The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, August 10, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1028, 10 August 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, August 10, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The qualifications of Mr Field as a politician were set forth at L,evin by the Acting-Premier on Monday night. Sir James is reported to have said : “Taking Mr Field all round his kindly nature, his always courteous nature, his goodness to every one of his fellow members, his popularity with both sides of the House (and that was as good a testimonial as one could get), had made him one of the most popular members in the present Parliament.” It is open to question whether this eulogium stamps Mr Field’s fitness as a Parliamentary representative. We rather think it a fine testimonial for —say —a shopwalker.

The Opposition press must have received a rude shock when they read the statement made by the alleged Opposition candidate, Mr Hall, who is contesting the Christchurch North seat against Mr Isitt. Mr Hall is reported to have said “ he would oppose the present Government, but would not follow Mr Massey if he formed a Government.” It is reported that the Opposition candidates in Canterbury demand the same independence as Mr Hall is taking. They are ready to oppose the Government, and would welcome Mr Massey to some place in the first “Reform” Ministry, but they cannot accept him as leader. The fact seems to be that there is a movement on foot among the “ reformers ” to establish a young New Zealand party, and that its promoters have made up their minds that, in order to more effectually disassociate the new party from the old Conservatives,

Mr Massey ought to be given the more or less happy despatch. Mr Isilt said his sympathies were with the Governmeut, but he was independent.

A recknt cablegram horn Loudon set forth the fact that a mau named Btagpoole, who had won the Victoria Cross for valour in the New Zealand war in an engagement only a few miles from New Plymouth, had died in the Ware workhouse. The deceased warrior had assisted to fight the battles of his country in other parts of the world, lor which he held a number of decorations, but his country allowed him to live and die a pauper. What gratitude ! The New Plymouth News draws the following parallels : “A man won a boat race. He obtained enough cash to push poverty a long way out of reach. A huge Kthiopian danced round a white man for something under an hour and struck him several times. He rides in a motor car, and “ guessed he was going right away to England to see that George V. was properly crowned.” A jockey managed to flog quite a number of horses past the judge’s box, and died worth one hundred thousand pounds. He was the friend Cor at least the confidant) of peers, the idol of the people. But why extend the list of heroes ?” Yet this valiant soldier was allowed to die a pauper! We’re by no means anti-milita-rists, but this sort of thing indicates rottenness of the Imperial military system. A late picture in a famous Home paper showed a line of war-scarred veterans being patronised by some general officers. There were Crimean and Mutiny heroes there, and at least two wore the “four pen’orth of bronze.” but all were worn out, tottering and ragged, simply paupers grouped for a spectacle, a spectacle that is utterly shameful and a disgrace to the country for which they fought. Even a Liberal Government does not stamp out the system of sinecurism that handicaps real talent and throws gold into the laps ol the already rich : even a Liberal Government pensions people whose fathers did the deed for which the pension was created. But all British Governments allow Victoria Cross paupers to die in workhouses, and the ancient wrecks of Empire to strew the country. And these neglected wrecks are duly grateful when a stray general or an immensely rich noteable shakes them by the hand —and lets them go back to their workhouse and their charity skilly, and their pauper’s grave.