The "Argus" on the Hon. Mr Reeves.

Manawatu Herald, 24 January 1895, Page 3

The "Argus" on the Hon. Mr Reeves.

» The Argus thus irreverently disof a reoenfc distinguished visitor tO{ Victorian shores : — Your politician upon the prowl always finds it difficult to stick to the ostensible purpose that set him prowling. Mr W. t. Eeeves came over from New Zealand no doubt honestly persuading himself that he wanted to learn something about the Victorian labowMKUlenients. But it quickly oocurfejf^fo him how much better fitted p/jeiitleinan of his attainments was to teach instead of to learn. Mr Beeves described himself as a journalist before he was trapped into the j belief that he was a statesman, and it has weighed upon his spirits to I thinlc how much better he could conduct the Argus if he only had the ohanoe — what an improved flavour he oould impart to the articles referring to the New Zealand Minister of Labour and Education. He has oonfided this conviction to Mr Trenwith and his friends, and they all •aid "Hear, hear." He has also enlightened an audience in a Wesleyan Church upon the female franohise and the Undesirable Immigrants Bill. Woman Suffrage came abottt quite accidentally in New Zealand, like most other legislation in thtff colony of late, but Mr Beeves explains that it is an accident which night very advantageously happen elsewhere. There was once a fox without a tail, and so on. In short, be Invites other lagging colonies to tumble accidentally also into a few of the morasses in which New Zealand has floundered. The chief characteristic of the radical politician? or that oolony is here revealed. He doesn't lead : he " flops " in whfltafefc direction he may happen to get a shove, and cheerfully adjures ether people to " Come on, tumble after me."