NOTES OP THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2306, 13 November 1914, Page 4

NOTES OP THE DAY

The Reform candidate for the Hutt Electorate, who opened his campaign last evening, appears to havo created a very favourable impression. Mr. Samuel has not so far as we know held any public offices in the district, but he is a resident of some years' standing, and has on occasion actively bestirred himself in matters affecting the interests oi the community in which he has made his homo. He displayed a close acquaintance with the political questions of the hour, was clear-cut in his views, and the enthusiastic demonstration at the close of his address was a flattering and encouraging tribute to his outspokenness as well as to his grasp of the subjects dealt with. The sitting member for Hutt has the advantage of possession of the seat, but he has not residod in the district for many years, and his triennial activity in the electorate compared with his absence at other times naturally affords ground for_ comment.. Mr. Wilford is a skilled campaigner and special pleader, but electors who are not dazzled by the electioneering eloquence and enthusiasm in their behalf which their member develops every three years, when seeking their votes, nitty,, jyell ask themselves

whether they would not _ be better served bv one less experienced in vote-catching and more deeply interested in the welfare _of the district and more closely in touch the year round with his constituents. Those of the public who have been led to believe that Mr Wilfoed has the Hutt Electorate "in his pocket" and that his absences therefrom can be smoothed, over at election time will learn as the struggle progresses that the electors have grown a little weary of this idea. After all the sitting member hae had a very long innings, and cannot hope to monopolise the 'Beat in perpetuity.

The Labour nominee for Wannui, Mr. W. A. Veitoh, ie free from some of the perplexities that are afflicting members of his party in other electorates, for in his case the Wardist-Labour-Socialist alliance has worked out well, and he is getting a clear run against Hit. Pirani. At the same _ timo Mr. Veitoh has troubles of his own. and his efforts to explain and justify his position and to establish his claim as a sane representative , of moderate Labour and a supporter of Wardism as against Reform aro disappointingly weak. When first elected the impression gained currency that the new member for Wβnganui would prove a sound counsellor and an outspoken friend of Labour, and for a time there eeemed some reason for this view. But while Mr. Veitch did not actively associate himself with the "Red Fed" element, and he lias at times indicated a disbelief in militant methods, he has drifted more and more into the background ae a live influence in Parliament. The earlier anticipations formed of him have not been realised. It is one of the common happenings of political life that men are constantly finding their way into Parliament with reputations for strength and_ independence of thought which rapidly evaporate when put to the test of action. Mr. Veitch ia .only one of many disappointments of this kind. Wanganui cave to Parliament a Ballance; it has an opportunity on the present occasion of returning a supporter of Ballanoe in Mr. Pirani, whose personality and strength of character would win him recognition in any assembly in this Dominion.

The member for Stratford (Mr. J. B. Hine), who opened his campaign at Stratford a few days ago, is one of the ablest ,of the younger politicians of this country, ana a man of whom more will be heard as time goes on. Mb. Hine's support of the Reform Party gains additional weight from-the fact that on occasion he hae been its fearless and outspoken critic. Differing from the Government on some questions of detail, he is at one with it in practically all major questions of policy, and the fact that, with his admittedly radical views, he is able to take up this attitude is about as good an answer as could be desired to the oft-repeated allegation that the Government is devoted to the interests of particular classes of the _ community. ■ An interesting section of Me. Hine's speech the other evening was that in which he reviewed what the Government had done for| the .workers, by, amongst other_ things, improving industrial legislation, building more workers' homes in its brief term than the previous Administration, did in six years, . and raising the rate of interest on the people s savings in the Post Office Savings Bank. Being of a strictly practical turn of mind, the member' tor Stratford attaches much more importance to these positive benefits conferred upon the people at large than to the fine-sounding but empty professions which the Wardists afe now scattering around .so profusely. The great majority of sensible people in the Dominiori no doubt will bo in hearty agreement with him on this point.

One somewhat daring proposal advanced by Mr. Hinb has for ifcs objects the relief of burdened parents and the encouragement of the 'birthrate. His idea is that the per capita Customs taxation, amounting to a little over £3 per head, should be refunded upon children up to the age of fourteen years, with ■ a proviso that the refund should be graded upon a varying scale according to the income of the beneficiaries. Thus the parents of six children under fourteen, supposing their income to be in the minimum grade, would benefit to the extent of some £18 a year. The idea has a good deal to commend it, and is free from the_ objection sometimes urged against ordinary Customs remissions: that the concession does not always get past the importer or trader, but tho financial outlay involved would bo somewhat heavy and it is unlikely that tho finances of the Dominion will be in a position for a year or jiwo to bear it. Mr. Hine, however, is hopeful that. his suggestion may ultimately be taken up by the Government, and certainly it is in marked contrast to Sir Joseph Ward's absurd /proposal of a baby bonus to be paid to the fond mother 14 years after the baby is born.