The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1909. HON. JAMES CARROLL—ACTINGPREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2583, 18 August 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1909. HON. JAMES CARROLL—ACTINGPREMIER.

When Mr. W. D. Lysnar, Captain Tucker and Mr John Townley, as the heads of local bodies, feel constrained to .unite in invoking Divine intervention on behalf of our Parliamentary representative, it seems opportune to investigate the position which has called forth such extraordinary action. In other words, what has the Hon. Mr Carroll done that ho should he singled out for this remarkable solicitude ? From all quarters we havo had it dinned into our ears of late that the district has been honored and must be congratulated upon the fact that its representative in Parliament lias been chosen to fill the position of ActingPremier during the temporary absence of Sir Joseph Ward. As a matter of fact Sir Joseph took fine care that there was little left in the way of prestige for his locum tenens by insisting upon the closing down of the legislative workshop pending his return. Had Parliament been in session the duties of Acting-Premier would have been sufficiently exacting to put to the fullest test the capacities of whatever Minister was left in charge. In such an event it is extremely unlikely that the Hon. James Carroll would have been left in control of the Ship of State, and if he had been the Dominion would have been made thoroughly aware of the lion, gentleman’s qualifications and likewise of his limitations. Under existing circumstances the position is very analogous to that created when a captain whose vessel is in dock for repairs leaves his first mate in charge. A good deal of detail work must he attended to, but there is no fear of rushing tbs vessel on t-o the rocks or otherwise seriously damaging her. An Acting Premier with Parliament out of sessior may exercise considerable influence in regard to administrative affairs, but even a display of extreme incapacity is not likely to spell disaster. What is achieved depends very largely on tile personality of the man in charge. Were it Mr Tom Mackenzie, the Dominion would feel the impress of a man of strong characteristics and abundant energy; with Mr. James Carroll it is safe to say that a large section of the community will never remember that he has held the position. There is, of course, no telling what might have happened had - the public purse been left full, for even the most indolent of Act-ing-Premiers might have created a stir with a million or so to spend; but Sir Joseph took no chances in this respect, and, having secured his own ticket for London, didn’t leave enough funds behind to provide work for the unemployed. Then to stop quarrelling amongst the ablest men of his party he chose his locum tenens by the convenient method of seniority, and thus our own member became Acting-Premier. In such way has honor been thrust upon us and we are now invited to kiss the dust and acclaim the great man who is at present, as head of the Government, honoring the district with liis presence. Personally we wish the Hon. Jama.; Carroll long life and happiness. He has some of the finest qualities which make a man worthy of admiration, whilst his manifest weaknesses are of the kind that still more endear him to his fellows. His generous nature, liis jovial temperament, his breadth of mind, his easy tolerance of those who differ from him, his rare charm of manner, make us wish that there were more of his stamp in the community. As a private citizen he is worthy of the utmost respect of the community, but regretfully, it must be added, he is a dismal failure as a legislator. This is why we hesitate to join those who are at present bestowing such ' fulsomo praise upon our Parliamentary representative because the accident of circumstances has temporarily elevated him to a position of high honor. How is the district to be congratulated when one of the most indolent members who has ever represented any constituency in a New Zealand Parliament is placed in a position that should be occupied by a much more energetic inan? As a matter of fact, the Poverty Bay district lias suffered immensely in the past, simply because the Hon. James Carroll has filled the place that could have been occupied by a better representative. Year after year the honorable gentleman has been returned well ahead of his opponents, and probably will be in the future, but not because of any real qualifications for the position. His personal popularity, the strength of his party and his oratorical powers have enabled him to easily defeat opponents who, if elected, would do more solid work for the district and the Dominion in. three months than lie would in as many years. His legislative record will not bear investigation for a single moment, and as a. district representative his record is as poor as that of the

weakest member who has yet set forth to represent a constituency in Parliament. For soventeen years he has been the chosen of the local electorate, and it is safe to say that no district in all New Zealand has suffered so much through its neglect by Parliament. It is true that at the present time our one public work—the Gisborne-Motu railway—is being pushed on in a manner befitting its importance, but even this measure of progress lias been achieved rather in spite of than by the aid of our Parliamentary representative. There are half a dozen men in the town whose names could be mentioned as having done more to promote that line than the gentleman whose special duty it was to push it forward. At present, when the work is proceeding vigorously, political supporters arc endeavoring to give the whole credit for the construction of the railway to Mr Carroll, but that gentleman is much too honest to occupy so false a position, and made it clear at Waihuka the other day that his share had only been that of assisting those who constantly urged him to keep the interests of the line before Parliament. Apart from the railway rve look in vain for any substantial expenditure in this district. Other towns get palatial edifices whilst wo get nothing. At the present time our prisoners and police officials are herded in a mere shanty, and our Court buildings are disgracefuly inadequate. Our member makes delightful speeches, but we look in vain for any sign of practical effort to better the condition of the people in this town and district. Where is there any evidence of his impress upon the legislation of the Dominion? With the natural ab:lity he possesses the Hon. James Carroll might easily have been a strong force in the legislative affairs of this country; instead, lie has been merely a party man of the most pronounced type, always on hand to vote with h;s leader at the call of the party whip. His dilat-oriness in connection with his duties as district representative has frequently been excused by his friends on the ground that a Minister in charge of a department cannot be expected to give personal attention to trivial loeali affairs. Yet here again we find the same unsatisfactory position, for the Native Department stands to-day as a conspicuous example of what a complicated muddle can ensue when a task necessitating energy and perseverance is entrusted to someone who is too tired to display either. Because of the failure of Mr. Carroll to properly organise and administer the Native Department, millions of acres of fertile land are at present lying waste, and the Dominion is suffering greatly in consequence. In this respect we need but mention that if only a proportion of the Native lands at present lying idle were placed in profitable settlement there need be no unemployed problem in this country for many years to come. This being the Hon. Mr. Carroll’s political record, how in all sincerity is the district or the Dominion to be congratulated upon his accession to the Acting-Premiership? He may not do much harm, but he will certainly accomplish little to justify his appointment, and a good deal of work that should be done will remain undone. However, wo may confidently assume that the lion, gentleman will not be unduly oppressed by the onerous duties of his present position and, while disagreeing with his political supporters, we may be permitted to express the hope that he will long he spared to cast his genial influence amongst the community, and charm us all with his delightful speeches.