The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorported the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, MAY 1st, 1923. OAMARU.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorported the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, MAY Ist, 1923. OAMARU.

The Oamaru bye-election is taking place to-day. The Prime Minister has invested the event with an outstanding interest. He lias fought a strenuous fight in the effort to reverse the verdict of the December poll, when the Liberals won the sent from the sitting Reform member. Since then the poll was upset for causes for which the Liberal was not responsible, and so Mr Macpherson finds himself the victim of circumstances over which he had no control. Mr Massey’s active presence in the electorate for the past fortnight has indicated that once again the Premier is putting party before country—as he did at Tauranga. The country’s business is largely at a stand-still because Mr Massey is too much engrossed in Oamaru. On Anzac Day. Mr Massey was so much occupied with the progress of events at Oamaru that he failed to keep his appointment at Christchurch at the laying of the foundation stone of the Bridge of Remembrance. All this may bo polities, but it is not very decorous politics, nor is it creditable to Mr Massey. No doubt he feels ho remains Prime Minisier by the votes of two Liberals, and if lie can secure the return of another Reformer, a follower in t-he hand will t>e worth two doubtful liberal votes in the bush. So Mr Massey is trying to make every post a winning one. He is using his position in every way possible, apparently. Mr Lee is evidently quite a cypher in the contest. Mr Massey’s presence and voice extinguishes Mr Lee’s on every occasion. Considering Mr Lee is a Cabinet Minister this extraneous help is not very complimentary to tlio ability of Mr Lee. In sharp contrast to the bolstering up which Mr Lee requires to make his candidaturo acceptable, we have Mr MacPherson fighting his fight alone—single-handed; and doing himself considerable justice. If there is any spirit of fair-play about Oamaru to-, dnv. there .should be po doubt e? to t-h?

result. Onmaru will be much observed, and tbo result to-rnorrow will be looked for with great interest. Not because the public are greatly concerned about Mr Massey’s effort, but to note just where Onmaru stands as a sporting community. Tn times past Mr Massey was wont to talk a good deal about ‘‘the square deal.” In the circumstances arising out of the Onmaru contest, Mr Massey has not shown much disposition to give Mr MnePlierson a square deal. The Premier is using his position most unfairly, and at the country’s expense ir. the effort to reverse the verdict of the electorate at December last. Mr Massey is calling to his aid all the resources of the Dominion, and not to put the matter too fine, the lavish promises being made by Mr Massey savour very much of gifts for which a quid pro quo in votes for the Deform candidate are expected. As a correspondent on the spot at Oamaru writes:—“The electioneering methods of the Reformers are not of the cleanest variety, and Mr Massey is using his position as Prime Minister in a most unfair manner. He has been making full use of the schools for propaganda- purposes on behalf of his weak candidate” and so on. It appears to us that, win or lose the election, Mr Massey will lose the self-respect of the people as a whole. The public will begin to recognise that place and power are to come boh ire fair play a,nd the good of the coiinVy. 'I ho people will open their eyes !,o the fact that the ballot box is to be gilded with promises to seduce the i lectors, whose free will and judgment those in place mid power will seek to undermine by lavish gifts offered with one purpose— to win at any price. This is not politics, and it is a tremendous price to pay fur a political victory.