THE EGMONT SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1536, 4 September 1912, Page 6

THE EGMONT SEAT.

The contest for the Egmont seat, vacated by Mr. T. Mackenzie, is proceeding on very vigorous lines, .judging by the reports of tho meetings of tho candidates published in the local papers. The Hawera Star's report of Mr. Wilkinson's Eltham speech covered something like nine columns of space, and showed very plainly that the Government candidate has a sound grasp of political questions, and a clear and forcible method of voicing his opinions. It, was at Eltham that Mr. Mackenzie secured the greater part of his majority over Me. Dive at the last election, and naturally the supporters of the Opposition made an' effort there to make it uncomfortable for Mr. Wilkinson. At tho close of his address he was bombarded with questions, but he emerged from the ordeal unscathed, while his ready tongue and knowledge of affairs often left his questioners in a far from enviable position. It seems that his opponent, Mr. Astbury, was at one time an ardent.advocato of tho single tax, and is finding his past professions in this respect very inconvenient. In a community of small farmers it is easy to understand that a candidate who has professed • belief in the principle that the whole of the taxation of the country should be loaded on to the land owner, is not likely to find very much favour; acd despite Mr. Astbury's declaration that he has not advocated single tax in its entirety—whatever that may 'mean—he cannot hope_ to overcome the quite natural antipathy of the farmers. At Eltham Mr. Asjbury is reported to have recanted his single tax theories to the extent of saying that "when a young man he studied the aspect of the change in the incidence of taxation, andhe came to the conclusion that it ([single tax] was the ideal system. He could not repudiate a position which seemed to him absolutely sound, but he had never advocated it in its entirety. He was prepared to go slow towards ideals." It is difficult to see how the Opposition candidate can hope, i>i face of such a declaration, to expect land-owners of any kind to support him. He may be prepared to go slow, as he says, but holding the views be does, how can he claim the support of a farming community or the support of thoso shopkeepers and dwellers in the towns who are dependent on the well-being of the farmers of the, district for; their own welfare. Tho feeling appears to be growing in strength that Mr. AVilkinson, whose past services to the district have besn greatj would make a valuable representative of such an electorate as Egmont in Parliament. He is thoroughly familiar with its requirements, arid in full sympathy with the aspirations of the electors. Those who are working in his interests and all who arc anxious to help forward the progressive movement inaugurated by the Eeform Government should, however, be made to understand the risk of over-confidence. The fact that Mn. Wilkinson has met with such an encouraging reception should merely serve to stimulatethose who have the interests of the district and of the country at heart, to further efforts to win'the seat for Reform. Every vote should be polled on election day—the elector who thinks his vote will not be needed, and who does not trouble to exercise his'privilege, not infrequently has occasion to repent of his neglect.