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Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1889, 12 October 1918, Page 2

TIIE Government's defeat in Taranaki is just as ominous in its way as the defeat in Wellington Central, -ays (he Ib.-sf. Though the victory of Mi' Smith is no! a direct slur on Ihe count rcV patriotism like that of ■Mr T’raser, i< attacks the basis of the patriotic combination Avhieh alone has made efficient administration during the war a possibility, in Wellington Central apathy and mismanagement, and in Taranaki dissension on the old lines of party cleavage, have administered two severe blows to the Government. In each case the inaction of the Government lias been just as much to blame as the shortcomings Avith which it has been justly or unjustly charged. The small majority iu Taranaki shows just as clearly as the number of abstainers in Wellington Central that, if the combined Government whose, policy Avas in issue had treated Hie constituency with even a normal amount of respect and attention, the reverse could have been avoided. Mr Connett needed help in the one case just as obviously as Mr Hildreth needed it in the other, Iml the Government's neglect of the constituency was almost equally ostentatious in both eases.. The Government could have been strengthened, instead of being seriously weakened, if an effort anything like commensurate with Hie issues at slake had been made. The aAvkward and invidious task of reviewing the position and prescribing the drastic remedy that is urgently required must he the first care of the returning leaders.