THE FINAL SHOTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2515, 7 December 1922, Page 3

THE FINAL SHOTS.

The last shots in the election campaign were fired by candidates throughout the Dominion last night. Lively meetings were held in all centres and' great noises rent the heavens. ”” In' Foxton, Mr Paddy Webb held forth in Main Street on behalf of the Labour candidate and, incidentally,' paid-Some glowing compliment's to the editor of the Herald, which, coming from such a source, are much appreciated. Mr Linklater briefly reviewed the campaign to a number of his supporters in-the Masonic Hall. PRIME MINISTER’S LAST WORD. APPEAL TO THE ELECTORS. Dannevirke, Dec. 6. “It is again my privilege and duty,” said the Prime Minister, “to appeal to you for a renewal of the confidence you were good enough to bestow upon myself and those who were associated with me in the general elections of 1914 and 1919. The strenuous times through which we have since passed have eased considerably of late, and the results of the last eight months more particularly have shown that we are once again on the high road to prosperity but there are still grave problems confronting the country upon the solution of which very much depends, and the electors will be called upon to-morrow to make very important decisions which, for good or ill, will effect, the future welfare of the country. The more or less artificial divisions which affect the mo-derately-minded section of the community included in the 'Reform and Lberal Parties may conceivably hand over the government of the country to the extreme Labour Party. which glories in the Red blag and the principles of revolutionary Socialism. In the face of almost unprecedented difficulties the Government has carried on the business of the country in a manner which has won for it the cordial support and sympathy of those who have the real interests of the people at heart. Its record is before you, and will, 1 believe, meet with your approval, but I would remind you that a strong Government is the supreme need of the day and that can only bo secured on the Reform side of politics. The Liberal vote suffers everywhere at the hands of the Labour candidates, of whom the greater number belong to the extreme revolutionary class, and are tied hand and foot to the revolutionary machine. They make no secret of their intention to vote against the Government on a no-confidence motion, and it is evident that the Liberals can only hope to govern the country with the help of these extremists. Under such a combination the nation would inevitably suffer. I can only appeal to you therefore, to strengthen the hands of the Government by returning the official Reform candidates who are standing for election and to thus give it a decided majority over all other parties in the State. W. F. MASSEY, 6th December, 1922.