POLITICAL NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1332, 3 December 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

The general elections are close at hand. This day week (next Thursday) the voice of Demos will settle which Party will steer the ship of State for another term.

Party organisations have been busy looking up supporters, and candidates for Parliamentary honours have given utterance to their views and the faith that is in them.

Many people are quite bewildered by the conflicting party criticisms. Such people will continue to be muddled until they think for themselves.

Interruptions by small organised bands at political meetings are common and have a very cowvering effect upon certain nervous individuals who associate success with much noise. The Germans resorted to noise tactics to demoralise the allies and while loud explosions and pyrotechnics had a nerve-shattering effect for the time being, it ultimately tailed iu the desired object. Organised noise and interruptions dont’twin battles or elections. Voters, like soldiers, soon discover the reason of such tricks. By the way, these noisy outbursts find great favour with tne Reds.

The keenest interest is being taken throughout the Dominion iu the Wellington Central contest where the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher is opposed by Mr R. Fletcher. Mr Fletcher has not oaly the Opposition backing, but the Reds are out for him to a man. Mr Fisher is a young New Zealander and one of the most fearless and effective platform speakers iu the Dominion. When dealing with the Reds he takes the gloves off and smites them hip and thigh. ■* * *

Mr Field takes strong exception to the report published in the New Zealand Times, from a Levm correspondent, of his meeting in Levin on Friday last, and characterised it as a paltry method of electioneering. He states that the description given is entirely inaccurate, that the meeting in question was a record one, the hall being crowded in every part, and that he was most enthusiastically received. It was true, he said, that in accordance with the general practice of his opponents, a body of individuals assembled in a portion of the hall to disturb his meeting, and so enable the Opposition journal to report him as being heckled, but the plan utterly failed, and he obtained an excellent hearing. These tactics, Mr Field said, were unlikely to do him much harm.

The total number of candidates for the 76 European seats is 173, as against 220 at the last general elections, which is equal to a reduction of ever 20 per cent. This reduction, no doubt, is largely due to the repeal of the Second Ballot Act. and the consequent thinning out of a number of the weaker candidates, and to the efforts of the Liberal-Labour Alliance to avoid the splitting of votes. In no fewer than 56 of the 76 seats there are only two candidates. In 48 of these straight-out contests the battle is between a Reform and an Opposition candidate, the remaining eight singlehanded fights being between Government supporters and Labour candidates, variously designated.

In 191 1 there were only 28 seats for which there were only two candidates, or exactly half the number of' cases in which the issue has been narrowed down to two men on the present occasion. The multiplicity of candidates three years ago resulted in 30 second ballots. In 19 cases this •year there are three candidates, as against 28 instances three years ago, In 1911 there were four candidates in 16 cases; this year there is only one quartette, viz,, in Palmerston, where two Reformers, an Opposition, and a Social Democrat are facing the starter. There were three fields of five at the last election, but none this time. There ate no “walk-overs” this year, whereas in 1911 there was one, Sir James Carroll then having no opponent for Gisborne.

An analysis of the nominations shows that there are 79 Reform candidates, 67 Oppositionists, 24 Labour candidates, two Independents, and one classed as “Prohibitionist.” The Reform Party has a candidate in every electorate, whilst the Opposition Party is contesting 66, and the various Labour parties 28 electorates. The 42 seats in the North Island are being contested by 97 candidates, whilst there are 76 aspirants for the 34 seats in the South Island.

It is stated that Mr Field has offended some of his friends by changing his party; but what other course is open to a man when his old party departs from its principles. The Reform and the liberal voters of Otaki should have no hesitation when the time comes in deciding that it is infinitely better that they should cast their votes to assist in keeping in office the Reform Government than to help by their vote or by abstaining from voting the return of a member of the Social Democratic Party. On the last occasion when the choice was between Mr Field and Mr Robertson, Reform electors properly decided, to vote for the latter, on the understanding that he would vote to throw out Wardism. They, were deceived. for Mr Robertson voted for Wardism and he and his Social Democrat friends now hope to

dominate Wardism. The opportunity has now come for the electors of Otaki not only to show Mr Robertson what they think of his conduct, but what they think of the Red Federation which supports Mr Robertson. Mr Field stands in this contest for Reform ; he stands as the champion of the Government which if displaced irom office will make way for a Wardist-Red Federation ■ Social Democratic Party. The Social Democratic Party, which must dominate such an alliance, stands for abolition of the country quota ; to be followed by increased land taxation. These are included in its platform. Do the electors of Otaki want these things ? Do they want unsettled conditions of trade and industry due to reckless Socialistic experiments and the possibilities of financial depression ? Naturally, they do r ' 'nt to run the risk of such unpleasant possibilities, and for the same reason throughout other country constituencies electors who never before have supported the Reform Party are on this occasion announcing their intention to vote for it. The country settler and the dwellers in the towns in country districts realise that their interests are safer at the present time in the bauds of the Reform Government, which has carried the country through a period of crises with conspicuous success, than they would be if entrusted to a weak Government at the mercy of the Social Democratic-Red Federation combination. The position is far too serious to permit o£ any reckless experimenting with the administration of the country’s affairs, and no one knows this better than the residents in the country electorates. —Dominion.

The following are the nominations for the Maori electorates :

Northern District. —i, Heremia Te Waka; 2, Tau Heuare; 3, Riapo Timoti Puhipi; 4, Anaru Ngawaki ; 5, Nau Paraone Kawiti ; 6, Paraone Hoori ; 7, Neho Teui; 8, Hemi Te Paa.

Eastern. —x, Apirana Turupa Ngata ; 2, Hetekia Te Kani Pere. Western. —1, Maui Pomare ; 2, Hema Ropata Te Ao ; 3 Pepene Eketoue; 4, Tuwhakaririka Patena ; 5, Rangi Mawhete ; 6, Hori Tiro Paora.

Southern.— 1, Teone Matapura Erihana ; 2, Taara Parata; 3, Hapareta Rore.

In connection with the coming elections it is interesting to note that the present numerical strength of the House of Representatives is exactly double what it was when the first Parliament of New Zealand was called together 60 years ago. The number of members was originally fixed by the New Zealand Constitution Act. passed by the Imperial Parliament in 1552, as not more than 42 or less than 24, and the first Parliament, which met iu Auckland iu May, 1864, consisted of 40 members. Legislation passed in 1858 fixed the number at 41, in IS6O at 53, in 1862 at 57, iu 1565 at 70, in 1567 at 72, in 1870 at 74, in 1875 at 84, in ISBI at 91, this being the highest number of European members that the House has ever contained. In ISB7 the number was reduced to 70, and in 1900, when the last change was made, it was fixed at 76, By the Maori Representation Act of 1867, which is still in force, as embodied in the Legislature Act of 190 S, four Native members were added, three for the North and one for the South Island. The North Island at present returns 42 European members, and the South Island 34. The system of triennial Parliaments has been in force since 1879, Prior tog then, quinquennial Parliaments, as instituted under the Constitution Act, were in force.