The Dominion SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1918. THE ISSUE IN WELLINGTON NORTH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 134, 23 February 1918, Page 6

The Dominion SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1918. THE ISSUE IN WELLINGTON NORTH

An attempt is being made to belittle the issues at stake in the Wellington North by-election, and it would seem that some electors are liable to fall into the snare that is being set for them. The enemies of the National Government arc very free with suggestions that it would be a good thing to'give the Govern-, ment a set-back; that the defeat of the National candidate, Mr. Luke, would after all mean nothing, as the t Government has a big enough majority without him; that Mr. Brandon, if elected, will support the National Government, -and therefore ; a vote for him is as.good as'a. vote for'Mn.' Luke; and so on. In ordinary times theso . .tactics would be legitimate enough. . They are a part of the game of party politics, and are recognised as being amongst the methods commonly used for the purpose of swaying the votes of the ill-informed, the. indifferent, and the wavorers. But the times are not ordinary, and electors should bo on their guard against being led astray from what after all should bo a very plain and simple issue. So much confusion of .thought has' been created to servo the ends of the warring factions in the contest that it is perhaps desirable that the real issue at stake should be once more dearly stated. That issue is whether or not the electors of Wellington North by their votes next Thursday will continue to lend their encouragement and support to the National Government formed under an honourable and patriotic compact to protect and further _ the interests of New Zealand during the war. Electors who have the interests of their country at heart should not allow their votes to be influenced by personal prejudices and partisan appeals of a petty nature, such, for instance, as that put forward yesterday by the Sports Protection League in an endeavour to further tie pjLndidafcure of MR. RIUNDON.

The Sports Protection League apparently is ono' of those organisations which is prepared to placc the little interests it exists to servo in the forefront even in war time. Sport is an admirable thing in its place, but the idea that any' man ■or any body of men would place his or their sport before the serious matters which concern the wholo community to-day suggests an ignorance and disregard.of the realities the times that must, shock 1 ' and alienate the sympathies of every patriotic citizen. Neither the is ports Protection League nor Mr. Brandon, we imagine, will profit by the attempt so blatantly made to drag in '-sport" as an issue m this wartime election contest. The have "played the gamo" tai'oughout this war with the best m fcho Dominion, and it is regrettable that the Sports Protection League has .failed to live ;:p to their splendid example.

The danger to be feared in this election is that through Mr. Brandon permitting himself to be thrust tonvard as a candidate supporting the Aational Government, the votes of the supporters of the Government will be split, and Mr. Holland win the seat. The attempt has been made to belittle Mr. Holland's chanccs in this election. We' have not the least doubt that in a straight-out contest with the National Government's candidate the result would bo 'that Mr. Luke would poll two or three votes to every vote polled'by Mr. Holland. •A ls tluitc a different matter with four candidates in the field, two of whom are competing for the votes of the supporters of the' National Government, and a third seeking the votes of those of the Liberal' Party who may place their .•party prejudices before their' obli- | gatira. to observe'thp compact entered into by their party leader \\ hat ever excuses Mr. Brandon may put forward, whatever pretence his friends may make regarding hia claims to consideration, he, and he alone, is now responsible for the votesplitting which is threatened, and the unpleasant possibility under. • How un Pleasant that possibility as can best be realised by keeping in mind what Mr. Holland stands for. Those who attend this candidate s . meetings see tha best side; of Mr. ' Holland—politically speaking, of course. He is a lluont. speaker with evory trick of the experienced' platform advocate, and he is astute enough to serve up the extreme and often, extravagant doctrines of the Socialist fraternity in thejorm least, likely to shock the susceptibilities of the electors whose support ho is seeking. Mr. Holwnd addressing the. electors of Kelf p U j' n ' ,2 1 ' inst^ n J e > is a much modified edition of Mr. Holland addressing the "Red Feds." He preaches anti-conscription and seeks to further his cause by appeals to selfishness and class passion. He cah speak with eloquence and force but not one appeal have we heard iron* him m this election to encourage his countrymen in this great war thrust. upon ,them .by Germany; not ono cheering word tospur his. country on to victory not one single hint that he believes m the justice of the cause Britain and her Allies are fighting for: not 011 j tho "Kht to hearten and fortifv his fellow-citizens in he prosecution of the great task the succcsslui accomplishment of which alone can preserve for us the liberty and privileges' and .even J tne raatena/i. welfare wc now enjoy D,o electors of Wellington North \yish to have as their member one who, instead of assisting by every means in his power tp strengthen' the hands of .the National Government. in the performance of the tremendous task entrusted to it, prefers to sow dissension and promote discord by appeals to prejudice and class passion? W« are confident they do not. The women electors, the wives and mothers and sisters' of our soldiers cannot forget Mr. Holland s action in connection with tho conscription referendum in Australia. By every means within his power, by voluminous writings in the Australian Press, by distprted descriptions of the effect of compulsory service in New Zealand, ho strove to persuade the people of the Commonwealth to vote "No" oirthe issue submitted. Whatever influence he could exercise against adopting this, the only possible means of guaranteeing an adequate supply of .reinforcements to the Australian forces, he exercised, and in so doing ho not only assisted, to:'cripple Australia's efforts in the war so far as the sending of reinforcements was concerned, but he placed a heavier burden than ever on New Zealand and the rest' of the Empire. It must not be forgotten that the failure to introduce compulsory service in Australia, and' the consequent inability to maintain reinforcements at the required, standard, has weakened Australia's fQrces in the field, and thus added correspondingly to the risks and dangers of our own forces and those of .our Allies.

The point wo would wish to inii press on the electors- of Wellington 'itforfcli is this. Owing' to Mb. Brandon's unexpected appearance' as a candidate, and his insistence ou going to the poll in opposition to . the National Government's selected candidate, the votes may bo so split as to enable Mit. Holland to win thft seat. 'This is recognised by all—it is a source of great satisfaction to Mr. Holland's friends. Mb. Brandon, in spite of tho unfortunate position his candidature has created, refuses to stand down. Even at a timo like tho present ho evidently regards his candidaturo as importance than a certain a,nd clear-cut victory for .the National Government he supports. In the circumstances there is only one .safe course open to those electors 1 whn support the National Government. Mr. Luke is the selected Government candidate; he has behind him the support of both poli r tical leaders and the great bulk of the Roform Party, which, under the compact between the party leaders, lias the right to nominate the Reform candidate for the seat. All who believe that the National Government is deserving of encouragement and support; all who believe that it is only by sinking party and personal differences and by unity of effort that the welfare of the country can be best served in these days of unprecedented trials, .should vote for Mn. Luke.