Late Premier Storey.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1921, Page 1

Late Premier Storey.

AITSTItAI.IAN ANl> N.Z- L'AIII.R ASSOCIATION. X.S.W. PREMIERSHIP. SYDNEY. Oct. f>. The Governor of New South Males has granted a temporary commission to lion Mr Dooley to act as Premier until the l.ahour (’aliens selects a suc-Kv-sur to the late Mr Storey. The lion John Storey had represented Balmain in the Labour interest for some years. After the general election in March last year the position was that the l.ahour and anti-l.ahour forces in the Assembly were evenly matched, with forty-live members on either side. The Premier (Mr M’. \. HolmniO, who had U*<! Xsitional Party, was defeated at the election, ami a l.ahnurMinistry with Mr John Storey as Premier, was sworn in on \pril 12th. The election of Mr Levy ;,s Speaker, followed by his resignation from the National Party, gave Mr Storey a. majority of one in the Lcgislnlive Assembly. Air Storey had been in ill-health for a long time, and hist February, neeompanied hv Mrs Storey lie pai<\ a visit to England. At first he benefited coiisideralily liy the change and rest, but aider his return to Sydney. via America ami Japan, in July, la; was very ill. and took no active in public affairs. Of Mr Storey, who was popularly known in New South M'ales as "Honest, John.” tlm' London Morning Post in March last said: "Australia is to |, O envied her capacity for producing j from tlm ranks of “l.ahour” real leaders statesmen in the true sense of the word. Mr John Storey. Premier of New South AVales and lender of its l.ahour Party (at present visiting London) is a ease ini point. An out-and-out Labour Party man, sprung from the workers and honestly proud of it. he is yet free from any suspicion of sectional narrowness or class bitterness. An Australian by birth and sen. tiincut, there is no narrow parochialism ill his outlqpk. lie thinks in terms of Empire. He is wise enough to see and hold enough to declare wllat fine service the Grown does for the British race all over the world. With good judgment, lie unites a sturdy will. There was an attempt, to bully him the other day oil some local political issue. An organisation of immense power conveyed to him'its ultimatum that they had "inflexibly determined” that he must do so and so.' Tie replied simply that lie was “inflexibly determined” to do the oxaet. opposite. And did it. Firm, equitable and conspicuously sensible is Mr John Storey; and if you seek to probe into his mind to find why he takes this or that Tine when a shallow expediency or a timid hesitancy would suggest another course, or no action at „1P you find the secret is this; that lm has brought into public life the spirit n f Hie sporting field. TTe is an enthusiastic cricketer, and withal a very skilful one. lie is. or was. an eager footballer: and a good liorse rare would draw him away from anything lint a real duty. He has the flavour of the pricket field in particular. A T ou can

imaoine him as captain of a loam in a, difficult position rallying it "'it-li jmliimoi!t ami pond humour and cheerful oourapo; and winning through with resolution. To-day, at fifty years lie still plays a oood f-aine: and is a sound judoe of lirst-elass cricket.