The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3365, 3 November 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1911.

An Amusing Position

There is always a wide difference between the methods of a comparatively new . political campaigner | and these of an old hand at the game. When for instance Sir John Findlay, who has not had a great deal of experience in the role of a candidate for political honours spio'ke at Parnell, he did not hesitate to make quite clear th e strong views which he holds in regard to a number of questions. It will perhaps be recalled that among other things lie said that he believed the day was not far distant when with the heightened standard of education among the race special representation of the Maoris in Parliament would be unnecessary. He went on to say that the Maori, as that day neared, must be placed in the same position as the European in regard to the duties of citizenship and the use of the land. To which remarks lie also added that he owned that that day was coming fast. Now it turned out that the AttorneyGeneral’s views were far too •'■advanced,” and the result was that when his attention was drawn to them the Prime Minister lest no time in pointing cut that Sir John Findlay was addressing the people in his capacity merely as a candidate and not in that of a Minister. Sir John Findlay, it would seem, would never have been guilty of making such i a clear cut utterance on such an impartant subject ion the hustings had he had the benefit of the experience of an old and tried campaigner like, say, his colleague, the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie. Listen to this! Among a number of candidates. Mr. Mackenzie was recently invited by the Taranaki Executive of the Farmers’ Tlnion to give his views on several important matter's, including that of land tenure. One might have felt that the Minister for Agriculture in his reply would not fail to point out, for example, that he had always stood pledged to the freehold. But no. “Whilst, it would give me the greatest pleasure to reply to each question in its order,” he diplomatically answered, “'you will, I think, recognise that it is hardly possible for one who is a memlrer of the Cabinet to do this, as, in the framing of measures. Ministers of necessity have to make mutual concessions in details of Bills conceding a point here and there in order to obtain greater benefit in return. Mere I, therefore, to give hard-and-fast replies to all questions I might not be able afterwards to give effect to them in the exact terms of my replies, and might in consequence be open to censure, although ini the total I might do more for the industry than attempting the carrying out of my bare promise would secure. The position of a private member is different. I would respectfully submit that what you require to be satisfied until in a candidate is that he is in sincere sympathy with, and qualified to carry out. measures for the benefit of the fanning industry, and the fact- that I occupy at the present time the portfolio the especial care of which is agriculture, together with its handmaiden commerce, enables me primarily to do the utmost possible to make the man on the land successful by promotiing in every way all that helps to attain that end, both in connection with the production and distribution of the products of the soil.” Now it appears to us that after all an. mimistakable opinion like that which Sir John Findlay gave on the Native question^—whether it be made by him as Minister or as candidate—is very much more to b e preferred than a colourless reply similar to that which is quoted as having come from the Hon. T. Mackenzie. Surely it is not too much to expect of Ministers of the Crown that they should take their full share in the work of moulding public opinion? The explanation that the other members of Cabinet may later decline to endorse the views of a single Minister on any subject in their entirety can hardly be put forward as a valid reason why his opinions should not- become public property. It would, we should think, he a very .interesting duty to catalogue, the detailed opinions of members of the present Administration as regards the important political questions of the day!