"BONNIE DOON"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 2, 28 September 1920, Page 5

"BONNIE DOON"

Sir.-There was surely a touch of irony in tho fact that the Petone Harmonic Society gave a very fine rendering of To Banks' and Braes o' Bonnie Doon as a prelude to Mr. IWilfonU's speech, the other evening at his complimentary ception. One could imagine the new Leader of the Opposition singing the sone himself-very appropriately with all its prophetic touches. We would have him, with his eyes on the J'reasury benches, vowing: Ye hankß and braes o' bonnie Doon How can ye Lloom sae fresh and fairP | (To-his supporters behind him)-. How can ye chant so littlo birds, And I sae weary, fu' o' caroP Ye'll break my heart, warbling bird* 1 That wanton through the flowerlue thorn. To mind me o' depart:d joys, (Mtttist-jrial office.) Departed never to return. Oft hae I roved by bonnie Doon, Tae see the rose (Mr. Massey) and woodbine (his colleagues) twino, And ilka bird sane o' hie love. And fondly sao did I o mmoi Wi lightsom heart I pu'd a rose (The Leadership of the Oppnsitoln.) 'Fu' Sweet upon its thorny tree; (The Liberal Party is not a happy family.) But my fause lover staw my roso. And, ah! he loft the thorn wi' me. The meeting had certainly its humorous touches. The ."little birds" of tho parly were all there, "To chant their artless notes in simple guise," and it cannot bo gainsaid that they did their parts very well indeed. Mr. Wilford himself was most extravagant in his use of bird-lime in order to catch the "little birds" of the moderate. Labour Party, without whose assistance he confessed he would do very little. But Labour of all brands has long ago found out the Liberal Party, and knows full well its most uncompromising opponents are to be found in the ranks of that party. Mr. Wil-' ford's own speeches at'the last general election will bear out this statement. It is a well-known fact that he won tho election because he had so impressed the electors frith the dangers threatening them bv the return of the Labour candidate, that many, in order to make assurance doubly sure, withheld their votes from Mr. Itishworth, and gave them to Mr. Wilford, so as to run no chance of' letting Labour win. And Mr. Wilford now wishes, tq shako hands with tho party ho did his best to destroy. This bird-lime will have to bo of a very special quality if ho is to sccceed in nis effort, and his 'little birds" -will have to get a movo on—l am, etc, "- / AEGUS. September 21, 1920.