Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20th, 1925. COMMON-SENSE IN POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2951, 20 October 1925, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20th, 1925. COMMON-SENSE IN POLITICS.

TO those who approach polities from a common sense viewpoint, Mr. Joseph Linkhiter's address delivered to Eoxton el odors on Thursday evening, i even led the Reform candidate for Manawntn as a man wlio has passed unspoiled through three years of polities, and who still remains sincere and direct. In these days, when opposing Parties are prone to parade before electors showy political platforms in the hope that the public nmv he decoyed into supporting them at the polls, it is an acceptable change to listen to a candidate who rises above such tactics, and treats his hearers to simple statements of fact which term (he kernel of eonerele politics. As was to ho expected, Mr. Linklater made reference lo the LevinCirca I ford railway deviation, a mailer which lias been exercising various local bodies for some lime. Owing lo Air. Linklaler being' absent from the House a| the lime ilie programme of work's was brought down, he had been accused of opposing the deviation movement, and nn attempt had since been made to make political capital out of (his matter. Similarly, his opponents had inferred Hint he supported (he Palmerston North deviation through interested motives. It is characteristic of Mr. Linklaler that while he passed over with bu( Ihe merest reference the political tricks his opponents resorted to to discredit him in the eyes of the electors, he stated' in direct manner (lie simple facts relating to both these questions, and left no doubt in the minds of his hearers that such undertakings as these are far beyond the parochial influence of any Member for (his electorate, and are in point of fact undertakings which arc adjudicated upon by the Minister and his stall' of experts. Nevertheless, acting on (lie principle that a little practical help is worth tons of talk, Mr. Linklaler had gone to personal expense and inconvenience to bring the Levin-Grcat-ford deviation question directly under the notice of the Commission, in order that its merits nmv be revealed and' that it might receive the consideration which il undoubtedly deserves. As a practical man on the land, Mr. Linklater’s statement that the Labour Party’s land policy would—if that Party were elected to power —mean disaster to this young and prosperous Dominion, is a considered opinion that will carry great weight with farmers in this electorate. Besides the uncertainty contained in a mere bandying of such words as “usehold" and “stranglehold," the doctrine that the farmer should receive the full fruits of his lahoui —presumably inferring that he should pocket 100 per cent, of the retail price of Ids products —is a Utopia that any sensible farmer knows is impossible, and which is being suggested in tiie hope that those on the land may he misled into supporting Labour while chasing such a will-o’-the-wisp. Farmers and the public generally, will realise that in Mi-. Linklaler they have a candidate who is not only practical in matters concerning the vital questions of this Dominion, but also—an;d this is equally important —a man of personality who “believes in calling a spade a spade,” upright and sincere, and just- the stamp of person who would facilitate Mr. Coates in the carrying out of his policy as set out in his manifesto.