Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9131, 28 April 1908, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE news of the defeat of Mr Churchill at Manchester was, we are told, received with great enthusiasm in the London Music Halls, but we

hope that the day will never come when the sentiments of music hall

habitues will represent the opinions of the English people. The failure of Mr Ohurchilhto secure re-election was due to a combination of causes. His constituency has been a Conservative stronghold for many years

and on several x’ocent occasions the member was returned without a contest. At the last general election the pendulum swung over to the Liberal side, but it is now returning to its former position. The result of the election is claimed as a triumph for tbo protectionists, but as Mr Hicks refused to commit him-

self to tariff reform it is difficult to understand how this can ba the case. Still as Mr Churchill admits that his defeat is a blow to free trade it may be that tariff reform was a more live issue than would appear to have been case from our cabled reports. Apart from tariff questions there were other points on which many electors would differ from the present Ministry. Lancashire Is a stronghold of the church and the voluntary schools have twice as many pupils as the Board Schools. There is thus a strong feeing against the Education Bill now before the House. It hardly need be added that the whole strength of the liquor interest would be used against a member of the Government which has just brought in such a drastic Licensing Bill. How the Irish vote went we are not informed. The defeat is not a matter for serious regret. Mr Churchill has need of a lesson though it is doubtful whether any lesson would ever make him modest. The effect on the Liberal Party will probably be that better discipline will prevail in the ranks of its overwhelming majority a result which will be of considerable value to Mr Asquith, the new Prime Minister. One point about the election which will please both parties is that the Socialist candidate only succeeded in polling 37G votes.

THE Ministerial journals have again given currency to an allegation that Mr Massey is striving to effect an alliance with the Ministerial Party “for the purpose of combating the socialistic tendencies'of the Radicals and curbing the Labour Party” Considering that the Ministry is composed mainly of socialists this allegation is, of course, absurd. But there is every probability that the Ministry would warmly welcome the leading members of the present Opposition into the ranks of their supporters and would be grateful indeed for the support of the Opposition Party. For there is trouble ahead for the Ministry at the nest election. To a very large extent the Labour vote, on thac occasionpromises to be against them, mainly because they have not dared to go to the extremes demanded by the Labour Party. Tills is one reason why the Ministry are dealing so tenderly with the“ Blackball strikers, and finding so many reasons why they cannot proceed vigorously to give the law effect. Other legislation has also dissatisfied and annoyed many of their former supporters, while nothing has been done to win the support of former opponents. Indeed, no Ministry lias done more to arouse antagonism by the passage of irritating and obnoxious legislation.