The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1917. RULE OF THE "OLD HANDS."

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1917. RULE OF THE "OLD HANDS."

At the conference of the. Taranaki A. and >P. Associations at Hawera on Tuesday, Mr. Oswald Hawken observed that there were men representing farming opinion now who represented it twenty years ago, and he wa3 of opinion that the representatives were out' of touch to a large extent with modern farmers' opinion. The voice of the farmer of New Zealand, he added, had for a good many of years been ultra conservative. These are rather sweeping remarks, hut. it must be admitted, they are not without justification. Farmers as a class are slow-thinking and slow moving, even when their own interests are involved, They stick to their old leaders preferably to selecting untried new ones. The claims of young men with fresh ideas and of a progressive spirit are not considered, with the result that the young er clement are discouraged stud prefer ■subsequently to "go on their own." We have not to go beyond our own province to find instances in support of this statement-. But the rule of the "old hands," who frequently are quite behind the times, lacking in enterprise aild bankrupt of imagination, is not confined to the farming community. You see it strikingly exemplified in politics. Have not our leading politicians seen tlieir best days? Would it not be of immense benefit to the country if they gave way to a set of new, more virile, more imaginative and enterprising men? Under our Parliamentary system, brains do not count; indeed, they are frequently at a discount. The leaders of the respective parties prefer the "old hands," whom they can inlluenco to do their bidding. They want no new blood anxious to see changes wrought in the body politic, for that might eventually imperil their own positions, which must be preserved at all costs. The interests of the country are subordinate to the Interests of self. And so we see that when vacancies occur in the Cabinet the younger generation, with their progressive ideas, are simply passed over in favor of "old hands." There is a vacancy now, and the political machine is being worked hard in order to secure the appointment of Sir John Findlay. No doubt lie is a very clever man, and fit for Cabinet rank, but fliers could just now do more valuable work and bring to bear to the problems of the hour more practical knowledge and business acumen. There is, for instance, the member for Egmont, who at this juncture could render the country valuable service by reason of his commercial talents, untiring energy, practical knowledge and ripe experience. But, as wo have said, there is no room for men of Mr. Wilkinson's stamp, for they hold strong convictions and cannot be moved at will. They are therefore thrust aside, or made to wait for years until others disappear from the political stage. There are many problems awaiting solution in New Zealand to-day; since the war new ones urgently requiring attention have appeared, bub Parliament or Cabinet seem helpless. At most they offer palliatives; tliey seldom deal with

a question thoroughly and decisively. They are too concerned about the effect of their actions on political votes. If ability were the test of a man's fitness for Cabinet rank, problems would be tackled resolutely, without any trimming and hedging or circumlocution. But we arc optimistic enough to believe that a change is coining, and that the ■war will expedite it. The public have been interested spectators of the operations of the National Cabinet, and noted how far short of expectations the members have fallen, and will insist upon the best class, of man, with a wholehearted idea to serve and help his country, being elected to Parliament in future. 'there will be great opportunities for young men of ideas, courage and power. The old party lines will disappear—they are fast disappearing now —and new divisions will arise, the outlines of which are already visible. The rule of the "old hand" will come to an end, at least that is our hope, not only in regard to Parliament but in connection with the farming industry, which never was more in need of wise guidance and sagacious leadership. Mr, Hawken has performed a service to the farming community in speaking out so courageously and putting his finger upon a very weak spot, and it is to be hoped tanners will ponder over his remarks and take the lesson to heart. Farmers will be faced with an entirely new condition of affairs after the war, and they cannot afford to persist in the old ultraconservative policy that has in the past kept them back and prejudicially affected their interests.