THE MAN FOR ORKNEY

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 13

THE MAN FOR ORKNEY

INTERVIEW WITH MR CATHCART WASON. CFeom Oua Own Correspondent.) LONDON, February 18. Mr J. Cathcart Wason, who has been conducting an arduous campaign in the Orkney and Shetland Islands, where, in fact, he has fought four elections in the last 10 years, has returned to London, and was present at the unveiling of the Seddon memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral. Mr Wason stayed in hie constituency until after the polling. Although busily engaged in attending to his arrears of correspondence, he yet found time for a short interview with your representative. " To an early settler in New Zealand," Mr Cathcart Wason said, "the difficulties in getting about the Orkneys and Shetlands, and the so-called hardshios are mere incidents, although much is made of them by persons not accustomed to look out for themselves. It is a unique constituency in every way. There are 8000 voters scattered about in two large groups of islands, many of which are exceedingly difficult to get at. I may say that I have visited every island where there are voters. A very interesting island is North Ronaldssy, which contains nearly 500 inhabitants, in the northernmost part of Orkney. The peculiar part about this island to a sheep farmer is that there is a wall built round it a few yards from high-water mark, on which a flock of sheep of several hundreds can pasture on the seaweed, and nothing else, for "the whole year, except for a couple of months at lambing time. In other parts of Shetland, after a storm, sheep and ponies travel long distances to browse on seaweed. A certain variety of seaweed, carefully prepared, makes an excellent dish, with something, of the appearance of blanc mange." Mr Wason always alleges that the unique hold he has secured on the Northern Islands is largely due to the number of Orkney and Shetlanders in New Zealand. Mr Wason's experience as a pioneer in New Zealand settlement has done much to make the work easy for him. Among his constituents are many who have friends and relations in New Zealand, who will be interested to hear that he is likely to be returned again. Asked for an opinion on the nolitical situation, Mr Wason said : "It is difficult to see how the present impasse is to be got out of without a further appeal to the country. Both parties profess to be extremely desirous of doing so, but personally I think both will be glad of a rest, as it is very difficult to forecast the result of another election. Proposals are suggested oract.ically to abolish the House of Lords, and if these are insisted on, a furtner election must speedily take place. A reasonable working compromise might well be made on the lines of a distinct understanding that never again will the Lords interfere with the finances of the country, and that hereditary principle shall be so far abolished that as regards the rights of the Peers to legislate, they shall be elected in some form or another, possibly by county councils and borough councils on the proportional system of representation,' or by some other means."