PUBLIC MEN.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 140, 30 June 1937, Page 4

PUBLIC MEN.

"It is not the slightest use to pretend that there. are not cases of men who gain from membership of the House of Commons or a town council lmmediate, deflnite and material advantage. That does not prove that the politioian, that the local town councillor, is not less worthy than his neighhour in business, in commerce, or in any other walk of life," said Mr J. Henderson Stewart, MJP,, in a speeoh reported in the Scotsman. " On the contrary, I deolare that no body of men I have ever met — in the war, in business, in reoreation — maintain a higher standard of honour than members of Parliament and looal town couneils, with- all their faults. The wonder is that the, standard of honour is as high as it is at the present time. Public men neither deserve nox desire to be placed on a pedestal, and if tbat can be understood and appreeiated. by the people of this country and others you will be saved many disappointments, The worst in public life ask that the time they give to public aSairs shall be put to their credit- The best ask that, even admitting their ambitions, that they should get credit for a deep, eainest desire to serve the public. Far from maHgning public life, it should be the duty of leaders and formers of public opinion to lift it to the very highest point of public esteem."