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Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1925, Page 2

Thu result of the Franklin election yesterday should suggest to the conference assembled in Wellington to-day the possible effect of fusion arrangements on a complete scale. The iibcrnls did not put forward a candidate, and the contest was a straight-out tight between lieform and Labor. The actual result is that the Government candidate has a majority of over a thousand votes more than Mr Massey had in 11)22. Mr Mnsesy pulled a little over live thousand votes in that elec-

tion. and Ids successor yesterday recorded nearly six thousand. The opposing candidate naturally dropped back. This result, it should be noted, was accomplished after Labor had been stumping the country for months, and the electorate for weeks. The Leader of the Labor Party was present in person for the campaign, assisted by leading members from Auckland where Labor has a foothold. Hopes and expectations ran high in advance of polling day. hut the figures settle all argument, and indicate to Labor that in that quarter of the Dominion its policy is not in hivoi'. Taking a line from franklin we should say that wherever straight out contests eventuate with Labor and a second candidate only. Labor will have difficulty ill retaining its present, strength in Parliament, apart fr«m any hope of material gain in strength. It seems to be a question therefore, whether Labor as at present organised as a. distinct party can hope to find favor in the eyes of the electors. The fact is that Labor is distrusted because of its anti-con-stitutional leanings, combined with the (•rudeness of much of its policy. There is no doubt that if given charge of the administration of the country, and entercing such a policy as the member tor Westland outlined here this week, the financial credit of New Zealand would scon he in danger, and a slate of alfaiis would prevail which would he a disaster all round, to no one more than the working man who depends lor his livelihood on the currency of tho

day. It money is restricted and conditions of employment stringent, it will In bad bn- the working man. and impossible fni Labor to attempt a scatter ea-h policy which is being talked about so lively were the party in power, the result of Franklin seems to remove rather definitely the possibility of Labor attaining power, and lor that relief in the meantime much thanks.

i in- ii' livities of the settlers in t!r Kokotahi-Koiterangi district in promoting another successful winter show is worthy again of (oinineiidal ion. It is good to have these annual eom| etitivc displays, lor they assist, lo filing out the latent possibilities of a district. Kokatahi-Koiteraiigi locality is now an old established district, and its pastoral resources are well known. Year by year it sends out excellent lines of stock. It has done exceedingly well in dairying. The district has Ih urish-

led lute years. !in<l the settlers tune enjoyed greatly improved conditions. In tie- shews there uro displayed pro-iliu-e ill' various kinds which .hops to show thill- there tire latent resources well Wurth extending to tttld to tin 1 annual returns of the farmer. It has to lie confessed that in matters of cultivation the district is on the haekward side. There is not. a great amount of ploughing done. Fodder growth depends largely on the recurring pasture with little artificial aid. Nature is ready to respond where assisted and seeing the value of feed in a pastoral district like that, referred to. it is surprising to find so little ploughing done. There is no doubt cultivation is necessary. if only to remove the no.xius weeds which are given too ready a habitat in many paddocks. A cleaning up of many of the fields would give a wider use of good pasture land, and that would ho of value to the owners depending on feed for the produce from herds. The district, too, litis a good range of swamp lands, lint no real elfort is made to bring the area into general profit. Were the hinds now going to waste by profitless overgrowth and allowed to remain swamp, cleaned up and drained, the wealth of the district would he added to enormously. The locality is so close to a market, or the means of reaching a market, that increased production would lie a direct benefit to the producer. It is impossible to pass through the district without realising the opportunity there is for expansion, and seeing what can he produced displayed at the winter show, suggests that the settlers are very short sighted in their own interests if they neglect to make the greatest, use of their holdings in the matter of mere production. Meiure another year goes round, it would he pleasing indeed to see the whole aspect of the valley greatly improved by cleaning and expansion.