THE H.B. TRIBUNE. SATURDAY. JULY 22, 1911. GOLDEN SILENCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 185, 22 July 1911, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. SATURDAY. JULY 22, 1911. GOLDEN SILENCE.

Were it not for the recent eyclonal visitations at Hastings of welcome peripatetic politicians it would be difficult to realise from the normal calm of the political atmosphere in Hawke’s Bay that we are upon the eve of another session of Parliament, and but a few short months off a general election. It would be difficult, also, to realise that there were such things as members of Parliament if it were not for an occasional visit from the aforementioned political enthusiasts who peregrinate the country shedding light upon the mental darkness which obscures our view of the present day situation. To these gentlemen the people of Hawke’s Bay have to be truly thankful, for verily, it would be our fate to descend in sin and ignorance to the grave if left to cull flowers of wisdam and righteousness from the lips of our own representatives. Occasionally when there is - a bunstruggle or a foundation stonelaying we hear that one of our members has been delivered of a more or less (mostly less) eloquent panegyric upon the good qualities of his constituents, but the historic rich man has as much chance of getting into heaven as we have of receiving any political guidance or information from the men who arc our representatives in Parliament. But while deploring such a condition of affairs let us freely admit we dare not honestly express surprise. There is an old saying that it is not possible to get ‘‘blood outof a stone,” and with equal truth we can say it is not to be expected that gentlemen like Messrs. Brown and Dillon should stand forth as teachers of modern politics. It would not be fair to ask them. Is it fair to expect that. they should now and then give public expression to their opinions upon current issues ? Certainly it is not. No man should be called upon to perform an impossible task If they have no opinions and do not manifest any particular aptitude for forming any. how can they reasonably be blamed for disguising their political vacuity in golden silence. Nevertheless, while absolving our members from ail blame, we cannot be so lenient with the electors. Now Hawke’s Bay is one of the finest provinces, if not the finest, in the Dominion. It is rich in sturdy settlers, fertility of soil and salubrity of climate ; its towns important and growing with each passing year, but a lump of territory out ot the Great Sahara would possess more political virility. Now. it is no use blaming the three men who at present represent the province in Parliament They are estimable citizens, and while they may attain some mana amongst the breed of door-mat politicans. it is wrong to expect of them useful service in the realm of statesmanship, and we owe it to the district to see that more grip and power is employed in our administration. The position was not so bad when Mr. Seddon was in office because he monopolised much of the personal element- in politics. But- things are differentnow. The day for “ dumb dogs ” has gone by and with the undoubted changes promised in the future it is “up to” Hawke's Bay to do a little political house cleaning. The probabilities are that Sir Joseph Ward will in future be too busy keeping the dull spots off his new escutcheon to carry on a dominating influence in politics, and when the shuffle of cards comes along we need to be able to play a strong hand. In the meantime it would do no harm for the three members for Hawke s Bay to give us just one more sample of their quality before they return to Wellington to perform those arduous duties which a grateful if perhaps .misguided province has placed upon them. | Something has occurred which inclines us to uphold the doctrine of telepathy. Whilst the above article was being written the member for Napier made his arrangements to address the ek-ctors on Monday night.]