PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1930, Page 6

PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES

MR BAVIN’S ILLNESS’.A

V‘ SYDNEY, June 18. The community was glad to hear that the New South Wales Premier (Mr Bavin), who is a New Zealander by birth, bad pulled through his second operation successfully,, and that it is only a matter of tithe" before be is out and about again. Mr Pin in. since be succeeded" Sir George Fuller a- Leader of the State Nationalists "about live, years ago, has not at any- ; ; "*e* sought cheap popularity. even until the knowledge that it often pays! ‘ Only his intimate friends ' know! ?him as “Tom.” To a man in the; street lie is “Bavin.” He has not won popularity, and, indeed, has- 'made [enemies even in his own camp, because of bis sturdy independence of thought and action, and bis determination not to shrink from, pursuing the course which he regal- ' as the right,one, even when there is a clamour against it. He. has -neverdeceived either his party' or " the country as to where he stands.

No political! leader in New South Wales has struck' more closely to his job tha.n Mr; Bavin, or waged a. more vigorous or consistent war on extravagance in public finance. Phvsieially and pecuniarily he- has ina’de heavy sacrifices as Premier, and of this the cominunity is not 'lnum-nd! nl in extending sympathy to him on bis sick bed to-clav. Mr Bavin’.-- lot has been that-of other Australian Premiers to-day; his has been ibe uncomfortable task of adjusting matters to meet the new economical outlook. And that does not ..make for political popularity.