may add, quite to j the point. In welcoming the visitors Mr. MacDonald at once followed in his confrere’s knightly footsteps' but his address, on the other hand, absolutely lacked humor or brightness, j The Minister appears to be obsessed ! with the idea that the National Government is being misjudged. He raised up a variety of bogev-men and ! had no difficulty in knocking them ; 1 over—to his own great glee. If Mr. • j MacDonald had his way he would, ! j seemingly, declare all—and their j | name is legion—who have dared to I criticise the present Government ! i traitors of the Dominion .and of the j Empire! What his references to his j long friendship with Sir James Carj roll, his plea that he would have been a richer man if he had kept out of politics, his attack on press critics and his regrets over the fall of the old Libera] party had to do with the

need for assisting the Wairoa district in its present wretched plight goodness only knows. In his remarks lie came very near to saying what it has been pointed out Sir James Carroll impressed on the gathering. ‘‘The one thing that did make a nation—the hope for the future—was,” he contended, “to have strong virile men who stood firm to principle and placed national interests beyond self-seeking and expediency.” Just so. That is merely another way ol saying what those who demand a wide-awake, keen, progressive Government for this Dominion have all along been emphasising. It is important, therefore, to learn that both Sir James Carroll and Mr. MacDonald realise that, politically, the Dominion has ceased to go forward. The members of the deputation from Wairoa evidently had not the heart subsequently to indulge in much straight talk - . There, was one exception—a gentleman who had refused

to become politically chloroformed—and it must have been refreshing to hear him tell the Minister anent the need for a good road that: “We want it. We will kick for it. We will knock at the counter until we get it!” That particular delegate is clearly under no misapprehension as to why the National Government, as constituted, is regarded as a great failure. He knows that its main fault is slow thinking and that it never seems to get past the stage relating to preliminaries. If the other members of the deputation returned home satisfied they must belong to the ranks of those who are easily pleased.