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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 4 March 29, 1939
[introduction]
This time last year, the country was just beginning to wake up to the fact that there would be an election in a few months. Vested interests were happy, for they believed that they had a figure-head capable of winning popular support. Indeed, the sun of capitalistic fervour shone from the rubicund countenance of Mr. Adam Hamilton, and all was going to be well for the powers that be. But then there was the election campaign, and a few doubts began to impinge themselves upon the clear horizon of Reactionary hopes, when he was compared with Mr. Savage upon the political stage. The election removed all these doubts and the press thought it expedient to softpedal Mr. Hamilton. The powers that be were very glum for a while, but soon a new hope was born, and Mr. Hamilton's mana was transferred to a still unknown personage who was going to come and act as "deux ex machina" for the vested interests of this land. "Wait till Sir Harry Batterbee comes," was the new cry of hope wrung from the tortured lips of harried capitalists.
Sir Harry, one gathered, Hub going to tell Mr. Savage precisely where he (Mr. Savage) got off. He had came, one was informed, as a representative of the English Investor; he was going to keep those confounded socialists from interfering with international finances and show them that the Hank of England could still run the Empire to its own satisfaction—in other words to frustrate one of the most spirited and advanced democracies in the word to revoke the mandate of the people of New Zealand given to the labour Government last year. That was the modest programme mapped out for Sir Harry by the disgruntled opposition. Well, he will have to be a pretty powerful representative if he can carry it through.