In the Mirror

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 4, Issue 10, 1 April 1926, Page 3

In the Mirror

C KRISTOPHER JAMES PARR, Knight, is to be the Dominion’? next High Commissioner in London. This is an exalted post carrying with it onerous responsibilities which demand exceptional and diverse abilities. The successful occupant must be a financial wizard, a commercial magnet, an astute diplomat, a wise administrator, a courtly knight, a social personality, a good speaker, and above all, to use a Yankee expression, “ a hustling go-getter ” for New Zealand. In his new position Sir James — or perhaps in London Sir Christopher would sound more distinctive —will assuredly find scope to prove his mettle and satiate his ambitions. His choice is a wise one on the part of the Government and a fitting reward for a zealous and progressive Cabinet Minister. Sir James Parr has a marked weakness for publicity which may be epitomised by an alliteration: “ Parr is a most prolific and persistent purveyor of personal paragraphs to the Press.” As a “ booster ” he has no peer in the public life of the country to-day, and it is the “booster par(r) excellence” the Dominion needs at the Hub of the Empire.

'C'LEET Street will doubtless be -*■ all agog to welcome Sir James Parr, and no doubt he will be embraced with open arms by the reporters of the wonderful Street of Adventure, as they have previously welcomed Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, Tom Mix and other notables who have not been prone to hide their light under bushels. We feel sure that despite Sir James Parr’s close association with our educational system that he still retains some sense of proportion, and will not allow New Zealand to figure as the lesser star. Our new High Commissioner is undoubtedly a patriot and will place his country first even though he may be conscious that New Zealand is proud to claim Sir James Parr as one of her great sons. In Lady Parr Sir James will have an ideal helpmate. She is a lady of delightful personality and social attainments, who will undoubtedly be a marked success as the High Commissioner's consort, Ix a few weeks now the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition will be closed. It has proved a truly wonderful success from many as-

pects, and unstinted credit is due to that resourceful band of Dunedin business men and zealous women who conceived the enterprise. With the greatest pertinacity and dauntless courage they built up their ambitious project until the eventful opening day some months ago. For many weary months before the doors of the- Exhibition were thrown open, there was a tremendous amount of work performed by a comparatively small executive

committee of far-seeing, keen, resourceful, courageous, and energetic men and women, who did not receive the meed of encouragement they deserved from the outside public. Some, indeed, even went so far as to scoff at the project, and predict failure. Now the pessimistic prophets have been dumbfounded ! Nevertheless these hard-working and canny Southerners persevered with characteristic energy. They shouldered enormous burdens, overcame many difficulties, and left their handiwork to be judged by the most uncompromising of all critics — the Public. The verdict has been unanimously proclaimed. <xA INyytable Success ZAF the many achievements of the Exhibition, a prominent place must be given to the excellence of the Women’s Section, organised under the presidency of Mrs. Sutherland Ross. It was quite a new departure, and has reaped a worthy reward for the splendid work accomplished, much of which will be of lasting benefit to the womanhood of New Zealand. From a national point of view the Exhibition will have an enduring value, for which we should be ever grateful to our Southern folk. It has given New Zealanders an insight and wider vision of the national life of their own country. Its agricultural and pastoral productivities ; its scenic and sporting attractions: the variety and quality of its industries; and its mineral and forestry resources have all been admirably displayed.

Furthermore it has expanded the minds of many thousands of the rising generation of New Zealanders, and enabled them to see the vast extent of the British Empire, from which they have gained a proud sense of the meaning of the term “Citizens of the Empire.’’ The wonderful range of exhibits combine to impress the retentive mind of the greatness of British power, and the prospects of our own young nation, which should awaken a spirit of self-reliance, patriotism and endeavour. Al Uital By-Election The Eden by-election promises to be a keen fight in which it seems possible that the purely political significance may be to some extent lost. For several years Sir James Parr has held the seat in the interests of the present Government, and in the usual course of events Eden might be regarded as a Reform stronghold. However, there arc prospects of the Reform vote being split, and the seat placed in jeopardy. This, of course, is entirely a matter for the electors of Eden to concern themselves with, and as the whole situation bristles with thorns, there is the likelihood of a bitter campaign, in which political issues may be subordinated to personal enmity. This is to be greatly regretted. The Contestants A LREADY three formidable candidates arc in the field. Sir James Gunson, an eminent citizen of Auckland, who has proved his worth in the civic government of the Queen City, and is a man of outstanding personality and ability. He carries the official nomination of the Reform party, and would undoubtedly be an acquisition to the Government. Then there is Miss Melville, who has been a staunch Reform supporter and has on three occasions braved the dangers and trials of a political campaign. In addition she has rendered devoted service to the women’s cause, and is favourably known throughout the Dominion for the part she has ably taken in the municipal and public life of our people. At the last election Miss Melville put up a gallant fight for Reform in Grey Lynna strong Labour constituency—and won the admiration of the party she represented. Her prospects of preferment at a byelection in an Auckland constituency seemed .favourable, and the lady not unnaturally expected the party to stand behind her when Sir James Parr's resignation was announced.

A Difficult Situation ~|~'HAT Sir James Gunson was selected in her stead to defend the Reform banner at Eden has caused the regrettable split. As The Mirror is a non-party journal, we are not going to discuss the merits or demerits of the situation that has arisen, more especially as it has become a squabble within the party itself which cannot fail to cause considerable embarrassment, and may even be helpful to the opposition. Mr. H. G. R. Mason has been entrusted to fight Labour’s battle, and can be relied upon to make a brave assault on this Reform stronghold. He is a worthy campaigner, familiar with the electorate, and who has in the past proved his mettle. His party will assuredly bring every gun to bear on their objective, because the issue is fraught with great possibilities for Labour. At the pros-

cut time the two parties in opposition to the Government are equal in strength, and if Labour succeeds in the contest their chief will become the Leader of His Majesty’s Opposition, for the first time in New Zealand political history.

zJxCinxes and <^hCorals

f I 'HERE is a good deal of cant being talked about the modern girl. When one of her number falls by the wayside and becomes the pitiable central figure of a sordid case in our courts, someone is sure to rush in with a scathing indictment of the whole sex. We have outlived the notion of supposing that every girl is what is called a “good” girl, but that is no excuse for swinging over to the other extreme of supposing that every girl is a “bad” girl. There are plenty of “forward minxes” to-day ; but can we point to any age in history when there were not? Nor is it only in the present year of grace that girls that “run loose” and broken away from parental discipline. By all means let us restrain the tempestuous girl, cleanse the impure streams of society, and encourage the good in life. But, also, let us be fair to the modern girl. Revelling in the dawn of her new emancipation, she is beset by endless temptations. Some of her sex succumb' to them in the first flush of their (unaccustomed freedom ; but still more are combating them and, in the process, are helping to bring about as clean and fine a comradeship with man as the ageold story of the sexes can show. Let the modern man help her, in the great adventure. Let him—to be

quite honestpattern his own moral standard on that he sets for woman, for there is no place for a double moralityone kind for man, another kind for woman—in such an equality of the sexes as we arc on the way to achieving.