The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1911. MR McCLUGGAGE’S SPEECH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 48, 11 October 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1911. MR McCLUGGAGE’S SPEECH.

Mr Joseph McCluggage, the Liberal Candidate for the Stratford seat at the next election, gave his maiden political address to a Stratford audience last night in the To an Hall, and certainly has reason to feel flattered at the reception he obtained. Doubtless the large audience included many good Liberals who were, as ever, prepared to staunchly support their party and their party’s candidate, but it has also in common fairness to bo admitted that Mr McCluggago in his quietly impressive sincerity and able presentment, of the political situation from his standpoint, surprised and pleased those of the audience who possibly do not consider the present Government in quite so favourable a light. Platform orators are rare anywhere: in Taranaki they are almost unknown. Mr McCluggago is not an orator, but his clearly delivered and decidedly intelligible address ox last night was quite a long way in advance of some platform efforts we can call to mind. As to his political standpoint, Mr McCluggage is a thoroughpaced supporter of the present administration, and he has the advantage of compelling his hearers to believe that lie is sincerely honest in his political creed. Of course there are many who will utterly disagree with his platform—who can recognise no good work from the hands of the pre-

sent administration—hut this will always bo so long as party Government exists. From whatever standpoint, however, one may look at the game of polities, one is bound to recognise that so far as Stratford is concerned at any rate the chosen Liberal candidate is a power to be considered, and that he is putting up a good fight. Wo must congratulate Mr McCluggage on his speech of last evening, and particularly ou its temperate tone and entire freedom from personalities.