FLEETING POPULARITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 February 1925, Page 9

FLEETING POPULARITY.

AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER. AIR, BRUCE CRITICISED. Political popularity is not unlike the fieeting splendour of a rainbow. Like many of the other transient things in life, it soon passes. Then Air. Hughes faded out —he has not been completely effaced, however, for there is still a demand upon him at public functions—a new star appeared in the firmament, it was Air. Bruce. But Mr. Hughes is probably in the quiet of his new home here enjoying the discomfiture of the man who deposed him. For Air. Bruce cannot be happy under the stinging criticism to which he lias been, subjected in New South Wales because of liis attituce towards tne water-front trouble and" those liehind it'. The hour brings forth the man; but the general feeling in this State is that, in-, this crisis, the man whom the country looked mainly—the Prime Alinisterhas failed them. . One of the leading Sydney papers took the unusual course of publishing boldly an open letter to Mr. Bruce, written by one “who occupies a high position in public life.”* Mr. Bruce i-s openly charged in the letter with having “failed'tile Commonwealth on more than one occasion when firm action and courage were wanted to safeguard' the the interests of the public of Australia.” Mr. Bruce’s failure may prove the triumph once again of Air. Hughes. Auckland Herald correspondent. *