The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2nd., 1922. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2nd., 1922. THE WEEK.

Politics me filling the air, and Hokitika lias been unduly stirred during the week by the advent of the Reform and Labor leaders, while the daily columns of the papers record candidates’ meetings all over the district. Yet, notwithstanding, there is not the usual amount of keen interest displayed in the contest, probably because heretofor there lias been but two sides involved, and there was a plain dividing ine for public opinion. In the present instance, with four candidates in the field there is a wider diffusion of public opinion, which not being so concentrated is not so vigorous. The aspect most discussed is that of possible vote-split-ting with the danger of letting in a lesser favoured candidate, so far as the hulk of general opinion may be concerned. The misgivings in regard to the possibilities of vote-splitting are Increasing rather than otherwise, and there is the promise of a veering of the expression of public opinion at polling day to avoid possible contingencies which would not ho acceptable to the public ns a whole. To tahp p line frojr^

the local meetings of the candidates the Liberal held pride of place, but ns against that noticeable advantage, there was the large meeting of the Reform leader. Although it wag largely attended, the Prime Minster was disappointing. His address lacked convincing power. As a defence of the Government it was weak indeed, and if Air Massey is not supplying better pabulum elsewhere, then it is not* surprising that Mr Wilford is feeling the Liberal party is making steady bead-way and that next Thursday holds possible surprises not less dislocating than those of three years ago, or at the more memorable time in 1905, when the Into Mr Seddon carried all before him. defeating the Conservative Opposition wholesale and reducing the then National Association to a negligible quantity.

Ir a Government debacle is coming next week, then Westland should l>e wise in time, and make no doubt about the return of Air Seddon who will occupy an important position in the next Government which lias to be formed. Air Massey made his appeal here and at Greymouth for the Reform candidate, and there was no outward response to that appeal to indicate that it would he responded to at all adequately. The negative attitude of the public meetings towards the official Reform candidate suggests that the Government has no hope at all of semiring the Westland seat. That conclusion reached, then Labor’s pretensions come up for consideration. The Labor candidate lias, had the assistance of Mr Holland, and flic address of the latter was more to the point than Afr Massey’s as a positive plea for favourable consideration. But Air Holland and the policy he espouses cannot he favourably viewed hereabouts at all events, whatever might be tile northern aspect. Still, it has to Ik? fairly conceded that from the point of view extreme Labor works, Air Holland handled the case well. But for the record of the party in regard to Its extreme proposals, instead of legitimate labor as such leaders as Air Holland do, a man of the energy and forcefuluess such as he, could go far in a democratic country such as New Zealand. But as lie sets the limitations to his own powers by the extreme views hold on vital principles to the national well-being, so does ho also curtail the scope of the support which would go to the candidate he favours. The Labour candidate cannot ho a persona gratia with the major strength of the voting power in Westland. Three years ago. the same gentleman was in a hopeless minority and it is common knowledge that but for Reform entering the lists and affording the possibility of vote-splitting, Labor would have saved its energies so far as Westland is concerned on this occasion. Reform voters have the onus thrown on them of studying nut the position. Clearly they have to chose between Liberal and Labor and in making up their minds no doubt the personality of the respective candidates will be carefully reviewed.

Ain Holland’s venture into Westland appears to have been his only excursion out of his electorate. To make even this modest sacrifice of his time indicates that the Labor designs on Westland are very definite, and it is for the electors to say how far they are prepared to respond to the doctrines of the Labor party for the cure of the political ills besetting the Dominion. Air Holland, by the way, is not taking the risk Air Massey and Air Wilford are taking in leaving their own electorates for an extended tour of New Zealand. With AT r Holland, party comes first—that is self- presetvation—

and the fate of his colleagues in the country is not disturbing him sufficiently to run any risks with his own election. Doubtless lie is wise, for he has toured enough of the Riillor electorate to know something of his probable fate. At the same time, some of his standard hearers in Canterbury—just across- the hills are in a serious plight, and if his help is of the value suggested by his incursion into Westland. he should ho rushing off to endeavour to save some of the stalwarts of Labor in and about Christchurch. From what can he gleaned the Labor party is not likely to make a great deal of headway at this election. Ninety per cent of the electors of New Zealand are not in sympathy with the aspirations of the Labor party .as led by Afr Holland, for their ideals are so often drawn from foreign doctrines, which arc alien to rational and loyal public opinion. Therefore, Mr Holland’s attempted support of the Labor candidate must have a very limited appeal, for we take it that neither Liberal nor Reform is honestly disposed to countenance tile Labor ambitions to rule on the lines laid down in the bailor policy. Such being the ease, for the good repute of the electorate, and the desire to see Westland kept effectively on the political map, the straight and narrow course for the electors to pursue on Thursday next is to vote l iberal steadily and consistently,-anil send hack to Parliament one capable of doing the constituency the fullest credit and j list i: e in Parliamentary representation along sane lines.

Tiik chances for Reform being evidently at such a discount in Westland electorate, it is not necessary to make very special reference now to Mr Massy’s Hokitika speech except to refer to the Prime Minister’s references to the alleged “no-confidence” motion. Mr Massey made a slip at the outset in saying that he read something about the matter in a newspper when motoring. throughout that day, forgetting that at least a week earlier he had sent, a telegram to his candidate already reviewing the matter! So much for political camouflage. Lot us now turn up Hansard and refer- in particular to the 1022 motion. This was moved by Mr Holland as an amendment to the Imprest Supply bill before the House, and was to the following effect: “That the Government, is not warranted in reducing salaries of public servants, and restitution should I>e made at least to the lower paid officials; and further that no reductions be made in public servants salaries in .Tub' (second cut).” That does not appear to be a rote of. no-oonfideneo on the lace of it, nor did Mr Massey accept it in the House as such, When be'spoke on the matter, he referrfc} to It ns mi bfimepdinept”,

nml so did Mr Veitcli, also, distinguish it as «n amendment. Mr Wilford, speaking for the Liberal Party, discussed tlie matter in two phases. First, in regard to the terms in which it was originally given to the House, whereby Mr Holland sought to approve the Post and Telegraph Department joining the Alliance of Labor. This, Mr AVili'ord definitely stated, he and his party were absolutely opposed to, but since that portion had been eliminated, lie felt justified in voting for the amendment in its altered form liecause he did not agree with the basis on which the proposed second out was made, affecting the lower grade salaries more than the highly paid officials. Mr Veitcli stigmatised the cut as a special form of taxation on the public service which no other body of the community suffered from. Mr Seddon voted for the amendment no doubt on the same principles as his leader, arrd so did Mr Wright pair in favour of it. Mr Wright is a prominent Reformer, and for Mr Massey to expect us to believe tliat Mr Wright would vote against the Government on a no-confid-ence motion is too great a test for our credulity.

Hut Mr Massey protested too lnucli here, and ho also said too much to convince us that he was sincere in the view that what lie in the House called an “an amendment” should here in Hokitika after the lapse of months be styled “a motion of want of confidence.” Speaking here the other night he said he did not' accept the matter in the House as one of no-confidence, because he knew it would not lie carried! Then why in the name of all that is fair and equitable, man to man and in the interests of a clean political fight, should Mr Massey send a message endeavouring to mislead public opinion on a simple matter wherein, in reason, his personal view would carry a good deal of weight with the unthinking who have not the means of looking into the details! The Reform party hang to this allegation that Mr Seddon voted with the extreme Labor party, as the sole offence they are able to charge the Member for Westland with. If those ready to pass judgment on the matter will review the case as it is here described, and study tile effect of the amendment, which Mr Seddon felt .impelled t« support in the interests of a large body of the public servants, the hulk of the people will we feel satisfied, give Mr Seddon credit for his action, and appreciate the Liberal policy enunciated by Mr Wilford that where retrenchment was concerned the reductions in salaries should not apply to the low-salaried officials, hut begin at a grade where a decent living wage only would lie affected, l’erliaps those best able to judge the matter aright would be those directly affected by the cut which was in view, and we arc quite satisfied again, that among the public service, in all the ramnifications of the branches, credit will be given to Mr Seddon and the Libera! party for exercising a wise discretionary vote, in which consideration for the cadet and the beginner with the small salary in the service had humane consideration. After all, that principle is the guiding motif of the Liberal line of policy and thanks are due to Mr Massey for this opportunity of bringing the view point so prominently to the front.

Tiik message of the Loader of the Lib-eral-Labor party which appears in this issue, is a bright, cheery document which carries a note of conviction which will appeal directly to all unbiassed readers. Mr Wilford is the sort of man who could take a grip of Dominion affairs at this juncture, and by his experience and understanding of human nature bring about a transformation which is so very desirable. The glimpse be gives of Liberalism in bis incisive sentences, impresses on the mind the conclusion that the political panacea for New Zealand just now oan be best prescribed for by the Liberal advisers. Mr Wilford in liis flying trip around the country has a well founded feeling about what is going to happen next Thursday. In a personal note he says: “The fight is going well and there is no doubt we will spring surprises on our opponents.” This is quoted for the pifrpose of again reminding the public that the Liberals are far from being “down and out” as is so often stated by opponents in the press and from the platform. The Party although it lacks concerted organisation and a strong press backing, tlie* platform work of the leader and others, as in the days of the late Mr Seddon, is working wonders, and public opinion is veering round generally. It is little wonder that it is so. The plight of the country, and the prospects ahead, without .a. settled policy to meet a situation which has arisen largely by the maladministration of the Governnielit, accounts for the change in the public viewpoint. 'Again, the Liberals have a record which has never been excelled. Mr AVilford mentions how the late Mr Seddon and Sir Joseph AVard laid the structural foundations and implanted a vital policy from which the people ns a whole have continued to benefit. Greater benefits still are to he derived if that policy he carried on to its legitimate goal, and it can best be accomplished as Mr AA'ilford aptly says by the real parents and not by the foster-fathers, who in the making of the legislation, blocked and hampered it to the fullest extent parliamentary procedure would allow. Mr AVilford closes as we may close today with an appeal for the re-election of ATr Seddon. who has like all the family, been a close and genuine friend to Westland and AA'ost Coasters, and it would be base ingratitude indeed if those g-eat services should l>o forgotten by tbe bulk of the voters on Thursday- next.