THE RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 16 September 1909, Page 4

THE RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

SOME OPPOSITION. VEBSES. ■ Oiir old friend '-'A ,y»ice'.' jjecnyto have lieen in good form at a meeting addressed by one of the Government candidates for tho Bangitikei scat, writes "M.C.K." in the " DOS' minion." Was it not, ho asked, because of the Opposition's pressure that the Government had seen the error of its ways in respect of land tenure? Mr Meldrum's reply was rather splendid, and, deserves to becomes historic: "It tiii^lit nave been under pressure of the Opposition; it was certainly under the pressure bf sound reasoning." And thfls "M.C.K.":-, AA ■■k.gmnJJL The Minister speaks for .weeks and weeks, by the firm belibf inspired That success is sure for his logic poro wherever his speech is wired. lie clears his mind of the liists that blind the average dull M.P. — A regular sleuth on the trail of 'Truth to the final Q.E.D. His foes may shriek that his, logic's', weak, and the papers sCOf". find shout ' In vain endeavour to put the clever nnd faithful Minister bnt; But he scorns the foe, for he Snows they know that he simply nkist be right In his passionate zest to thoroughly test the thing by Reason's light. Power, it's true, and a thumping screw, are well enough in their way, And sweetness lurks in the travelling "perks" of one pound ton per day; But better far than these bounties are the joys that they've always found In the exercise of their faculties in reasoning strong and sound. Tn ravelling out the knots, of. doubt from the tangled thread of fact That Truth may shine as a light di- ' vine in a- Socialistic Act They take delight; and a noble sight that never can un surpassed Ts the lordly manner they nail the banner (with pins) to tbe policy mast. Oh, sweet the thrill, when he proves his skill, in the scientist's heart that glows! It 's pure romance when your outside chance gets home by a short halfnoso. But greatly higher the joys that fire _ the Minister's soaring soul When the chain of thought has at last been brought to ths Triltli that is Reason's goal. Steady and strong, they think along; that hum in the silent night Ts the thoughtful train of the patriot brain in quest of tho Thing that's Bigit. Tbey test and test, till thc thing that's best is clear beyond dispute; They weigh and weigh till it's cleai as day that thoyr policy's sure lc 1 suit. Such circumstances as abstract fancies — that commoner statesmen use— They brush aside, and they take a pride in the fact that they founfl their views And frame their Acts on the actual facts of the -logic sure and sound That is firm and clear to the listening oar that's glued to the tremulous ground.