The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, November 16, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1070, 16 November 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, November 16, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Mr. Byron Brown is not a politician of the retiring, hide-your-light-under-a-bushel order. Not at all. We can imagine him making straight for King George, slapping him on the back, and warmly grasping him by the hand with the exclamation: “I’m Byron Brown, of Otaki, Your Majesty, and I’m glad to meet you.” He stands out in splendid isolation as easily the first unconventional politician on the hustings. He is Byron Brown the irrepressible. Ministerial frowns and Parliamentary procedure would not stop the onward flow of his eloquence. Some people, he admits, would call him an unmitigated nuisance ; but after all which is themore useful representative : a man of this nature, or a time-serving, apologetic party and he admits many—if elected he will not be a dumb dog.

Tag political hght is waging in earnest in this electorate, and electors are taking a much keener interest in the utterances of the candidates than heretofore. Up to Tuesday night Mr Field, the Government candidate, addressed the best attended local meeting during the .present campaign, but the record attendance was easily broken at Mr Byron Brown’s meeting on Tuesday night. Mr Brown leaves his opponents far behind as a platform speaker, and believes if he can gather the people within hearing of his voice that his persuasive eloquence will win for him their support. As a means to this end he combined

the art of the showman with the astuteness of the politician, and broke the monotony of the orthodox political address here on Tuesday night with some really firstclass elocutionary items. This no doubt attracted a larger audience than would otherwise have been present. We do not approve of the eutertaiumeut-cum - political gathering, for the reason that the people should be sufficiently interested in the affairs of their country to hear the candidates without being allured by a counter attraction. Possibly, however, the means adopted by Mr Brown justified the ends. Anyhow, it would be ungenerous on our part, before referring to Mr Brown’s political speech, to pass over the very excellent Shakesperiau and other recitals by the candidate and his talented daughter. The rendering of the “Choosing of the Casket" from the “ Merchant of Venice" was indeed a masterful interpretation which gave ample evidence of histrionic talent lar above the amateur grade. These items —so far removed from the sphere of politics —won high encomiums from the audience.

Although Mr Brown promised not to indulge in personalities during his campaign, on one or two occasions on Tuesday night he sailed pretty close to the wind. We will also pass over a little extravagant criticism in connection with the administration of the Advances to Settlers Department and his criticism ol the Government candidate’s stewardship during a period of 12 years. What appealed to nearly every one present, and where this candidate scored, was in his outspoken references to the all important laud question. As we have previously pointed out, the closer settlement of land is of vital importance to Foxton and Devin, and he courageously waded into subject without begging anyone’s pardon. The bald statement of any candidate to the effect that he is in favour of bursting up large estates with a view to closer settlement is simply beating the air. Foxton and Devin, for the sake of posterity and future prosperity, must support the man who says “I will leave no stone unturned in season and out of season to bring this about.” We must support the man who will, either by fearlessly advocating the further turning of the screw on land taxation or compelling the Government to acquire the areas, aclivehi engage in this work. Mr Brown was very emphatic on this point, and this, more than anything else, has since won lor him supporters who had previously decided to vote for other candidates. We asked the Government candidate to deal particularly with the closer settlement question as affecting this constituency, and to explain why he opposed Mr Ngata's amendment to the Native Dauds Settlement Bill, which had for its object the prohibiting of undue aggregation of Native leaseholds. But he remained silent and allowed the opportunity to pass. Mr Field voted against the Government on the leasehold question, and he has not told us whether he is prepared to part with the freehold of the national endowments. For the sake ol assured finance lor education, old age pensions, and other purposes, not one foot of the freehold of these lands should be alienated from the State —yet it remains for an Opposition candidate to champion this while the Government candidate remains silent. Mr Brown’s references to the vast area of lauds suitable for settlement in this district, and the wealth it represents if utilised tor dairying purposes, was an eyeopener to his hearers. At present the people in this constituency are more concerned with this question than the merits of the Government or Opposition to assume control of affairs.