The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1918. THE THACKER PARTY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11444, 25 January 1918, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1918. THE THACKER PARTY.

IN the birth of the Thacker Party, a day or two ago, at Napier, we have the explanation and the logical sequel to the many displays we have had of Thackoriam in the House. The political evolution of many agitators can always be predicated with absolute certainty almost as soon as they project themselves into the limelight. First a noise. They nose about alleged failures, and tyraun'ios of the Government or high officials, attract to themselves the chronic discontenteds and embark on a rancous-voiced selfadvertisement. Ultimately they form a party, if of only two or three empty craniums or of a tow affinities, and await what chances may turn up of floating into power on the tide they hswte created. Of course, the progress of the majority of these men generally ends in the Slough of Despond. They never reach the Delectable City, because the supply of noisy, ambitious agititors is always greater than the demand, or than the posts available for the type. Perhaps, Dr. Thacker will Aach his goal His qualities will fight for him. He,is riciily endowed with egotism, as one of ins statements at Napier very clearly indicates. Speaking of one of the candidates for Wellington he referred to him as “My man, Poison. ’’ Could anything be more egotistical or more humiliating to' the other man, f.s indicating Dr.

Thacker’s possession of him, body Gisborne and Auckland, we may take it that the mission of Thackerism for the ascendancy of Thackerism has already commenced in earnest.

Now, what are the sins of the present National Government that the 'country should put the Thacker Parly in its place? One of the most unforgivable is the alleged lack of politeness of the Medical Board in the south, with the tag, of course, which no amount of annexation or indemnity could condone, that one of the doctors was alleged to have said to a reservist, “Don’t go near Thacker.’’ But it would be interesting to ’know how many thousands have passed through the hands of the Board without complaint. It must be remembered, too, that, among the 'reservists who are called up against their -will, there will bo a proportion who will try to give the Medical Boards as much trouble as they can, and some who will resort to malingering. By the law of averages the Christchurch Board would have to pass through its hands a fairly large number of them. There would be some who would cause a saint to swear, and the fact that Dr. Thacker could muster so few malcontents to the inquiry was plain proof of the flimsy nature of the grievance. A s to Sir James Allen’s administration of military matters, what do we know of Dr. Thacker’s administrative abilities that we should place him in charge? The agitator is never an administrator. Look at Russia, for instance, where we see millions of agitators and not a single administrator. We do not know — mercifully perhaps— what kind of a mess Sir .lames Allen's critic would have made had lie been in charge of the military portfolio. It would very likely have boon a worse iiasco than his inquiry at and soul. It sounds like “My man, Friday.’’ Diet the greatest man the Empire ever produced ever use such egotistically offensive language?

One of Dr. Thacker’s grievances, on which he apparently expects to mobilise a following, is the farcical one on which he secured an inquiry at Christchurch. The Medical Board in the South was not polite to reservists. It didn’t say “Please,’’ and “Thr.uk you !’’ and “So sorry!’’ when a reservist was cantankerous. [_lt was inclined to ffise commanding language and, 0! Horror! might have said naughty words. These things, in Dr. Thacker’s estimation, were sufficient to change the fate of dynasties and to rock governments to their foundations. It was sufficient to demand that -Sir James Allen should give in Jus resignation, followed by the disastrous collapse of Hie whole of the Government, so that, perhaps. Dr. Thacker should form a Ministry. Behold,' then would commence tl>

Millennium of the Never Satisfieds. Examining doctors would exude politeness, mud would dee away from military camps, money would start breeding, so that every Second

Division man should have what are now impossibilities, and all grievances would turn to blessings. Perhaps. Seeing that he has addressed meetings at Napier and at Waikaremoana, and is also visiting Christchurch. Looking at the whole matter -from a strictly political point of view, and having regard to the disaster which a change would bo likely to involve, we have no hesitation in accepting as a watch word the [alleged warning of the medico at Christchurch —“Don’t go near Thacker. ’’