STAY AT HOME!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 113, 2 November 1911, Page 4

STAY AT HOME!

The other day we mildly remarked that the spirit of parochialism was too pronounced in Xew Zealand, suggesting that the Xew Zealand politician or the Xew Zealand tradesman or the Xew Zealander of any kind had a perfect right to undertake his particular activity in any part of Xew Zealand, no matter whether he was born at Invercargill or Mangonui. The mild remarks were widely reprinted, possibly because the Xew Zealand press generally is antagonistic to the petty failing which Mr. Massey among others possesses in an acute form. Mr. Massey is not an ungenerous man. Many of'his peevish utterances do not mirror Mr. Masscy's soul, and we do not believe that tlie Leader of the Opposition can give any good reason for advocating political parochialism. He stated at Kltham that Mr. Dive was not getting a fair chance, and that it wasn't 1 fair for Mr. T. McKenzie to eome all the way from the south to wrest his seat awav from him. It would he absolutely impossible for a man of broad or liberal views £o see the justice of Mr. Masscy's argument. In contesting this sent, Mr. McKenzie,.. although at present a member of, the Cabinet, becomes for the purpose of the fight a mere candidate. Air. Massey's fear that Mr. McKenzie may displace Mr. Dive is uncomplimentary to Mr. Dive, for the assumption is that Mr. Dive will have a hard row to hoe to beat the "stranger." The people of the electorate are soing to put in whom they choose, and it their business to weigh the qualifications of the two men as rival candidates, and not as sitting member and predatory Minister. Mr. Massey's objection, could it be effective (and' retrospective), would place a man in Air. McKenzie's position outside politics, for he has already occupied more than one seat in the House, has, in fact, been successful in lis appeal to various groups of electors, Under Mr. Massey's argument Mr. McKenzie should never have dared stir out of his first electorate, which, of course, is absurd. Mr. 'Massey, indeed, for all his soulful pity for Mr. Dive, knows it to be absurd.' If Mr. Dive is, in the opinion of the electors, the better man, lie will retain his seat, and Mr. Dive should be very glad that a foeman worthy of his steel has cropped up. Mr. McKenzie is worth beating. TCvery member of Parliament is, or should be, a servant of the whole of Xew Zealand, and he can do national work whether he is a member for Franklin or a member for J.gmont, The parochial spirit does not assist the nation. It hampers progress. Mr. Massey. in his advocacy of stay-at-home, is calling for retrogression.