The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1909. THE RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 618, 22 September 1909, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1909. THE RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

We have dealt so fully during the past fortnight with the itsiieh beforo tho olcctors of Rangitikoi that it would be superfluous to cover tho ground again. There are one or two points, ho\\e\cr, which should be mentioned. What the electors of llangitikei haie to consider is the effect which may be expected from the casting of their votes to-morrow—not merely the effect on the Rangitikoi electorate, but on tho whole country. Those electors who belong to the farming community hhould have no difficulty in making up their minds which way to vote. The attitude of the Ward Administration towards the farming interests has been almost invariably antagonistic or neglectful. It is a singular thing that in a country such as New Zealand, relying almost entirely on its primary industries, any Government should have been so unwise. But tho farmer in the past has borne his burdens submissively, and troubled very little about 1 politics, With a Government whose every action almost is governed by its possible effect in catching votes, it is not surprising that the farmer, in these circumstances, has been unduly penalised and his interests neglected. The elector who is not a farmer iray not be ablo to point so directly to tho ill-effects of tho legislation and tho ad,ministrativo methods of the WARD Administration, but if ho troubles to givo the matter any serious thought he must realise that the evils which havo grown up in our public life aro inimical to tho interests of all. Tho ovils wo refer to are in the main administrative, though thero can be little, doubt that somo of the legislation of recont years has had an injurious offect, in indirect as well as in direct ways. Wo need not refer at any length to tho wasteful oxtravagance which has necessitated forcing from tho taxpayers an increased sum each year to meet the demande of the Treasury. Tho added taxation, taken by means of the increased valuation of land, has been squandered largely in political patronage, which hae produced tho excessive growth of State Departments, culminating in tho recent retrenchment proposals. l But probably the worst feature in recent times of the Ward Administration's conduct of public affairs hae been its reckloss disregard of tho effect of its'actiona in shaking confidence in financial circles. We do not mean to,,say that.tho Dominion's credit "is not good to a rcasonablo extent, but the conduct and policy of tho Government have,been such as to discourage capital and to drive 'it into other fields of investment. Tho fooling has got abroad that capital is "fair game" to tho Now Zealand Government. Nothing could be more ; harmful. The;development of this or any other young country is dependent on the frco circulation of capital. The faimer wants money to improve his land; the sawmiller wants it to open up new milling country; the manufacturer wants it to extend his business; . and when capital is shy, development in all directions is slow. Tho people dependent, on the land and on tho industries of the country all suffer from the restricted circulation of'capital, and «; all know how much this has been felt ('.imng the past six months. Tho Ward Administration has been reckless of these considoiations, Its position in Parliament has been so strong, and tho country, owing to good seasons and high prices, has been so prosperous, that the Government has thrown caution to the winds and plunged raorrily on, until brought up with a sharp turn , b> tho depression in trade nhich has so seriously affected tho whole country.

Tho electors of Rangitikei, in casting their votes to-morrow, should give thought to theso things. Thoy should consider whether the waste and recklessness of the past few years is to continue,' or whother it is not wiser to let \ tho Ward Administration seo that there must be a return to sound government. They should consider whether it is wise for any country to entrust any set of politicians with such absolute power as has been given to the present Government by vir> tue of its huge majority in Parliament, To those \.ho believe in clean and honest administration; to those who reoogniso tho dangers ahead of the reckless policy of our plunging Prihb Minister, there i can be no shadow of doubt as to which way they should cast their votes to-mor' row. The platform of the Hoform party's candidate must make a direct appeal ,to their intelligence, as well as to their sym--1 pathies. But to thoso who havo favoured i the Warh Administration because it styles itself Liberal and because they beliovo that there is much in tho name,' another appeal may bo necessary. Let them, if they have any real stako in the country, think for one moment what the election of Mr. Smith would mean. Merely another vote to swell the,already overlargo Govornment majority—another incentive to. recklessness at the people's expense. And what would the election of Mr. Hochm mean! The election of a straightforward, capable member, thoroughly familiar with tho requirements of the electorate, and pledged to no par-' ticular section of it; and, above all, one who will add his weight to the small band of mon who aro tho only check on the indiscretions and recklessneßß of the Ward Administration. Another check on recklessness and waste. Can tho electors hesitate which to choose t