Evening Post. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1929. PROMISING OPENINGS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 131, 29 November 1929, Page 10

Evening Post. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1929. PROMISING OPENINGS

All three candidates for the Hutt seat have now opened their public campaigns, and all can he congratulated on the favourable receptions given to them. The public may be congratulated also upon their interest. It would appear that voters are anxious to make the acquaintance of the candidates, and hear what they have to say. If the listening is followed by thinking, we may hope for an intelligent verdict. But there must be thoughtful and discerning analysis of the policies submitted by the candidates. This by-election |is one of much importance to all three parties, and they are showing their appreciation .of that fact by promising to the electors the utmost that they can afford—and more in some cases. If electors are not hereafter to be disappointed, they must examine these promises for themselves, and judge how far they can be fulfilled, and whether fulfilment is even wholly desirable. There will be high bidding for votes. Of that there is no doubt. : The onus is on the electors to assess the bedrock values of these bids and,to remember that they themselves must sign the cheque with which their votes are bought.

The Labour candidate, Mr. Nash, gave particular point to what we are saying in his opening address.

The anti-Labour forces (ho said) when in office did nothing to raise the living standard, but when out of office 'would promise anything to get control once more over the finances and laws of the* Dominion.

We have not space here to examine in detail the argument which Mr. Nash advanced in support of this statement. Electors, however, must beware of accepting such charges as proven. Increased interest rates on State Advances, for example, were essential if that Department were not to' make heavy losses which would be chargeable on the taxpayers. The reduction of the interest-bearing deposit limit in the Post Office Savings Bank was imperative also to safeguard that institution and end a state of affairs which the Savings Bank officials described as a "nightmare." But when it comes to promising anything, where does the Labour Party stand? Mr. Nash did not get fully into his stride in his first address, but in the time left to him after destructive criticism of the other parties he was able to make a, good beginning with promises. Increased family allowances, Government provision of work for all who are willing to work, and unemployment insurance were some of the promises made. The Labour platform, for which Mr. Nash stands, offers much more, but where are the means to come from?

The United Party candidate has not the same freedom as Mr. Nash. His party is in office, and may be called upon to redeem its promises. He found it desirable, therefore, to be less liberal, and to devote more attention to the work of the past than to the prospects of the future. In a general way he made out a good case—a better case than the full facts warrant. He stressed the courage of Sir Joseph Ward in stopping the Palmerston deviation and the Taupo railway, but he passed lightly over the inconsistency shown in proceeding with other railway construction without full expert investigation of prospects. , It is not sufficient to say that "long lines are going to pay." If the Government is satisfied of this, let it produce the evidence upon which it bases its conclusion, remembering that the e&chairman of the Railways Board has already submitted evidence to the contrary which demands an answer. It is such questions as these which should be submitted to thorough investigation in this by-election. Hutt electors have an opportunity to demand facts. If they allow themselves to be side-tracked either by unsupported assertions or by a mass of promises, without an account of the cost, they will contribute nothing to the good government of the Dominion.