Helensville, Thursday, June 10, 1915 POLITICS AND THE NORTH

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 June 1915, Page 2

Helensville, Thursday, June 10, 1915 POLITICS AND THE NORTH

The effects of Party Government ha v Te been running fast and furious in the Bay of Islands during the past fortnight, and all 3 went on as merry as could be expected until the election on Tuesday, which terminated in a big van for Mr Massey and the Reform Party, who all along had the best of the game, as the party in power can always claim, especially at a by-election. x ;

In the choice of Member the Bay of Islands has secured an entirely '' green ' ' hand as their representative, but there is no doubt that in "time Mr W. Stewart will be able to do credit to his position and serve the Far North as it deserves.

Amongst the numerous members of Parliament on both sides of the house, who have been electioneering one <oid all declared their eyes have been opened to the potentialities of the North and its wonderful climate and superior lands neglected and undeveloped. In fact, the amount' of soft-soap and lather doled out to the North of late, is enough to make one feel with pride that his fortune is not far off and he need to work but a few more years and retire. Some of the speakers even went to the length of stating that it did not matter which side won the contest on Tuesday, " hk would see thai in future the Bay of Islands had its rights, while others said they would promote visits from Southern Parliamentarians, in order that their eyes may be opened to look upon the land of milk and honey Of course, this was all in the game of electioneering. But we have been caught with chaff before. Every Minister for Lands during the past forty years visited the North (when in office^ from Whangarei to nearly the* North Cape—including the Counties of Marsden, Bay of Islands, Whangaroa, Mangonui, and Hokiauga—and knew of therequirements of the Far North and its continuous neglect. And Premiers Bailance, Seddon Sir Joseph Ward and Massey saw and knew much, bat have never moved a hand's turn to either advertise or do a stroke for the North !

But about fifteen or sixteen years ago things did look rosy for the future well-being of the North, when Messrs G. Fowlds, Buddo, and other Members of Parliament went round, accompanied by tlie Auckland Railways League, and were banquetted everywhere—that was the last we heard of their laudations and what they would do. *