NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14849, 28 November 1911, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE PREMIER IN THE NORTH.

The New Zealand Times derives much consolation from the fact that Sir Joseph Ward was not only able to address a public meeting at Waiuku, but to receive a .vote of thanks and confidence. Oar contemporary evidently regarded the Premier's incursion into the Massey country as Baillie Nicol Jarvie regarded the adventure into Rob Roy's den.- There were, of course, no, grounds whatever for 1 its misgivings. The people of Waiuku can be as courteous to political opponents as they can be hospitable to political friends-, It would, indeed, be a bad day for political life in New Zealand if our public men were unable to count upon receiving a respectful hearing whenever they: spoke

from the platform/' however opposed their views might be to those of their audience. At - the same time nothing could bo more; foolish than- to attach any importance or significance to these formal acts of politeness. Tho ministerial press seems to imagine that because an audience at Waiuku had the good manners to listen quietly to a speech from the Premier, Mr. Massey's seat is in danger, and the prospect*) of the Opposition have faded into the unknown. By the same token Mr. Massey's remarkably enthusiastic reception in 'Winton should have filled the Ministerialists with despair. ' There are, it is true, signs that it has • greatly disconcerted them, but . the wiser and saner heads j among them do not read into it any ominous meaning. Our only regret is that Sir Joseph 'Ward was not ' able to spend more time in the North, and to deliver more speeches. The more he talks the more he strengthens the Opposition. His defence of his administration grows weaker with reiteration, while every speech ho makes provides abundant proof that his party have neither a programme nor a policy. _____

WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF? It is, of course, difficult for the present generation to believe that a Prime Minister can sustain defeat at ■ the polls (says the Bruce Herald), for, as a matter of fact, it is 24 years since such a political disaster overcame a. Prime Minister. , In 1887 the then political David, who slew the then political Goliath, was Mr. James Allen, who defeated Sir Robert Stout, the Premier in the Stout-Vogel Administra- : tion. Is political history about to repeat itself? Is Mr. Hamilton, an untried politician, about to defeat the veteran Prime Minister, Sir J. G. Ward? If so the coincidence will be more than singular,- it will be plural. Sir Robert Stout, in 1886, accepted a title, and incurred great political unpopularity thereby; at the next election he was defeated at the polls by a young man untried, in public life. .Sir J. G. Ward ilias accepted the title of baronet, and this, it is alleged, has created a strong feeling of antagonism in Awarua, and he is opposed by an inexperienced politician. Will the cause and effect be the same in 1911 as it was. in 1887? It is difficult to say, for the ballot box is your only true political prophet, but it is obvious that ; the stars in their courses are not at prei sent working very favourably • for the j member for Awarua. ■ •'■ » "".: