RETIREMENT OF MR. MONTGOMERY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1665, 2 July 1887, Page 2

RETIREMENT OF MR. MONTGOMERY.

The announcement that Mr. Montgomery, acting under medical advice, has decided upon retiring from tbe House of Representatives will be regretted by all who take an interest in tbe personnel of (be House. The cause will be regretted, and also tbe loss of Mr. Montgomery's services. Events at one time pushed him into a position of prominence for which he was hardly fitted. His warmest friends can hardly contend that he is of tha stuff of which leaders of parties are made, and the fierce light of criticism which beats upon those who lake prominent positions soon showed many a weak point in his armour. But circumstances brought him into the leadership, and, though it was unkind to Mr. Montgomery, tlic selection of him as leader was not a had thing for tbe party, who, after 1879, ne°ded a cleanly and honest leader until such time as tbe chiefs who bad gone out of office in a cloud of mal-odorous smoke bad made themselves presentable once more. For several sessions Mr. Montgomery led tbe then Opposition and, if he was not very successful in party fighting, he at any rate set an example of courtesy and trutlifuln ss in debate and uf patience and perseverance in the performance uf the duty of an Opposition under trying circumstances. His followers were not very amenable to discipline, for many reasons, while he bad to oppose a very compact party whose majority, if small, was always reliable. When tbe time for victory came, others received the reward, and tbe first opportunity was taken of pushing aside the wan who had borne the brunt of tbe fighting. Mr. Montgomery, if he did not say much, no doubt felt that gratitude is not an overpowering virtue with politicians, but be stuck to his party loyally until last session, when he found that as one who has an abiding interest in the colony, be could no longer support the Ministry or its policy. The record of the retiring member for Akaroa will always be remembered, we think, as that of a sincerely honest and consistent politician, a useful member, an earnest lover of his adopted country, and one whose neter failing courtesy and kindliness of heart have had a large influence for good upon the tone of the House.