MR MACKENZIE KING’S 19 YEARS IN OFFICE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24910, 25 June 1946, Page 4

MR MACKENZIE KING’S 19 YEARS IN OFFICE

CANADA

[By the Ottawa Correspondent of “The Times.”] (Published by Arrangement.)

Mr Mackenzie King’s tenure of the post of Prime Minister of Canada has been interrupted by two periods m Opposition. But between December 29 1921, and June 10, 1*946, he has been in’ office for 19 years, passing by a few days the record hitherto held in Canada by the Conservative leader, Sir John A. MacDonald. Mr Mackenzie King was chosen to lead the Canadian Liberal Party on August 7, 1919, and when he celebrated the silver jubilee of his leadership, Mr Churchill declared in a message that “in the whole history of free parliamentary institutions few. if any, can claim to have led a party of State so long and pre-eminently.” The same is also true of his Premiership; no contemporary statesman has held a similar office for so long a time. The period which includes the Mackenzie King administrations has brought Canada to a new position in world affairs. The distinctive Canadian nationhood which began to emerge during the First World War had blossomed into full flower by 1939, when Canada made her own independent declaration pf war upon Germany. Between the two wars changes had occurred which profoundly altered the country’s imperial and international relationships. Mr Mackenzie King played an important part m bringing about the changes, in fulfilment of a dual policy based on national autonomy and imperial and international co-operation. He brought to fruition Canadian ideals that had been maturing gradually since * Confederation was established, and had been fostered in their time by'other Canadian Prime Ministers, notably by the Liberal Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Conservative Sir Robert Borden.

National Unity The principles of freedom, equality, and co-operation as the basis of Commonwealth relations were formally ratified by the Imperial Conference or 1926 which Mr Mackenzie King attended By inheritance, inclination, and training the Prime Minister was well equipped to contribute to a political evolution which has shaped the Commonwealth. He had never favoured proposals for executive centralisation of the Empire countries, believing that such an arrangement would not make,-for unity among them. When the Statute of Westminster was promulgated it was seen that the theories he preferred had been given practical shape. ~ Canada was ready to assume the new responsibilities which th e Statute imposed, although Canadian sovereignty was not the only and not the ultimate goal Mr Mackenzie King had in mind. From the time he first entered public affairs he saw the need for Canada being united within herself, co-operative within the Commonwealth, and influential within the wider family of nations. All three purposes have been largely fulfilled since hp first became Prime Minister and largely through his efforts. Of the three achievements it is quite possible that he would give first place to what has been done in unifying his own country. As an ardent disciple of ,Sir Wilfrid Laurier the Prime Minister has long been impressed by that statesman’s dictum that the greatest task which a Canadian political leader can assume is to prevent a widening of the gulf between the French and English peoples in this country. He has always believed that the two races, working in harmony, can make an unparalleled contribution not only to Canadian life but to world affairs. The belief has greatly influenced his policies as Prime Minister, but how far he had succeeded in achieving national unity could not.be determined with certainty before the war broke out in 1939. His critics had asserted that national unity would collapse when put to a crucial test; but he brought a united Canada

into the war, and it is doubtful if Bn _ other Canadian political leader coSJ h>ve done so. The Canadian achievements in tu* war under Mr Mackenzie KuSJ leadership have been acknowledged most of the United Nations. While mark food was produced than ever before the output of munitions and supolS increased also until it was the fourth largest among the Allies. Canadian eco nomic and defence projects were in' tegrated with those of the United States, to the benefit of the Allied cause. For the first time a complete Canadian Army served oversea, takhS part with the Canadian Navy and Air Force in important engagements. At home the country’s economy was revo. lutionised under a policy that corre. lated taxation, borrowing, restrictions on wages and the control of prices, and enabled the Government to meet the huge war costs without more than a modest rise in the cost of living.

International Status These achievements are symptoms of the inner strength developed under Mr Mackenzie King. Nationally strengthened, the country is now becoming more firmly established in the international field, and this has been marked by a great expansion of the diplomatic corps in Ottawa. This expansion emghasises Canada’s international status ut does not detract from her allegiance to the Commonwealth. “The symbol of British unity is to be found in the British Crown” (said Mr Mackenzie King when Canada became entitled to send her own representatives abroad), “and the security of the Crown rests in a throne which is broad-based upon the people's will,” The Prime Minister has devoted his whole life to the study of public affairs. During and after his student days he was attracted to the study of political economy, particularly in the field of labour relations. These studies led him to become editor of the Government’s “Labour Gazette,” and subsequently Deputy-Minister of the newly created Department of Labour. From these experiences have come nearly all of the labour and social legislation enacted in Canada under his direction, and elaborated into a comprehensive scheme of social security. When he left the Civil Service in 1909 to take up a political career he was chosen by Laurier to be the Minister of Labour. Sound Principles Under the tutelage of the French leader Mr Mackenzie King’ irt due course fell heir to the Liberal leadership and the highest political office in his country. His outstanding talent has been his ability to reconcile contrary elements, and his conciliatory powers have had full scope in national, Commonwealth, and international affain. He is often accused of compromising; • but in a land where two distinct peoples co-exist within a single State, where sectional feelings are strong, and economic policies between provinces often mutually contradictory, compromise based on sound principles is frequently the only, solution open to a statesman. Whatever his critics may say, the Prime Minister is the most commanding personality on the Canadian political scene. Canadians who at night have occasion to pass Laurier House, Mr Mackenzie King’s home, invariably see lights burning in the upper windows well into the morning hours. They realise that the Prime Minister is working on the nation’s business, and they incline to regard him as a lonely man. But it is clear that he has deep resources of the spirit on which to draw, and though it is sometimes contended that he has never genuinely impressed his personality upon Canadians, most of them recognise the; he has sincere convictions. He knows Canadians well, understands their needs and seeks to give reality to their aspirations.