“SENTIMENTAL HUMBUG."

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2342, 7 November 1908, Page 2

“SENTIMENTAL HUMBUG."

NEWSPAPER COMMENT ON HAIRCUTTING.

The question oi : the hair-cutting incident mt Te Oranga is still being .made to play an Important part in connection with the Grey Lynn contest, and Mr Nicholson, the opponent of the Minister for Education, has started to deal with it in his election addresses. The “Star,” in dealing with the subject, editorially, says:—‘•‘We are gjiacl to see that Mr Nicholson has now nublicly admitted that with regard to the punishment inflicted at Te Orongu, Mr Fowkls had nothing to do with the approval or sanctioning of the Hogging, and the hair-cutting story is now the sheet anchor of Mr Eowld'•» calumi•.niators, hut the opponents of Mr Fowlds ought- to. reufise that the importance they atthcli to tliis futile and flimsy tale is an open confession •of hopeless bankruptcy. Jf the only strong argument Mr Nicholson can find to use against Mr Eowlds is this Te Oranga Home f.cgend, h.o may as well retire from the contest at once. After all,” the paper goes on to say, “what does all this ridiculous, fuss about hair-cutting mean? About 25 years ago .mothers habitually cut girls’ hair short, and for some years short hair—cut almost as close as a boy’s—was the fashion, not only for school girls, but often in the case of .grown-up young women. Is Mr ■ Nicholson prepared to say that all the mothers who for comfort or cleanliness, or to follow the fashion, cut tlieir daughters’ hair short a few years ago were degrading them and robbing" them of ‘their greatest glory’ ? It is a little difficult to understand how rational men can bring themselves to talk such twaddle without laughing at themselves. Political candidates are not remarkable as a rule for a keen sense 'of humor, but if the Minister’s opponents could realise it they are only making themselves supremely ridiculous by using such childish weapons against him, and they would do their cause better service if they would drop this sentimental humbug and stick to whatever political arguments they can tind against Liberalism and its representatives.”