Youth and inexperience.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11730, 4 December 1905, Page 3

Youth and inexperience.

TO THE EIjITOR.

gir,' — Evidently there are some in the electorate who desire to make capital of "jouth and inexperience" in connection with one of our candidates. It is to be regretted that such a form of "electioneering" should be practised by anyone. "Experience" may mean experience of Parliamentary procedure, or the knowledge of existing legislation with its environments, and of affairs generally. If the former is meant, "inexperience" counts for very little, otherwise no candidate would make a desirable representative unless he had previously been in Parliament, which is absurd. If the latter is meant, then a candidate's "platform" must expose his ignorance equally with his knowledge. Electors, therefore, will doubtless consider "platform" as the main point. The second, and only other important point is: Has the Candidate sufficient ability and grit to make a good fight for his views if elected? These points being settled, it docs not matter whether a candidate be rich or poor, young or old, etc., excepting always that youth is calculated to fight with more vigour than age. Nearly every other service under the sun seeks young men. Why, then, should that of Parliament bo differeut? If a candidate has the necessary ability and a desirable platform, let us "catch him young." Let us "break him in" early, and get the best of a long life out of him. Can anyone prove that men have been failures in life, sil?ly because they were young, or that others have been eminently successful entirely on account of age? Does anyone even think this to be the case? Finally, if a man over 30 years of age is "too young" for Parliament, when will ho bo old cnouErh? — I am, etc., T. B. SLIPPER.