Political Notes

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 7 August 1912, Page 5

Political Notes

The Opposition at. present do not know where they are. It was thought they would have iallen into line and agreed upon a nomin^ Chairman of ation for the post of Committees Chairman of Corn-

mittees in opposition to the Government's candidate. They didn't manage it so Mr Lang was unanimously elected, and he deserves the honour. - X X ■ ■ .X X What a happy family we have become. The clash, and jar, and bitterness of party strife! has ceased for the time; even though a The i High few newspaper editors Commissioner find it hard to entirely suppress their habit of shrieking. It is a welcome change In part, it is a natural desire for peace after conflict; in part, it is the feeling of satisfied justice that the honours attained are deserved; and /we also j think, that New Zealanders are weary of the wrangle of partjs division. The delegatesbheered stne ministerial.pro- \ nduricement at the Jjocal Bodies con- ; ference that local government ought j not to be discussed from a party standpoint. The late Minister of Railways made the same claim for the railways. The late Minister of Agriculture did the same for his department. The fact is, there is not a public question but what should be dealt with on its merits. The wonder is that the s questions are not so treated, and that the people raise no remonstrance when they are not so treated. Mr Colvin has lately told the world how he, when a new member was trained by the Honourable Rhoderiok McKenzie and J. A. Miller "We lived together for three years. They instilled into me that loyalty to your party is the first thing, that loyalty is the second thing, and that loyalty is to be observed on every occasion." That is the training of a partisan bluntly stated.

Such a member is true and faithful to what ? The common good ? the country ls welfare ? Not much. It means my party before my country. The practically unanimous approval of the selection of Mr Thomas Mackenzie as High Commissioner, is a hopeful sign of the abatement of that mad bad party outlook which claims all the virtues for itself, and persists in. throwing all the vices at the other side. Personally we heard Mr Mackenzie speak but once, and if that essay was up.to his average then he is no orator. Those that know the man, Lis abilities and his work, are emphatic that the selection is a wise one. Mr Mackenzie may feel proud of the general judgment passed upon him by the people within the last iew weeks. It should beau incentive to further service.' * . ■>