"THE MEMBER FOR MOUNT IDA"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23500, 14 May 1938, Page 4

"THE MEMBER FOR MOUNT IDA"

HIS DAUGHTER WRITES OF SCOBIE MACKENZIE “The Member for Mount Ida." By Sheila Macdonald. Illustrated. Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn. Reviewed by W. Downle Stewart,

This Is the life of Scobie Mackenzie, written by his daughter, the wellknown author, Sheila Macdonald. People of my generation will recall the immense public interest that was aroused whenever it was announced that “Scobie,” as he was popularly called, was to deliver a speeciv I well remember the first time I heard him; it was at a political meeting in old Knox Church Sunday school in the year 1896. Dunedin city was at that time one combined electorate, returning three members. Scobie held the crowd spellbound by his racy, pungent wit and his vigorous onslaughts on his political opponents. He had a pleasant Scotch voice, and every interjection

Gisborne, who Is usually accurate, In his " Rulers and Statesmen.” says he had a rather harsh voice. But he praises the literary charm of his speeches, and considered him the best Opposition speaker of his day. Scoble Mackenzie entered Parliament as member for Mount Ida in 1884 He supported the Stout-Vogel Ministry until it turned protectionist in order to cope with the depression. As Scobie was a life-long freetrader he decided in the absence of any alternative that he would help to “keep the Government in and their measures out.” But when Sir Harry Atkinson came into power he was put to a hard choice. For while Atkinson was also a protectionist, Scobie was still more repelled by the radical “ bursting up ” land programme of the oncoming Liberal Party. He finally threw in his lot with Atkinson at the 1890 election, and thereafter his course was clear.

Scobie’s greatest triumph occurred In 1898, when he was elected senior member for Dunedin. But three years later he lost his seat. It was his misfortune that during most of his political career the overwhelming personality of Seddon dominated the scene so completely that Scobie was always one of a forlorn hope. His polished speeches and captivating humour were more suited to a milder political climate. Perhaps he was as effective as any Opposition speaker could be, but the electors were in too deadly earnest in their determination to carry out the Liberal gospel to do justice to Scobie’s critical philosophy.

The author somewhere hints that his lighter qualities of humour were a handicap to his career, and it was easy for Reeves and others to discount his speeches as being those of a farceur and not solid enough for serious politics. It is dangerous for a politician to earn a reputation as a wit, as the public are apt to lose sight of his more solid qualities. The biographer—as Was to be expected from her reputation as a writer —has performed a difficult task with great skill. She has succeeded in producing a genuine pen portrait of her distinguished father. Ample evidence is afforded of his rare charm and vivacity, but his foibles and weaknesses are not ignored. Some of the anecdotes about his absentmindedness are delightful, as, for example, when he went to his room to dress for a State banquet and by mistake undressed and went to bed.

came to him as a godsend. The more he was attacked the more he sparkled, and the meeting went with what novelists call “ gusto ” from start ■ to finish. But the speech was not composed merely of persiflage and banter; through all his raillery there ran a strong, steady stream of political wisdom and common sense that gave his hearers plenty to think about. In short, he had the rare gift of making serious politics as exciting as a good play or a bright novel. In the same contest he delivered a great speech in the old Garrison Hall, and was replied to a few nights later by Mr Pember Reeves, an opponent of equal wit and brilliance. This was a political duel of the finest order, and aroused immense public interest. Both speeches remain in my memory as classics of their kind, and it is difficult at this distance of time to say which was the more captivating. One secret of Scobie’s success as a speaker was the immense pains he took to prepare not only his epigrams, but what appeared to be impromptu rejoinders to interjections This latter practice may seem puzzling, but in a lecture he gave to University students on the ait of public speaking he explained how seemingly impromptu replies are often carefully prepared beforehand. For example, on one occasion he felt certain tnat Sir Robert Stout would challenge one of his statements, and so he had his rejoinder ready, and made a brilliant retort. I have never heard anv other public speaker acknowledge that he prepared his impromptus, Luff it goes to show that Scobie was a great artist and was entitled to his triumphs by reason’of the pains he took to anticipate the course of the debate.

It is also interesting to leam that while roughing it as a young man in the backblocks of Australia he met Adam Lindsay Gordon and Marcus Clarke before they had begun to rise to fame.

This admirable study of a man who played an almost unique role in New Zealand politics will be welcomed by all who knew him, and should attract a wide circle of readers.

The biographer confirms what my father often told me, namely, that for days before Scobie delivered a speech he was a prey to excessive nervous irritability, and paced the lobbies of the House in the throes of composition. But as soon as he rose to speak all his nervous mood disappeared in the joy of battle, and he became gay and volatile. In this way ho exemplified the well-known rule that unless a man is nervous before he begins to speak he is rarely an effective orator. Many great speakers have testified to this experience. 1 have said that he had a pleasant Scotch voice, but