FIFTY YEARS IN POLITICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 243, 14 October 1931, Page 10

FIFTY YEARS IN POLITICS

ONE SEAT WHOLE OF TIME. COUNT BELOVED BY ALL. A family festival in which thousands took part was held a few weeks ago at the little Hungarian town of Jaszbereny. Tho festival celebrated the re-election to the House of Commons of a man who has represented the same constituency for 50 years. Not only tho children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original electors assembled in the market-place to do homage to the candidate of their repeated choice, but also some of those original electors themselves, still hale and hearty and very proud of themselves for the part they played 50 years ago. The candidate in question was Count Albert Apponyi, one of the best-known figures in European politics. Born in 1846, he entered politics at 25 and has ever since been in the forefront of public life, for which he is eminently fitted by his great intellect, brilliant oratorical gifts and strict integrity. Most of his career has been spent in opposition, fighting to gain more independence for his country within the union with Austria. Only twice in his life has the count held a position in the Government. After the Great War camo to an end it was ho who went out to Paris in 1919 to lay Hungary’s cause before tho Peace Conference. His arguments and his eloquence stirred all who heard him, but they could not prevent the dismemberment of Hungary. This catastrophe might well have led him to desist from all further efforts, says a correspondent of an English newspaper, yet ho shouldered the work of representing Hungary at the League of Nations, and by his fair-mindedness, wisdom and personal charm regained for his country much of the friendliness of which the war years had robbed her. Count Apponyi is held in such veneration by his countrymen that when his striking figure passes by all give way before him as if he were royalty. Yet ho is tho simplest and most unassuming of men, with the beautiful manners of the really great. On his 85th birthday the count was given, in token of the nation’s love and gratitude, the sum of £lO,OOO, with the stipulation that he should write the history of his epoch. It seems certain that he will retain his vigour until he has accomplished this important and difficult task.