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Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1920, Page 2

The member for Wairnu, Mr McCollum, is one of the faint-hearts -who has elected to leave the Liberals. Mr McCnlInm professes to believe that the Liberal party will not survive. He states its old solidarity has {gone—and of course if the rankers were to leave as Mr McCnllum does all would be lost. Hut although polities supplies strange bed-fellows at times there is at least the assurance that with the majority of

men, they are. prepnred to stick to their principles through thick and thin. .Liberal principles are known the world over and they do not vary like the thoughts of weathercock men. Mr McCallum professes to he very staunch to., the principles. His objection is personal—he does not like Mr Wilford. The leader of tins party, of course, did | not coign the principles of Liberalism—they" evolved out of the necessities of humanity—and Mr McCallum’s defection will not mend the situation. The test of his sincerity will come when ! the division bell rings and he elects to i range himself on one side or the other j in the House. Mr McCallum in sever, | mg his connection from the Liberals to j whose platform he plighted his word at election time, is now at the parting of the ways. If ho detests the Liberals and cannot give them further support, then his proper course is to place himself in the hands of his constituents and allow them to decide. It is they and not himself he represents in Parliament, and in a c a s® such as this the honourable course is for Mr McCallum to resign his seat and offer himself for re-

' ''“■to - j election. In. this way he would enjoy tlie prestige of representing the electors —assuming ho were elected—and not as at present representing himself only— 1 for. a member elected on one .ticket ( should not accept another without the approval of those who may send him to Parliament. Mr McCallum’s political ! career will doubtless be rather cloudy , from this on. I Dominion Day js being celebrated tojday with very little outward mark of commemoration. Except for holiday ob- ■ I sorvations on the part of the banks and , Government offices and the flying of ■ a few flags, the occasion is uliobserv- > ed. Dominion Day was created as our > national day in 1907. There was a i flourish of trumpets at the time when 3 the King’s message was read, but since ■ then the interest has flagged. The national spirit of New Zealand was well demonstrated in the war period. The records show that 93,860 troops ’eft for ■ overseas (war fighting and that in addia tion 7,584 Samoan reliefs, native troops, wireless co;-ps, naval and flying men, and nurses also sailed; while 9,924 . _ troops were in training at the time of

the armistice. The complete totjl provided for foreign service up to Hie cessation (of hostilities wab therefore 110,368 or more than ten per,•cut of the Dominion’s mean population at the outbreak of the war. A further 3,370 are known to have left Now Zealand to serve in British and Australian forces. The great majority, say two thirds were volunteers, 91,941 men having volunteered, and 32,270 were conscripted. On the debit side the total dead were 16,688, and the wounded 41.(316. New Zealand has no mean record in national service for the defence of the Empire, and has well won her spit's. The country is a- grand one. It has been termed "God’s Own Country,” and enjoys bountiful gifts from nature. Tlie country has great traditions. It founders were true and trusty people who builded solidly. They have given the present generation a splendid heritage. Are we using it aright—getting the best out of it, and yet adding to it, so that it may be better still for those who come after? ..Dominion Day should remind us of our national duties, what we owe to our coiintr/and those about us. Tlie masses more than the classes should have our consideration and there should be a striving to do to others, as we should do to ourselves.