SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1924. The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9851, 1 November 1924, Page 4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1924. The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY.

IS A GENERAL ELECTION NEAR ? J.'t remains to he seen whether Mr Lysnar intends to persevere with his idea that tlie time has arrived when there should be a change of Government. As far as the Government is concerned, it is very evident that it has not, for some time past, liked its chances of being able to continue in office until December, 1920. Such being the case, it has lately been organising throughout tlio electorates i nil very thorough manner. And, as a result, the Reform party is better prepared to face an election than either of the other two parties. Wo do not say that it lias been altogether the Government's uncertainty as to the political loyalty of Mr Lysnar and of Colonel 801 l that has led it to make such a general call to its colours at the present junctuie. From what can be gathered, a section of the Reform members has proved v e ry restless over the fact that tlio Government lias not done as much as it. had expected in the way ol assisting -the farming community. What in particular it lias been hammering at is further financial help .for the farmers. .It

dow remains to be seen to what extent it will bo satisfied with the new Land Mortgage Associations Bill. Seemingly, there will still be dissatisfaction. But to return to j Mr Lysnar and his recent attack on the Government. The question has since been well canvassed as to what exactly was-, his former attitude towards Mr Massey and his party. Mr 'Lysnar, it will not have been forgotten, took particular care to stress, during the wild discussion to which we are referring, that, since ho entered Parliament, ho has always been, first and foremost-, an independent. In other words, we should say that hu meant it to be conveyed that-his policy all along has simply been to support tho Government as long as it suited his own political purposes. We are afraid, however, that the electors who secured his return will find it impossible to agree with him that he led them gso that his support of the mt might only prove of a y character. Let us take ers back to the somewhat time Mr Lysnar had, prior latest General Election, on >f the threat that Mr George tended to take the field as a i straight-out supporter of the Reform party. When that trouble was at its height, Mr Lysnar, it requires now to lie recalled, interviewed Mr Massey —and successfully, too—with the object of securing tho Government “label.” In his manifesto to the electors of this district, Mr Massey pointed out that, although Mr Lysnar reserved to himself the right of independent criticism, he had at all times afforded the Government loyal support in all policy measures. , Unquestionably, too, Mr Lysnar was very grateful to the Prime Minister for his intervention on his behalf, for, without the aid of Reform ..electors, ho had not a ghost of a chance of being re-elected.. And he must have known it. In his pre-election addresses', it will be remembered, Mi Lysnar could hardly find words adequate to express his high opinion of Mr Massey and his Government. 'At Muriwai, for instance, lie described Mr Massey as “the only safe pilot” ; at Te Hapara, lie praised the Prime Minister’s work as being “masterly” • and so on. Throughout his addressc', lie kept on repeating that, if returned, lie would continue to support the Government. Xor can it be overlooked that Mr Lysnar lias consistently attended caucuses of the Reform party! And now where does one find Mr Lysnar? It js true that lie does not, personally, desire to face an election. But, he says, in effect, that he won’t now he content until the Reform Government gives way to another Government to h 6 composed of members of the present House. Mr Massey, under Mr Lysnar’s proposals, must stand aside and, oi course, Mr Xosworthy and, perhaps, some ot tho other Ministers must efface themselves. In the circumstances, Mr Lysnar, however, conveniently forgets that lie owes a duty to those who assisted to secure his return to Parliament. They have never been consulted in regard to his new political attitude. That fact w.as stressed by the Hon. A. D. McLeod when lie reminded him that the best method by which be might ascertain how lie stood would bo to resign bis seat and present himself for reelection. It may now be the case that Mr Lysnar will pause before lie assists in any step which will amount, incidentally, to political suicide on his own part. When all is said and done, it still remains very plain that the Government is ready and willing that a fresh appeal should be made to the country at anv time.