THE TARANAKI ELECTION
The result of the Taranaki byelection shows that the political truce does not exist so far as the Taranaki electorate is concerned. This fact became evident as the campaign proceeded, and it is placed beyond the possibility of reasonable, doubt. Taranaki was a Reform scat, and the choice of a candidate to fill tho vacancy caused by the death of Mn. H. J. H. Okey rested with Sir James Allen, who nominated Mr. J. S._ Connett, and he became the National .Government's candidate. There was no official Liberal candidate, but Mr. S, G. Smith, an Independent Liber-al-Labour candidate, came into the field, and has been returned with a majority of 160. The defeat of tho National Government's candidate in such a constituency as Taranaki should cause Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to do some serious thinking on their return from Britain. Both of the candidates camo out as supporters of a win-thc-war policy. Mr. Smith proved to be a much better platform man than his and the full strength of the combined' Liberal and Labour vote appears to have been cast for him. His campaign was conducted with great vigour, and tho fullest use was made of every argument likely to tell against the Government, whereas Ministers did not think it worth while to make sure that their case was adequately and effectively placed before the electors. Mr. Connett has done good_ work in connection with the Agricultural Society, tho Harbour Board, and the County Council, but it was hardly fair to expect him to maketho best reply to all attacks on the Administration or to set out convincingly the Government's undoubtedly strong claims to the support of the country. It is true that one Minister took the trouble to nay a visit to New Plymouth and make a speech, but that was at the end of the campaign, and after most people had made up their, minds as to tho casting of their votes. The apathy of Ministers as regards recent byelections is astonishing. They tak'o far too much for granted, and their indifference, is resented by the electors; Their friends are discouraged and' their opponents naturally put the worst possible construction upon their unwillingness to give an account of their stewardship. Many competent judges are quite convinced that the Grey_ seat might have been won if Ministers had thrown themselves as wholeheartedly into the struggle as they did in the Wellington North by-election. Wei-' lington Central was thrown away_ by disunion and lack of organised effort, and it is reasonable to believe that if the members of the Cabinet (Reform and Liberal) had made a combined and determined effort the Taranaki seat need not have been lost. The poll was not a heavy one, and if more, enthusiasm and energy had been put into the campaign _ Mr. Smith's narrow majority might have been wiped out. The political truce tends to blunt the edge of politics. The open strife of parties kept up the interest; but it seems to be nobody's business to defend a National Government, simply because everybody is supposed to support it, and any Government which'does its duty fearlessly in war time is bound to make enemies. It is therefore all the more necessary that Ministers should take advantage of every proper opportunity of keeping in touch with public opinion, so that no intelligent man or woman can have any legitimate exouse for misunderstanding or misrepresenting their policy or administrative acts.
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 4
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579THE TARANAKI ELECTION Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 4
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