An Election Near.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1922, Page 4

An Election Near.

(Lyttelton Times)

Ooilicidently with the announcement by the Prime Minister that the general election will probably be held this year ‘‘much earlier than previously” members of the Cabinet seem to have had a sudden inspiration that something ought to be done about it. On the same evening Mr Massey himself declared his intention of finding £2,000,090 for advances to settlers, adding unctuously: “It is intended for the small man, and he will come first. ’ This solicitude for the “small man” is very touching, and the pity ot it is that this zeal for his interests and this enthusiasm for cheapening the price of the money he lias to borrow is so infrequently exhibited by the present Administration and still less frequently translated into action. It is some months since Mr Massey gave it as his opinion that a lower overdraft rate would be of inestimable benefit to tins country, but the Government, winch has a controlling influence on the Hank of New Zealand directorate, has so far neglected its opportunity <• I translating precept into practice. Pcrlinps this is another of those matters that will receive attention now the election is looming so near.

The Prime Minister, of course, was not the only Minister who made a hid for votes on Tuesday evening. Discussing the matter of flour combines the .Minister of Agriculture spoke ot his duty towards the wheat-growers, and announced that, “above all, the interests of the consumers must receive attention. We have not heard a great deal about the interests of the consumers in the last thirty-two months, hut they constitute the mass cif the electorate, and they arc now due tor some honeyed words, it not for ‘‘attention” of the kind that they will appreciate. Then there was the Hon J. G. Coates, who seized the opportunity given him in a question to announce that provision will lie made for allowance of a bonus to policy holders in the State Fire Insurance Office. This is a matter which has been hanging fire so long that the promise is an additional reminder that the Government lias to go to the electors in the very near future. In the old days we used to he assured by every Itetoi m member and Reform newspaper that it was morally and politically wicked and wrong to make pre-election promises. Koi our part we think it perfectly natural and" not at all improper, so long as there is a sincere intention of keeping the pledges thus made. \\ c are not inclined to be hypercritical of either the morals or the tactics of our political opponents, hut we do trust, for the sake of the great majority of electors who are not represented in the Government of the day, that the Reformers intend to take their promises seriously on this occasion, and that they will fulfil them before the clcelioii.