Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1925 “MORE BUSINESS IN GOVERNMENT.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2945, 6 October 1925, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1925 “MORE BUSINESS IN GOVERNMENT.”

THE Government's manifesto published on Saturday last, and which will constitute the Reform Party’s issue for the electors of the Dominion, will he accepted by all thoughtfull people as a genuine and practical programme. Tin* Prime Minister, Hon. J. G. Coates, in his elaboration of sixteen principal points from the manifesto, reveals himself as a leader of sound, practical vision, and one who shuns the cheap tricks of political windowdressing, putting- before the electors as lie does a programme based on moderation and yet containing all the elements' of a policy of progress consistent with the requirements of a young country like New Zealand. The very absence of any promises of a spectacular nature is almost sufficient in itself to commend the Government's programme to the electors as one worthy of their support, and the candid statement of Mr. Coates that he can “make no fanciful promises” and “experience has demonstrated that reasonable and steady social progress must be based on prudent finance,” is not only a candidness that is quite refreshing in polities, and reveals an appreciation of sound fundamentals, but an evidence that the Reform Party enjoys a sense of confidence based on the strength which comes only from straightforward methods and a clear political conscience. Taken as a whole the Reform Partys programme encompasses the requirements of the country at the present time, and makes ample provision for the investigation of subjects which are exercising the minds of thoughtful people to-day, notably the incidence of taxation, the extension of scientific agricultural education, farmers’ land banks, universal pension scheme, and aid to parents with large families. Mr. Coates’ statement that the coming election will be one ol the most important- in Die history of New Zealand, leaves no room for dispute, especially in view of the evidences of unrest in some industrial quarters, and the people of New Zealand can accept with confidence the services of a Government which places in the forefront of its platform the bedrock principles of “national safety arid progressive development.” During the next few weeks electors in this country will be regaled with the more or less chimerical political platforms of the opposing parties, and it will he interesting to note to what lengths the opponents of Reform will go in an endeavour to entice the voters of New Zealand in their direction, and discredit the good work of a Government which has successfully piloted the destinies of this country through the most trying years oi its history.