THAT LEADERSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 7

THAT LEADERSHIP.

"Friends, Romans, Countrymen! Lend me your ears! Wo have corao to bury Caesar, not to • { praise him!" , ' Sir,—l am quite certnin that a great proportion of the population of "God's Own Country" will havo rejoiccd at tho return of Sir Joseph Ward. The affairs of this country havo reached such a crisis that it behoves all men ito unite for action. The country has advanced by leaps and bounds, and we look back with pleasure to the daya of Mr. Seddon, and wo realise what wonderful foresight he possessed. Wo realise that the hopes he placed' in his country were indeed well-- founded, and we have now oome to appreciate all that our fathers (lid for us. It is strange what changes Nature wrought in a country, and in, tho Government thereof. Some people firmly believo that when the old Liberals went out of power, and tlib substituted Liberals came into office, the success of tho country, and, indeed, having regard to tho gift of tho H.M.S. New Zealand, which tho world; is inspecting, that tho savings of tho whole universe was accomplished. Thoughts flew from pillar to post in quick succession, it was proclaimed throughout tho length m.d breadth of the country that Sir Joseph Ward held the reins ef power, and the whole world became in. a state of uproar and confusion. It was not considered a very important factor when the old Oppositionists, whom Sir William Russell led so well, suffered a revival under tlio nom de phimo of "Reform," and when wo find, from tho word of Sir Joseph Ward himself, that "everyone in London, recognised him," and he was known to and hailed by all who passed by, they little recognised what great things were in store for us. Now, of course, the Reform Government 1b in power-it "5s the Government of the country—but after his flight in the air at Hendon, Sir Joseph Ward has returned .to his kith and kin amid great rejoicings, and salutations, and general recognitions of all that's good and true. So t'ar, I believe, a new leader has not been appointed for the present Opposition, not even Mr. Wilford, and tho eyes of the world aro on us in Expectation, the one burning question being, "Will Sir Joseph). Ward savo his country, and take up the position?" Well, let us all "wait and seo"; and might I suggest that old records be carefully scrutinised, not foigetting the wail of the pessimist, "New Zealand Born," some few years and seo exactly how, things nro Bhapmg. "Friends, English-Britons, Countrymen, Fellow-men, Tou have lent me your ears. So, ■FAREWELL!'" 1 I am, etc., JUDEX. Blonheim, August 12, 1913.