"NO REAL CALL"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2325, 5 December 1914, Page 6

"NO REAL CALL"

A' very shrewd political observer discussing election prospects expressed the opinion a day or two ago that there was no real .call from the people for Sir Joseph Ward. A great deal of artificial, machinemade enthusiasm has been worked up, largely by the noisy people associated with' the Federation of Labour; but there is nothing deep or convincing behind it all. In other words, the whole of the support for Sir Joseph Ward may bo seen at his meetings, the great bulk of the people who do not attend these gatherings' being quite indifferent to his aspirations, and well-content to. leave things as they ' are. This possibly is_ an extreme view of tho political situation but in the main it is sound. Sir Joseph Ward, for instance, had a very good meeting at the Town Hall last evening* and 1 will probably deceive himself that it represents Wellington feeling. Nothing could be further from the truth, as most Wellington people know quite well. Sir Joseph Ward, indeed, cannot even get candidates for some of the _ Wellington seats. In only .two instances, Wellington North and Wellington Central, has he ventured to nominate his own candidates, and it has been abundantly clear for icme time past that the candidature of Mr. Turnbull cannot be seriously taken, while it has Been equally plain that Mr. Fletcher, the Ward candidate for Wellington Central, has_ lost tho confidence of a large section of his old supporters, and will poll very much fewer votes than he did last time. -■■ Nowhere else in the is there a Wardist candidate in tho field, and everything points to a complete rout of Sir Joseph Ward's nominees in both the L Oity and the surrounding districts._ The truth of the matter probably is that there is nothing in the policy of the Leader of the Opposition which offers any sound reason for throwing over the Reform Government, ■ and the past administrative record of Sir Joseph Ward can hardly be expected to | arouse enthusiasm. Content, or, if you like, indifference is the attitude of the average elector. He is satisfied that if the Ward Party got back they certainly would not be any better than tho Reform Party, and with tho Federation of Labour behind them they would bo a risky experiment. That is. the view a very large number of people are taking of the situation to-day. Existing conditions at least give an assurance of safety; a change would be a risky oxperiment not worth trying. So it is that, as our political friend remarked, there is no real call for Sir Joseph Ward. Politicians are constantly mistaking the enthusiasm of tho circle they move _in as being representative of public sentiment. They pay for their lack of perspective in many disappointments. Election day next week will bo another disappointment to tho> Leader of tile Opposition. The electors aro not looking for change at.all—they certainly do not want a change which will take them back to Wardisra and Jibp Jfedqjfttipn gf. Labour,