JOHN BURNS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2374, 2 June 1906, Page 7

JOHN BURNS.

Tho most picturesque figure in British politics to-day is Mr John Burns, president of the L.x-al Government Board. wiio, as is well known, has risen from the lowestrank of workers to his elevated position. In the “Pall Mall Magazine " for March is a character sketch of him entitled “ From the Factory to the Front Bench.” by Ronald Donald. He says: Mr Burns was born—the son ot Scottish parents—in YYandsworthroad in 1858. His father. Alexander Burns, hailed from the Western Lowlands. John was the second son. and the two boys had early to come to the support of their mother, who was left a widow- in 1868. John Burns, then 10 years old. left school and went to work in Price’s candle factory. The first collective congratulation he received when appointed president of the Local Government Board was one from the directors, staff and workmen at Price’s factory. He worked in many capacities to help his mother in his young days. His occupations varied from that of “ buttons " to pot boy on Sundays. Burns, who had a mechanical turn, elected to be an engineer. and served his apprenticeship at works in Vauxhall and at Millbank.

Besides being well grounded in the works—official and otherwise—on the subjects with which be deals a- a public man, Mr Burns has read to some purpose the be*t standard works in general literature, as his speeches show. He is most happy in bis quotations, which he is able to use without notes. Judging from his speeches. Shakespeare is his favourite author. Two volumes in the bookcase are specially valued. One is a beautifully-bound volume of " Paradise Lost. presented by a wellknown artist to Mr Burns when he was in prison, having been found guilty of rioting in connection with the light for maintaining freedom of speech in Trafalgar Square in ISB7. Another is a companion volume of

" Paradise Regained," presented by the same artist when Mr Burns was appointed president of the Local Government Board. Fiction is hardly represented in Mr Burns’ library. His favourite novelist is Meredith. He has not found much time for novels. In order to bring together this most useful library—a formidable arsenal of ammunition for the labour statesman—Mr Burns has bad to make many sacrifices. He began collecting books when he was a boy. By tho time he was 25 he had a well-filled book-case. He has had to go without meals, to make hi* clothes last long and deprive himself of the little luxuries which working men a fiord themselves all m order to buy hook*. Mr Burns’ wants arc few. He has always led a simple lito. and since he began his public career a very open one. He has always been a teetotaller and nonsmoker. He lias never been seen with an umbrella or an overcoat. He has a powerful physique and has always enjoyed good health, although he has lived all hi* life in laindon. except for the one year he spent in the swamps of West Africa. Hi* rrt'fer jacket and bowler hat are still serving him as a right honourable member of the Paivy Council ami a* president of the I,ocal Government Board. Perhaps a change may take place in his outward appearances as has happened to other Labour members when they joined the Government although no one trom the ranks of labour in Englai; 1 ha* ever risen to tln* |v<*itiou ot Cabinet Minister before hut Mr B.:i ns may he vein .1 up in ti rel one of the people. " *■« • hia const tnents he was president of tl Loral I vernment Board a candid friend re ealhsl his statement, at th<« County Council, that uo in i was worth more than l a year U C 2000?" was the quest i.ui “ That is the recognised union rate for tho job ” Burns. "It I to'k 1 a blackleg.” "What the •• Je • ' r V