A Tale Of Sympathy

Northland Age, Volume 28, Issue 27, 21 March 1928, Page 6

A Tale Of Sympathy

Calling The "Kerner Names Nasty Northland Age Several Heartbroken People Since the Northland Age criticised very severely the member for the district for his unwarranted insult to the Chairman of the Mangonui Hospital Board, an ef

fort has been made to cover up the palpaole blunder made by the “Kernel” on the occasion of the visit to Kaitaia of the Minister for Health. There have been many little stunts proposed with a view to reinstating the “Kernel” in public favour but most of these had to be dropped. However, the scheme considered most suitable was that generally resorted to by people somewhat chickenhearted, when clean bowled. Those who have ever been to the fore with the sowing of the “good seed” for the "Kernel” were approached and a hasty consultation brought about the conclusion that the only thing left, was to go for the “Sob” stuff. In other words it was deemed advisable to direct ..ttention to the horrid names that had been •'addled on to the member for the district. There were of course no horrid names bestowed upon him. It may be that the terms applied did not look so well in print as “Colonel Bell, M.P., member for the Bay of Islands” looks; but they are so descriptive ot the man that we could not resist the temptation to employ them. We of course did not for a moment think tnat a practical joker in the of Colonel Bell, M.P., woula“resent a joke at his own expense. We have heard it said that in "Ye good oh days” the dear old gentleman di rivt d much pleasure and amusement from sadUbng opprobious title* uoon respectable members of this community and was patted upon the back, so to speak, by nis political frie ris who considered it the right thing for the ‘Kernel” to insult honourable men for his own and tneir special amusement. It was of course scarcely contemplated that the scene would change. In their hilarious moments they forget that the time might come when they might wish that their folly of days, long since forgotten by them, had never been committed. To-day we find them cursing where formerly they had blessed. In other words they are disapproving where formerly they approved. It was a fine thing once for a prospective member of parbato call an honourable gen“a skunk” and to call other honourable gentlemen names, which if used in parliament would be termed “unparliamentary." Did the people who to-day deplore the fact that the

"Age” has aptly described the “Kernel," threaten him whtn he put out his chest and laughed loudly over some insult offered a citizen of the district ? Oh dear no. It would have p: en an act of high treason to have done so. Yet some of these people ate moaning because the stone has rebounded and they are seeking to secure sympathy for the "Northland Wonder” where none is merited. Boycotts and all manner of other things have been attempted against the Northland Age because it has the courage to speak the plain truth in the interest of the community. The “Age" is owned by the farmers of this district, and any attack upon this journal is an attack upon them. The boycott aims at temovinjj fl9tt Uie til® JW*

sem Editor of the “Age” who is regarded as a menace to the political advancement of the member for the district. Thus it is that all the backdoor methods conceivable are being resorted to. The farmers will win through and as the farmers keep Kaitaia aliv it behoves those who are attempting a stupid boycott, to be very careful how they step in this matter.