POLITICAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3344, 24 November 1919, Page 5

POLITICAL.

MR GLE;\'N’S CA NDIDATUE. Mr W. S. Glenn, the Reform candidate for Rangitikei, -has concluded a, most successful series of meetings at the Marton end of the electorate. At Martofi he had a. good hearing, and received ~a» vote of ' thanks. Though there was a concerted opposition against him, his personality and unvarying good temper (luring 'a trying ordeal made him 21 lot of friends, leading one of the opposition to remark that hewas a real-good sport: butwus in the wrong Camp At Marton Junction he had a’splundill meeting. Though there was a considerable amount of good-hounioue ed inteniections He held his own, and the meeting was a most, succssful one, and he had a good reception. Mr Glenn arrived in Taihape to-day, and speaks at Wainui tonight at 6.15, and at Moawhango at 8 o'clock the same evening. To—morl'ow -he will ad: dress the hlcctors at Puk-_-okalnt school at 6 p.m., thence pr-ocemlirig to Taoroa, where he will speak in the school at 8 o'clock. On Wednesday he Will be at Bennettfis Siding at 6 p.m._. and Mataroa at 8 o’clock. MR. BRADY AT THE TOVVN HALL TO—NIGHT. ‘

Mr Bradyé the Labour candidate w']l speak in the Town Hall this eeening, the chair being taken at 8 o'clock. Mr Brady will amplify his views and go more fully into the aims and a:=pifations of the Labour Party.

A CANDID CRITIC.

The Southland Times, which is one ‘of the organs of -the self-styled Reform Party, is not at all pleased with the manner in which Mr Massey has opened his political campaign in the North. It strongly disapproves of .-the display he has made of bitterlparly feeling. The rebuke which our con~ temporary levels at its .leader,, and the lesson in good manners that it oifers to him, furnishing a refreshing con- ' trast to the servile attitude of other sections of the Tory Press. Thus the Southland Times: “Most people, we think, were sorry to see by.the reports ' in Monday’s papers of Mr Massey’s speeche in the North, that the Prime Minister has descended to the use of terms that are nearly always the cheap « coin of dispute‘ and are often offensive. When "Mr Massey describes the arguments of his political opponents as ‘bunkum,’ ‘humbug,’ and ‘arrant "non; sense,’ h-99 does not answer them. He“ merely brings political controv.ersy_ down to the level of a wrangle in an inferior hotel bar. And when he refers to the Leader of the Liberal Party as an ‘irresponsible politician’ he puts himself on exactly the same level as» the hack critic of the opposite party whose stock word for the Reformer is ‘reactionary.’ Sir Josepli Ward is no more ‘irresponsible’ than‘ Mr Massey is ‘reactionary,’ and it is to be regretted, we think, that the Prime Minister shoulfi have taken the lead in introducing contemptuous offensive terms into the election cam-_ paign. It was bad tactics, also, for -Y‘ Mr Massey gave his political opponent an opportunity to put. him. at a disJa.d.’vantage, and Sir Joseph Ward was quick to seize it. The contrast between Mr Massey ’s Papakura reply to 'Sir Joseph V\’l.lrd’s VVi'\ton speech and V, Sir Joseph Ward’s V. lklWl rePl3' ‘W Mr Masscy’s Papakura. speech is altogether uirfavourable to ‘Lire Prime Minister.” The rebuke ariministered by our contemporary‘ is Well~fl:nG(l, and if Mr Massey takes the lesson to heart, there will probably be a corresponding lessening of the party raneour that is becoming a. conspicuous and undesirable feature of our public life, It is natural that our political leaders should difier on questions of principles and policy. but if they must differ they should at all events difl‘er like gentlemen.