A MODEL WARDIST SUPPORTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2321, 1 December 1914, Page 4

A MODEL WARDIST SUPPORTER

Some of the Wardist candidates would be none the worse for a little simple schooling in the elements of the subjects with which they are supposed to be dealing. A pathetic illustration of the. fact was furnished the other day in the electorate of • Selwyn,. by one Mr. Dickie, an amiable and retiring gentleman, who represented that seat _in the late Parliament, and is again contesting it in the Wardist interest. At one of his meetings a. questioner unkindly took 'Mr! Dickie off his beaten track by asking him tq explain the nature and purpose of agricultural banks.- Mr. Dickie had to. confess that he did not lcnow anything about agricultural baaiks, but appended to his confession a statement that Sir Joseph Ward was fully informedj>n the subject, and that he was quite content to support his Leader's proposals. It must appear to any dispassionate observer that this little incident had some features of moro than passing interest. The depth of "ignorance' which Mr.' Dickie, betrayed upon a subject with which any country candidate might be expected to be familiar is striking, and the placid spirit of accommodation in which' he is prepared to bo guided and controlled is almost impressive. If there were moro. Mr. Dickies in the political. arena the fever of politics .would depart, but. tho agreeable prospect thus opened up is •somewhat spoiled by the reflection that dormouse politics are not exactly. calculated to serve the ends of a young and developing country at a critical stage, in its career. No doubt there is a place in the world for people comfortably ignorant of political questions who are prepared to do what they are told, Dut that place is certainly not Parliament House. The stirring times through which we are now passing have emphasised the need for men who are qualified by attainments and decision ■of character to rise capably to an emergency, and the sort of candidate who is ready to swallow whatever his leader says is satisfactory and who can be stumped by a simple question upon a subject that every country candidate' should know all about is not the man to fill the bill.