MODEST MR. FORBES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 138, 2 December 1911, Page 4

MODEST MR. FORBES.

Mr. W. Forbes, ''lndependent" Opposition candidate for the Taranaki seat, is par excellence the most amazing young man who, ever consented to sacrifice himself on the altar of duty. In his intimate appeal to the electors he has temporarily sunk his native modesty in order to state some very obvious facts. He tells us .that, he- must win, and among the chief of his reasons is that he is a man of "kindly disposition." It seems almost unnecessary to state a fact so excellently illustrated by his every action. People of kindly disposition should of course say so, in case actions should not speak louder than words. He tells us that he is an able speaker and a keen debater. The late W. E. Gladstone, John Bright; William Pitt and those other persons who unhappily did not suivive to admire the statesmanship of Mr. Forbes, were also held to be able speakers and keen debaters, but each made the unpardonable mistake of leavinw other people to say so. Mr. Forbes says lie has "proved his sterling worth on the battlefield, and has courage, taot a«4 perseverance." His contemporary comrades, Lords Roberts, • V.C., and Kitchener, are presumed to have possessed like qualities, but, curiously, neither has ever mentioned it; so it may not be true. Mr. Forbes might have given U8 a complete autobiography. He says the country is most fortunate in having young men of his stamp offering their services; - but although the country has not said so, it may of course think so. One is naturally expected to admire a man because he has been born in New Zealand, but this is a matter quite beyond the control of even Mr. Forbes. It is probable he might have been a courageous soldier, a good motorman, or an excellent .policeman, - even if he had beeh born in any other country. Mr. Forbes tells us -that younger and fresher brains are needed in the House of Representatives, and ho therefore offers his services. It is unfortunate that the brains of older men like Mr. Asquith, Mr. Lloydfleorge, the late Sir 11. Campbell-Ban-nerinan, not to speak of Mr. Chamberlain and those other antiquated fossils mentioned before, should have had the direction of matters of great import during international crises'." If there is one reason above all others why Mr. Forbes should be returned to Parliament and so have an - easy chance to become Premier, it is, to quote his own words, because ' t will see that every man is placed on an equal footing in the race for prosperity." Confidence like that has not been .shown in any other candidate in the history of .Yew Zealand politics. We do not suggest that Mr. Forlies is not omnipotent; we are only surprised at his superb daring in believing it_ himself. The promise in Mr. Forbes' circular of a new era for Xew Zealand, specially manufactured bv himself. is comforting. We hail Mr. Forbes :is Ihe personification of modesty, the acme of the height of political, social and military courage. If for any unfore>ecn reason Mr. Forbes should not be elected on December 7, some compensatory recognition of his a mazing gift s should lie tendered him. Taranaki has within its grasp an opportunity given to a people but once in a series of centuries, and if it allows the chance to slip it may never occur again. Mr. Forlies is perfectly justified in hiking him-elf seriously, and now he lias promised a new era for this country (lie people should cease to be merely amused with (urn, and accept him at his own valuation.

BEHIND THE TIMES! Mr. Richard Cock docs not think much of the newspapers of this town, for, judging from some remarks he let fall at Fitzrov yesterday regarding the sleeping sickness that has up to now taken possession of the place, they fail, and have failed, to give the public the necessary lead. We have 110 hesitation in saying that Mr. Cock is doing an injustice to the local press, and would respectfully ask him, or anyone else, if he knows of a town of the size of this that is served hotter by its press than New Plymouth. If he does we will forgive him. We think it will be admitted that the papers deserve well of the place; at any rate that they are no discredit to it. It is a little extraordinary that, having concentrated their efforts in season and out of season, on promoting everything, big or little, making for tlw advancement of the place, that one of its chief citizens should be ungrateful and unmindful enough to publicly denounce them for their neglect of "duty. If the response to their representations, their leading and pleading, has not been as great as one would desire, the newspapers should not be blamed. A newspaper, after all, is but a public advocate. It cannot hope to do the actual work of initiating reforms, improvements or enterprises. That is the duty of the people. The troublo in New Plymouth is that the very class of men who really could do something for the place do (with a few exceptions) absolutely nothing. They are content to go on their own sweet way, eating lotus all the time, without any thought to the improvement of the town or furthering its industries, and quite oblivious to the duty they owe, their fellows and their town. Indeed, some will be found who discredit the placo and all its works, and cry "stinking fish" from year's end to year's end. Now. Mr. Cock in tho past has shown that he is not unmindful of his duties and obligations as a citizen, and has done excellent work for the town in many ways, but seeing that he feels there is an opening for the establishment of industries, why does he not come forward and take the initiative and persuade many of the other wealthy men of the town to join him? That he has surplus money for investment is 6hown by his statement about purchasing property in the Auckland suburbs. Could he not put it into the town that has been so kind to him in the past? If the bigger men of the place showed some faith in New Plymouth and backed up that faith bv helping its industries and establishing new ones—such as a local shipping concern, soap and candle works, biscuit factory, etc —the smaller people with their few pounds would follow, and soon there would be no occasion to reproach the town for its backwardness, or even to suggest that its newspapers failed in their duty and generally lagged in the rear of the 'bus.