IMPROVING THE OCCASION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12260, 10 June 1914, Page 2

IMPROVING THE OCCASION.

I . (Invercargill News.) Mr Massey persists in deluding himself as well as the, ptiblic. On; Lis" way northi 'ho was entertained by some of I his supporters in Oamaru at a. lun- ' cheon, and he related how he had fared > in Southland! during his political tour , from which toe was tlieii returning. The Prime Minister knows- perfectly well that the Inve.rcargjll meeting was not sympathetic with "Reform," despite the fact that a large number of his admirers had' journeyed from the country to hear hiiu. He must have realised by the manner .in which he avoided! a.wkward situations that tliero was behind' the apparent good humor a.' determination that he should not go away.with, the conviction that he had won I.nvercargill to his ca.use. Mr Massey is not sincere; he is so much less than sincere that his word; no far as politics is concerned, is valueless. .After ridiculing the Oanraru Mail, which was democratic, and very actively •democratic, while he was completing "his primary education, the Prime Minister stated that "In .Invercargill there was a sister of the Oamaru Mail called the News - , and in consequence of its sisterly tactics he had never had a Wetter' meeting than in Invercargill. much to the chagrin of the friends of "the News."

All this is very paltry, hut it is apparently characteristic of Mi- Massey, who fails to rise to the high traditions of his office. The News did not attempt to spoil Mr Massey's meeting, at wliicli tile audience was; not more considerate than audiences have been to political wayfarers in the past. Even Mr Fisher was' well treated, in Southland}, He received' at Winton what the "Reform" journals magnified, .into an ovation.. Still we might safely challenge Mr Massey to sta.nd for Invercargill, and life colleague of Marine to test his popularity against Sir Joseph Ward for 'Awarua. The Prime Minister is still young in politics, despite the fact that he is: an old enough offender to have opposed practically the whole of the 'democratic legislation passed by the Liberal Government. Mr Massey eliminates entirely the moderate section. it* politics. There are only ■ '-Reformers" audi '''Red' Feds.," and : he assumes that everyone who does, not I cry "No!" or "Rot!" at his meetings is a- supporter. As a. Prime Minister he can, in his own- opinion, d'o no wrong, and l when on dangerous ground •'he invariably seeks cover behind mere generalisations. He has never attempted to argue with the Oamaru Mail' -or the Southland News. He has. -jeered! at them, but there was little .enthusiasm i.n the response when he aislked Oamaru and Invercargill people to jeer with; him. It is a poor pa.rt for the Prime Minister to play, hut wherever he goes he proves beyond question that. he. completely lacks the, sporting instinct. He is not the foe .that meets his opponent face to face, his idea of chivalry is to deal a savage Wow from behind, and; then trust to his legs to cany him to safety. When Mr Massey consents to argue- mamy who at txnesent bedieve in him wil!l receive a. nscfo shock to their political dSgxuity.