STILL GOING STRONG.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2454, 15 July 1922, Page 2

STILL GOING STRONG.

“Blue Rod” writes to the “Observer” a> follows:—“Mr Massey may fairly' be congratulated by people of all political tints .ou the completion of his tenth continuous year as Prime Minister. This i» a record that has been beaten in New Zealand by only Mr Seddon, while for a naralle! ill the Imperial Parliament one has to grope away back through tiie misty corridors of political time and circumstance to the reign of George the Fourth. When Mr Massey was persistently battering at the door of office as Leader of the Opposition, the idea of the accomplishment of his desire was laughed to scorn by many of his opponents. It was said that a Massey Government could not- last for three months—in fact one severe critic —now long since passed away —remarked that it would expire from “excessive joy” within that period. It is never safe to prophesy; Mr Massey has been Prime Alims - ter for ten years and is still “going strong.” Although his term of office is not the longest in New Zealand’s history in point of time, it. is a record in other respects. His ten years include the most eventful and strenuous eight years of administration that has ever been experienced in the country." Firstly four years and more of the world’s grim war, and, since the sheathing of the sword, nearly four years of toil and trouble from which many a man of weaker mental and physical fibre might well have flinched. The feelings of gratification and pride that follow Mr Massey’s large heart on Monday were but a small reward for the great national service rendered during the most momentous epoch of New Zealand’s history.”