The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1914. THE COUNTRY ELECTORATES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2321, 1 December 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1914. THE COUNTRY ELECTORATES

In tho country elect-orates in tho provincial districts stretching from Wellington to Taranaki on the West Coast and from Wellington to Hawke's Bay on the, East Coast the electors in practicably all cases are fortunately situated in having a cleai'rcut issue before them. In every electorate there is V Reform candidate, and in no single instance oaii there be any room for doubt as to what that candidate stands' for. Dr. Newman, who a happy knack of hitting off a catchy and appropriate phrase, has summed up the Reform Government as a Gov-, erument of honesty and oourage. This at first sight may seem to leave a good deal to be filled in, but the more it is examined tho more it grips the imagination. "Honesty and courage,"' is there- anything moire to be encouraged in this country to-day than is cpvered by a broad interpretation of what is' reby these terms 1 How they dwarf aud overshadow the petty tirades of venomous.critics who shriek so loudly about the price of lemonade and cigarettes in militarycanteens, while ■ the,. Government' is gravely occupied with the formidable task of fitting out and dispatching to the seat of war the largest and best equipped Expeditionary Force that has ever left any counti-y for a destination so far. overseas. How-they throw into relief the unworthy tactics of ; those people who have been seeking to foully injure the Government, and make political capital out of the deaths of a number of unfortunate miners. "Honesty ajid courage"; even if it is only by'reason of the oontrast which the words suggest with the mean and unworthy attitude of so many of the opponents of the Government, Dr. Hewhan's simple summing up of the outstanding attributes of His party leaders arrests and impresses. ' The Reform Government has not proved itself infalliblo, it has made mistakes, but they have been of a trifling nature, irritating rather than important; but it has never failed on any occasion seriously affecting the. interests of the country to prove itself both courageous and honest. That is ' a big thing for ! Reform candidates to go' to the electors with.'

So far as can be gathered from surface signs, 'the supporters of the Reform Party throughout the country electorates in the districts men- 1 fcioned above have every reason to look forward to the polls on Thursday week with confidence. But apart from the more yisible evidences of the strength of feeling in favour of Reform, experience haß shown that the weight of the support accorded the Reform. Party at the hustings is invariably triuch greater than that disclosed at election meetings. 'In the circumstances, therefore, the outlook is moro encouraging than has been the case on any previous occasion. This is not difficult to understand. It would be idle to'ignore' the fact • that the Ward Party has alarmed and alienated many of , its staunchest supporters by its alliance or understanding with tho men associated with the political organisation of Bed Federation. Whatever the nature of the bargain may be, sensible people who remember the _ great strike and the terrible behaviour of the lawless people in the early stages of that unhappy struggle, when the law-breakers thought they had the citizens and the shipping of the country at their mercy, cannot fail to realise the danger in which the Dominion would be placed should Sir Joseph WAgD be returned to office with these extremists dominating his party. That the extremists would hold the balance of power is quite plain to anyone who has studied the political situation, and the proof of this is to be found ,in the fact that the Social Democrats have entered into the bargain at all. They hate the Waists, but they want to use them;

Is it surprising therefore to find the electors in the Otaki electorate sinking their differences and uniting to secure the election' of the Reform candidate, Mr v "W. H. Field 1 It is stated that Mr. Field has offended some of his friends by changing his party; but what other course is open to a man when his old party departs from its principles 1 The ReforiU and the Liberal voters of Otaki should have no hesitation when the time , comes in deciding that it is infinitely beter that they should cast their votes to assist in keeping in office the Reform Government than to help by their vote or by abstaining from voting the re; turn of a member of the Social Democratic party.' On the last occasion when the choice was between Mr. Field and Mr. Robertson, Reform electors properly decided . to vote for the latter, on the understanding that he would vote to throw out Wardisin. They were deceived, for Me. Robertson voted for Wardism and he and his Social Democrat friends _ now hope to dominate Wardism. The opportunity has now come for the electors of Otaki not only to. show Mr* Robertson what they think of his conduct, but what they think of the 'Red Federation which supports _Mr._' Robertson. Mr. Field stands in this contest for Reform; he stands as the. champion of the Government _ which if displaced from offico will make way. for a Wardist-Red Federation-Social Democratic Party. The Social Democratic Party which must dominate such an alliance, stands for abolition of tho_ country quota; to be followed by increased land taxation. v These arc included in'its platform. Do the electors of Otaki want these things? Do they. want unsettled conditions of trade and industry due to reckless Socialistic cxocriinfifttu and the possibilities of

financial depression 1 Naturally, they do not want to run the risk of such unpleasant possibilities, and for the same reason throughout other country constituencies electors who never before have supported the Reform Party are on this occasion announcing their intention to vote for it. The country settler and the dwellers in the towns in country districts realise that their interests arc safer at the present time in. the hands of the Reform Government, which has carried the country through a period of crises with conspicuous success, than they would be if entrusted to a weak Government at the mercy of tho Social Democratic-Red Federation combination. The positioa is far too serious to permit of any reckless experimenting with the administration of the country's affairs, and .no one' knows .this hatter than the residents. la tho country electorates.