The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY. OCTOBER 23, 1925. NATIONALIST CANDIDATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19436, 23 October 1925, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY. OCTOBER 23, 1925. NATIONALIST CANDIDATES

Mr. G. W. Forbes, the leader of the National Party, is so hard pressed by the Reform candidate in his own electorate that he has no time to make a tour of the Dominion. Mr. Coates is giving up practically all his time to the national campaign, and even Mr. Holland makes time to go on tour; but Mr. Forbes,' preaching a gospel of wider vision in politics, professing the abnegation of party interests, and claiming a desire to lead the nation to higher things in the national interest—Mr. Forbes remains chained to his own little strip of territory. For what? In order that he may serve the national interest? No,, to save his political skin. Thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o’er with the pale east of—fear.

But if Mr. Forbes cannot visit the electorates, at least he can occasionally command the ear of a sympathetic Press Association agent, and thus announce' that the National Party’s campaign flourishes throughout the Dominion and its candidates are making an impression on the electorates. They are indeed, if we may judge by local happenings, but scarcely the kind of impression that Mr. Forbes means. Next door to Wanganui Mr. Lyon carries the banner of Nationalism. The electors certainly appear to be showing interest in his meetings, not because of his politics, a negligible quantity, but because Mr. Lyon stages the most laughable entertainment they have had in years, and they are *able to enjoy it for nothing. As a comedian Mr. Lyon is a success. Time will show what Rangitikei thinks of him as a politician.

On the other side of the city Mr. Corrigan adds his little bit to the gaiety of the nation. It is true that Mr. Corrigan has his own little way of providing entertainment for the electors, and his efforts have a habit of ending unfortunately for the performer: but it is not every electorate that can boast a genius of the Corrigan type. Why, he can manufacture a first-class political scandal out of nothing at all, and when he is cornered and asked to withdraw as a gentleman should—well, he just says that many a crime is perpetrated in the name of political tactics. Then in the city itself there is Mr. Veitch—ex-Labourite, exLiberal, ex-Fusionist. It is almost time he had another “ex” to add to the list of titles, and really “ex-member” would fit very nicely. And perhaps the change would be acceptable to the National Party. If we heard Mr. Veitch aright in the smokeladen atmosphere of Keith Street on Wednesday night, the National Party has so many good men it does not know what to do with them. It is too bad to think that this high-souled organisation, striving so earnestly to do a national service, should be embarrassed by its plethora of good men. The electors of Wanganui certainly should take Mr. Veitch’s hint and case the burden of the National Party by asking one of its members to stand down. Mr. Veitch himself, we are sure, would submit with all humility, for is not his whole desire to do good to the nation?