Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1895. PHRENOLOGY IN POLITICS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5160, 19 October 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1895. PHRENOLOGY IN POLITICS.

Tiiniu: is :i professional phrenologist now in Masterton, and his view of the leading politicians of New Zealand is not n very encouraging one, Phrenology is a science, and if, tried by its standards, our publio men conic oil" badly, it is the inisfortiiiie of the men and not the fault of the science. According to the phrenological dictum—which is free from personal bias—Mr Sodden is :i man of very strong will, but with insufficient intelligence. Mr Ward, the treasurer, lias been spoken of as "smart,but not able"; but phrenologically ho is not even smart. Luck, rather than merit, has been bis stalking horse. The Hon. John MoKeuzio and the Hon. W. H. P. Reeves arc a striking contrast from the scientific standpoint; the former is the type of cleverness without culture, and tho hitler of culture without cleverness, hi the Ministerial team there is not to be found a single statesman. But when we come to the Opposition, we are not much better off, and it has been its weakness which, •plircuologically speaking, has kept an inferior Government so long in power. Captain Russell is clever and gentlemanly, but he possesses no lighting power, and since the death of Sir Harry Atkinson, the Party has been without a Loader. The our. member of the Honse, the only member who rises above mediocrity, is Sir Robert Stout. If there be a statesman amongst members, it is be, and if this be a phrenological truth, the practical application of it is easy; Captain Rnssell and his friends must bo content to follow Sir Robert Stout,. Tho general rank and file of members is, phrenologically, somewhat weak. There are a few strong men iu the House, such as Mr Thos. McKeuzio, of Clutba, but these are balanced by deplorably weak ones, of which Mr K. 11. Smith, of New Plymouth, is a prominent specimen. The Houso, take it all round, stands the phrenological test badly, anil the Ministry simply breaks down under its search-light. Possibly tho next general election may give us a better lot; we seem on the last occasion to have got very near the bed rock of folly and incapacity.