The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER, 2, 1914. THE FLYING SQUADRON

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2322, 2 December 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER, 2, 1914. THE FLYING SQUADRON

A significant feature of the election campaign is the unhappy plight of that little band of Opposition members known as the "Flying Squadron." It may be recalled by those who follow politics at all closely that five members of the Opposition Party earned this distinctive title by rushing about the country in the recess and during the session of Parliament attacking the Government. The members in question wore: Messrs. T. M. Wilford, who represents the Hutt constituency; Me. H. Atmore, Nelson: Mr. M'Oallum, Blenheim; Mr. G. W. Russell, Avon; and Mr. L. M. Isitt, Christchuich North. With the solitary exception perhaps of Mr. M'Oallum all these gentlemen were considered to, have "safe" seats, which nowadays seems to be another name for seats which may be negr lected ; At anyrate the members of the F.iying Squadron absented themselves from thoir Parliamentary duties whenever it pleased them so to do, and the interests of their constituents were treated as a secondary consideration. Now they are facing their constituents to answer for their conduct, and to-day the "safe Seats" are amongst the most uncertain of the Opposition seats in the present election. Mr. M'Callum's case is considered quite hopeless. It is not merely that he has proved a great disappointment to his own friends as well as to the district generally, but the contrast between his wild talk and reckless assertions and the plain, straightforward methods of his opponent, Mr. Duncan, has also made itself felt amongst. the electors. As .a matter of fact Mr. M'Oallum, like the other members of the Flying Squadron was nothing but a fluent talker in- Parliament, and his constituents seem to have shrewdly discovered the fact that there is very little behind all his talk, and that they made a mistake last election in their choice. They -were better served by their old member, Mr. Duncan, and he appears likely' to win on the present occasion with a handsome margin. ' In the adjoining electorate of Nelson a similar awakening is taking place concerning' their representative in- the last Parliament. _ Mr. Atsiore was sent to Parliament by the people of Nelson partly because he could talk and partly because he had conveyed the impression that he would support tbe Reform Party. If there was a third reason it-might be that some people thought that a young man who professed so many noble ideals must nave a very elevating effect on the Parliament of the country. The electors having read Mr. Atmore's speeches since he entered Parliament, and Laving perused with some dismay the quite amazing assortment of vituperative epithets with which he has adorned the pages of Hansard, have cooled off very noticeably. Not unnaturally they have asked themselves what they sent Mr. Atmore to Parliament for, and obviously as it was not to abuse his opponents and go electioneering about the country, they find it difficult to discover what use he has been to the electorate or to the country. Moreover; like a good many other constituencies, Nelson has grown a little tired of the noisy ranter who is everlastingly shrieking aloud the utter worthlessncss of all who oppose him. Happily for Nelson, in Mr. Atmore's opponent, Mr. T. H. A. Field, they have a candidate who has proved his capacity in tho Mayoral and other public offices as a man of energy, sound judgment, and knowledge of affairs. Parliament could well dispense with somo of the men who work their tongues'overtime, in order to replace them with men of deeds, such as Mr. Atmore's opponent has proved himself to be. Turnling to the Canterbury members of the ill-fated Flying Squadron, Mr.' G. W. Russell, Sir Joseph Ward's first lieutenant, is regarded as doomed. His case is a little harder than that of bis brothers in misfortune, inasmuch as 'he has two opponents, one of whom is a Social Democrat. The result is a splitting of votes, and Mr. Russell is bewailing his unhappy lot with great fluency. In the case of Mu. Isitt, however, it ia a Btraight-out fight, and it is a pleas-

ing thing to think that Parliament is likely to be relieved of the presence) of this humorous gentleman. In private life Mr. Isitt is said to be a very estimable citizen. As a politician'he is not to be taken'seriously. With him, like the other members of the Flying Squadron, politics aro made up of talk, and the longer and the louder and the more violently he talks, the greater the politician he becomes; and it must be confessed that Mr. Isitt can talk very long and very nosily, and, might wo add, very emptily when he chooses. So Christchurch North is growing a little tired of Mr. Isitt, and next week the_ electors may give him a long respite from the strain of cracking jokes . and making violent speeches in Parliament. The fifth member of the Flying Squadron, Mr. Wilford, cannot complain if, as now seems certain, he loses his scat. Ho has had a very ,long innings, and in recent years it has led to him neglecting his constituency. He can find time to go rushing round tho country electioneering, but has not the time to spend in his own constituency attending to its needs. That, however, is a matter for the Hutt electors, who are now having impressed on them how very devoted to their interests their amiable member can be-r-at least once every three years.