The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. TUESDAY, MARCH 27th, 1923 TO-MORROW’S POLL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1923, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. TUESDAY, MARCH 27th, 1923 TO-MORROW’S POLL.

The Tauranga election fixed for tomorrow, is attracting unusual attention for a hyo-elcvtion. Tito neat, hitherto prc-Heform, is being contested vigorously by Sir Joseph Ward, an avowed Liberal. The leader of the Reform party has rushed to the support of his candidate, and Mr Massey is making a persona! appeal for the Government nominee. The Prime Minister is supported, also, by Mr Coates, Hon. Minister for Public Works. We rend in one newspaper an article with the caption, “A Railway for n Seat,” This seems rather to suggest- someone is out to win almost at all costs. The Ministers are spending the whole of their time in the electorate, and after to-morrow Tauranga's wants which have not been ventilated should be few in number. The occasion for the Ministerial anxiety is the slender nature of the Ministerial majority in Parliament. With every member accounted for at the recent session, the Government had a majority of three, but deducting one avowed Liberal and two independent I.’beralx who voted with the Government under special conditions, Mr M:.f sey's hold on the Treasury benches was naturally inseccie. If the Tauranga seat should he lost the result will mean one vote off the Government and one on to the Opposition. The Government majority tinder the most favourable circumstances would then be one only. But the Govern-

meat insecurity to our mind seems as "'oak with three its with one. Mr Massey can only hope for the slender t majority when the fate of the Governr incut is at stake. Surely he is not i going to make every question raised in 1 the House a policy matter, hut unless ho does there are many matters on which his majority will disappear. Re- | form can remain in office only by the \ grace of the Liberals—which shows how close we are to a change in' Go- , vel'iitnent. The defeat of Reform in • the House does not mean, necessarily, a dissolution, though probably that might come. Hut for the pro-eut the contingencies arising from the situation need not be too closely investigated. For the present. Tauranga has something more titan its own fate to determine. To our view it has the oj p >rtiinity of sending to Parliament the one man in New Zealand who can contribute the most constructive criticism to the policy of any Government likely to he in power. In Sir Joseph Wir'd there is a statesman with an Imperial record, who for over forty years rendered great service to Nc-w Zealand. He is a man with wide experience in local as well as general politics. His linancial achievements while in charge of the Treasury are entirely to the advantage of the Dominion. He was largely responsible personally for the great Slate departments dealing with the finance of the country. lie ini reduced measures ’ liicli were altogether 9-r the public weal, am! which in operation tended to ini New Zealand ahead h.v leaps and hounds. Ilis postal administration put this country in the 'cry forefront, of world postal joforin. His realisation -if the value of tourist trafhe caused a policy to be enunciated which achieved g,n-.it tilings for New Zealand. From every point of view his work and hi., wonh entitle him to generous, recognition at- the hands of the Taui'augu electors to-morrow. His opponent is the nominee of the Government, and is hut a pawn in the g'me. Nlr Ma-s.-y will have the member in his keeping always. 7n sm li circumstances it should not lie difiieidt tor the electors to settle their own late to-morrow. If they wish to send to Parliament a member of ability, callable ol serving not only the electorate but also tlie country as a whole, Sir Joseph Ward will he their rradv choice. The contest has brought out the weaknesses of the Government- more than ever -and in particular the desire to hold office at any pi ice. The Ministers aic bidding high. We hope Taurnnga is not for sale in the highest bidder, but that something Holder will actuate the voters when they non-U their ballot paters in the secret recesses to-mnrrow.