SIR JOHN AND THE BLIND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14809, 12 October 1911, Page 6

SIR JOHN AND THE BLIND.

, 4/ • ;:'• ■■ ■ ■ . Sir John Findlay is an amateur in electioneering methods; but it is a little difficult to understand at present whether he has been attempting, owing tq his lack of experience, to please at any price, or whether he has his tongue in his cheek in the enjoyment of a little joke which will probably do him very little benefit in his campaign. In his first speech at Parnell he indulged in . language so winning that the willing critics in his'' audience were moved -to almost admiring protest. He has made it a leading plank in his platform that he is . establishing a home inParnell, where he at least hopes he may dwell. He has adopted the full - political garb of the most ardent Aucklander. He has been not only , among the brain and muscle of the constituency whose trust he seeks, but he has even mingled with the pleasant people whom sore affliction has gathered from various parts in that district. ' This was a stroke of genius. He had something specially attractive for them—the hope of i special railway rates—a hope not ! definite he- was only too ready to admit, but still • pleasing to the ear. He has but to approach 5 Mr. Millar, ! a genial and kindly mortal,, who in the , difficult; task of running the . Dominion's 'railways so • that every suburbanite rejoices, - finds it his ! hardest task to say " No" to any request, and the thing will—we may all infer—be done. To give , his due to the Minister who now comes forward in the plain clothes of a private citizen, stripped in this contest of the power his portfolio gives him, he admitted yesterday that all electioneering promises are to be taken in the good old way, cum grano salis. The promise of a Parliamentary candidate is "as nothing by .itself.' •Probably it is not very much more if it,depends also upon the geniality, of the man who hates to, say, " No,", but says it quite • efficiently and quite often. Sir John is obviously actuated in all ' these things by a;very good motive— desire ..to make useful friends and to win Parnell. / !