BONAR LAW AND THE PRESS

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 427, 15 July 1913, Page 2

BONAR LAW AND THE PRESS

Mr Bonar Law, Leader of the Opposition m the House of Commons, at a recent dinner made the following references to the Press: —Your power over the reputation of individuals is immense. I remember the .first speech I made m the House of Commons. I looked up the morning papers next day with a pardonable degree of interest, and the only comment on my performance was m these words : " The debate was continued with characteristic dullness by Mr So-and-so, • and Mr So-and-so, and Mr Law." You provide the limelight. You turn it up and down as you please. But you should not be guided entirely by established reputation. You should always be on the lookout for new talent, and whenever you see any sign give it every encouragement m yotir power. I daresay some of you loow down with a certain amount of envy upon us, but I can assure you the envy is not at all on one side. I remember well when I first came to the House of Commons, when we had a lon<r allnight sitting. I was sitting below the gangway with nothing to do, m a silence which could be felt, even m the House of Commons. Big Ben boomed overhead, and I said to myself: "What a fool you are to land yourselt m such a hole as this." I then looked up to the Press Gallery, and. thought that, though you had to. sit it. out also, there was some object m ths work m which you were engaged.