The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1907 THE CALL TO MR. REID.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2172, 30 August 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1907 THE CALL TO MR. REID.

That popular yet mucli-abused politician, Mr. George Reid, bids fair to become the man of the hour in the stirring times that are about to eventuate in the Commonwealth. The Protectionist tariff formulated by Sir William Lyne, as Federal Minister of Customs, lias brought forth storms of denunciation from the large importing houses of Sydney and Melbourne, and these firms are preparing for one of the biggest fights that lias yet taken place in Australian politics. The big dailies of the Commonwealth aro practically, without exception, Freetrade organs, and the whole of their influence will be thrown in the scale to defeat Sir William Lyne’s proposals. In such a struggle there is, naturally, a call for a strong leader, and it is in tlieso circumstances that the opponents of the Government are looking to the ox-Premier •of New' South Wales. Mr. Reid has been accused by liis enemies of pursuing a vacillating policy on many public questions, but he has nevertheless, been consistent on at least one point ; that he lias invariably championed the Freetrade interests. His ability is unquestioned, and despite many serious mistakes in his political career there is no member of the Federal Parliament who carries more w'eight with a large city audience than the eloquent and plausible Mr. Reid. As a matter of fact the old leader has to soino extent dropped out of the political arena since ho made such a dismal failure as Federal Premier, and in recent years has found his lucrative practice in the law courts more attractive than the fleeting and mi remunerative pleasures of political life. Now he has an opportunity to leap at one bound into the midst of tlio Limelight. The Sydney Morning Herald accurately represents the views of'the Freetraders in its issue of August 21, when it wrote as fob lows:—There is no reason why he should not lead the attack in the House of Representatives to-day in his old fighting form, and it is needless to say that the Commonwealth will he disappointed if for any reason lie should fail to take the stand expected of him. It is the people’s battle that lie is called upon to lead —that of tlio Labor voter against the caucus, tlio primary producer against the favored high tariffist, tlio housewives and home-makers, the miner, the poor man, and the man on the land. All these people and the interests they stand for demand adequate expression of thoir wide-spread condemnation of this pernicious tariff, and Mr. Reid is the man best qualified to give it that. The State of New South Wales, to which Mr. Reid belongs, makes a special call upon him. It objects to being exploited in this bare-faced way, and laid under tribute. We are enjoying good seasons and prosperous times now', but if another drought visited us while the tariff was in force we should realise far more keenly than we do now its disastrous effects. Other States, like Queensland and Western Australia, are in the same difficulty, and all are calling for a lead. Mr. Reid could not, even if he desired, shirk the responsibility which the whole Commonwealth now casts upon him.