“ THE SPEARABLE SCOT,”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 448, 9 January 1909, Page 2

“ THE SPEARABLE SCOT,”

It is a Scotch Cabinet with not enough Maori in it to allow it to be called a Scotch mixture, says the Wellington Post. It is Scotch, without soda-thoroughly, roundly, soundly, broadly Scotch. Four out of the five members promoted on Tuesday from plain Mr to “Hon.,” are Scotchmen, and it is almost anticipated that Mr Ngata will be gazetted Scotch for Ministerial purposes. “What do you think of the Irish now ?” And what of the English ? In the whole Cabinet only two members (the Premier and the Hon. J. A. Millar) are not straight-out Scotchmen, but they are associated with so many Scots that they may be regarded as Scots. Out of eight pakehas, six are Scotch, five born in old Scotland, and one in “young Scotland,” Otago. Think of it, ye men who were born in England, Ireland and New Zealand. On a population basis Scotland, as represented in New Zealand, should have about two sons in the Ministry, but she has treble her share, and the poor “ brither ” countries are left in amazement, with about a spoonful of porridge apiece, while Scotland holds the bowl. The rose and the shamrock are withering on their stalks in the desert of abandonment, and the thistle, as usual, grows apace. New Zealanders are to be ruled by Scotchmen ; the Scot has insidiously imposed his porridge on us for breakfast, and now his ideas are to be put upon us. Yet even the lamentations will have some consolation, for the Scot has backbone, though he is reputed to be “clanny ” as well as canny. There is no fear that an essential for appointment to a State “ soft job” will be the possession of a name not more than ten degrees less Scotch than Macgregor or Macphersou, nor is Gaelic likely to be forced into the school syllabus. The success of the wiry, persistent, tireless Scot should be an inspiration to the English and the Irish —it they need any, and are not 100 proud to take it.