MR. ATKINSON AND KING DICK'S RECEPTION. Was it Wit or What ?

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 121, 25 October 1902, Page 8

MR. ATKINSON AND KING DICK'S RECEPTION. Was it Wit or What ?

Ma. A. R. Atkinson, M.H.R., of the City of Wellington, barrister-at-lavv, has had some experience of legal and Parliamentary matters. During the time he has been a licensed legal practitioner and politician he has had many opportunities to use the tact and discernment that no successful member of the legal profession dare be w'thout. Undoubtedly, Mr. Atkinson has taken full advantage of his opportunities, but his tact and savoir faire seem to be at fault. However, sometimes even the most discriminating of men may momentarily lapse into the weakness of his untrained fellow -man, and may be persuaded against his bet-ter-self to say or wnte words that he may afterwards regret. * * ♦ Mr. Atkinson is a candidate for a Wellington City seat in the House of Representatives, and you may depend that., as he is guided by the most unselfish of motives, he desires above ail things to again adorn the Opposition benches. He has been a useful member, his perspicuity and sound judgment and all that kind of thing have stood his party in good stead. But, he is a captious critic, and never seems able to get outside of his political antipathies or away from his particular hobbies. » • • Mr. Atkinson was asked to join the Ctdizens' Committee to organise the intended reception to the Premier. It may be presumed that, on receipt of the letter, Mr. Atkinson was in one of those satiric moods which seem habitual with him. He replied, in effect, that he " was not taking any," and promised for R'chard John a "warm" reception from himself, Messrs. Duthie and Aitken, in Parliament next session, which shows, at a-iy rate, that Mr. Atkinson feels cocksure of being re-elected. Of course, this sally was wildly amusing, the very

quintessence of refined humour likewise, and it is absurd for people to come to us and say it was in bad taste. And, as an election skit surely it must score ? It is Mr. Atkinson's misfortune that he cannot for one moment forget he sits on the Opposition benches, and fails to recognise that there are such things as social amenities even in politics. * * * That Mr. Aitken, the Mayor, whose politias are understood to be of the same pattern as those of Mr. Atkinson, consented to assist in the organisation of the said reception does not seem to have made the slightest impression on Mr. Aitken. However, the reception will not suffer from the withdrawal of the medium member's august patronage. Politics would be a positive curse in small communities like ours if those engaged in them were for ever on the watch to heave a brick at an adversary, and could never meet on the social plane to exchange the ordinary courtesies of life. Surely, Mr. Seddon'a home-coming is an occasion when all citizens may, without doing violence to their political faith, join heartily in giving him welcome. He returns as our ambassador to the Coronation, and his position also as Premier of the colony entitles him to> a public welcome. After that duty is discharged, the political hosts can draw out for battle.