HONOURING THE VANQUISHED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3051, 23 November 1908, Page 4

HONOURING THE VANQUISHED.

It is understood that the Liberals J ot the Wairarapa intend to show, in a substantial manner, their appreciation of the valuable political services rendered by Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, during the periods that he was the Parliamentary representative of the district, in the way of a presentation to him. The movement will, however, we should say, be supported by many others than those who have been identified with the Liberal Party, for although Mr Hornsby was a strcng Party man, and had to fight hard in order to hold his own with a redoubtable opponent, as member for the district he displayed a very proper magnaminity towards his political foes, and was ever ready to assist to the fullest extent within his power any movement for the public good. The Wairarapa eeat was probably one of hardest in the Dominion to win for the Government, and the Liberal Party in that district searched long before they found a candidate of sufficient j ability to do so. In Mr Hornsby they I had an able speaker, a thoughtlul politicion, and a courageous candidate. The rewards of public life are certainly no compensation for the sacrifices made by the man of ability who engaged therein, but every man fired with patriotic zeal for the public welfare does not count the cost too great, though he personally suffers to an active degree, and we have no doubt that Mr Hornsby does not regret for a single moment the years that he has spent (profitless to him) in fighting political battles in the Wairarapa. Whatever the opinions ot extreme partisans may be we should imagine>that the great bulk of the Wairarapa people clearly recognise that the Buchanan-Hornsby contests have resulted in many and considerable gains to the district. There is nothing like infusing some life into political affairs!