OUT OF POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20280, 14 April 1934, Page 29 (Supplement)

OUT OF POLITICS.

Mr Bruce Tells Show Gathering. HOPES DISAPPOINTED. (Special to Hip 4 st «r.’*) SYDNEY, April 6. Mr. Bruce has come and gone, and th® people of Australia are no more able to gauge his intentions or foretell his future than they were before he arrived. All along the line—at Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra—he has said precisely what a capable and successful High Commissioner might be expected to say and what we expected to hear. He has told us of Australia's great effort at recovery, of its success, of its beneficial influence upon our finance and our credit, and of the necessity for maintaining our exertions lest we lose the ground that we have so painly regained But it was not till he got to Sydney last week that Mr. Bruce told us what we have all been waiting for. At the Royal Show luncheon, at which Mr. Lyons and Mr. Stevens were also official guests, Mr. Bruce said plainly and conclusively: “I am now out of politic*.” Those who look to Mr. Bruce as the man destined to lead Australia to the higher levels of political security and material prosperity are labouring to prove that “now” means only “for the time being,” and that after a short period he will be with us again. But for the moment it is clear that he will be content to retain the High Coramissionship. He may get a peerage, and win political distinction at Home. He may, in a short time, decide to return to the Australian arena, where, according to the “Sunday Sun,” the post of Prime Minister is “his for the asking.” But he is certainly not available juist ow , as a I )OS6 ihle competitor for the •job” which is causing Mr. Lyons so much trouble, and the “Sydnev Moming Herald” must look elsewhere for the “ideal leader” who can compose all our political differences and reconcile the Country party with the United party. The State Parliament opens on April 10, and the Federal Parliament about June 27.