The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28, 1927. THE RAGLAN ELECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28, 1927. THE RAGLAN ELECTION.

Tiik by-election contest for the Raglau seat has had the effect of shaking up the dry bones of the political skeleton. There has been much hurrying to and fro, and the unfortunate electors have been wooed as never before. Four parties are in the field—Reform, Labour, .Liberal and Country. There is a wide choice for the people and the story of Reform, Labour and Liberal has been told and retold from many a platform during the last few days Much of the persuasive talent from Parliament House has invaded the electorate, while supporters from Auckland City have been on the scene adding their quota to the appeal for votes. The fight has been keen for more than one reason. Of first importance is the desire of Reform to retain the seat, not merely for the strength of the particular vote in the present Parliament, but to maintain its prestige in the House and the conn- ! try There are claims that the Coates Government has lost or is losing its matin, and the contest is some test of that, seeing that the fight is for a late Minister’s seat, and is a region also where the Coates Ministry polled heavily at the time of the general election. In the second place Labour owing to the plethora of candidates lias a fair chance of winning the seat, due to the splitting of the antl-Labor rotes among four candidates. In the third place the Liberals are anxious to reassert themselves and show the possibilities of retraining their former political hold. Finally, there is the essay of the Country party to be considered a live factor in the political arena. Accession of strength to either Lalxtr or Liberal at this juncture has its importance in Parliament, but the better chance is with the former on this occasion. The Ministers are making strenuous efforts on behalf of the Party candidate, evidence of their desire to secure victory. Quite t '■ most interesting feature of the contest is the appearance of Sir Joseph Ward on the platform. He was very" happy in his address, and the mistake the Reformers made in not entering into an alliance with the Liberals when such was possible is now very apparent. Reform was carried away by its sweeping victory at the time of 1' general election and with its numerical majority thought for the time Tteing the Liberals could be ignored. Even though the Literals arc few in number there was that degree of quality which was and is essential to level up the ranks of the Reformers. W - -

coud be more heartening than Sir Joseph Ward’s remarks about the p'*-

for a land policy. He showed b w dangerous was the pessimism of Mr 1 ' Lend. And how helpful it would be now to surmount the financial difficulties of the country and the jteople. to find a progressive land policy established. The surest way of over-coming unemployment is to secure more openings for the people. Enormous s’ - ms are being frittered away in relief works which are not of lasting value. Were the money utilised as interest for a- land for settlement scheme on practical lines, the material benefit of such a step to the country at this time would lie apnarent quickly. One thine the by-election shows up is the "ent.ness of the Government with regard to its land poliev. The seat will be won most probably by the member of a party which has an extravagant land

policy. There we see the two extremes. Between the two is the happy medium, which the Liberals have the ability and initiative to strike. Though it will not he possible to achieve it, the Liberals at least offer the remedy and for that reason the by-election, however, it may go, is not without its value to the country. It will give cause and pause for the people up and down the Dominion to study the political issues of the day in the light of what could be achieved by a forward Liberal policy The experience of Raglan in particular will give the Government cause for real heart searching if it is to stem the rising tide of opposition unless it begins to reform its own policy lo the needs of New Zealand.