THE TARANAKI BY-ELECTION.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 October 1918, Page 4

THE TARANAKI BY-ELECTION.

The Taranaki by-election is another distinct warning to the Government that.its management of the cost of living in this country is condemned 'by the people, and however successful the sterile argument about the country backing up the National Government may prove as bluff, it has no virtue when reduced to proctice. Taranaki was hithefEb represented by e staunch supporter of the Reform Party; yesterday that constituency transferred its confidence to a Labour Democrat, probably to the surprise of that party whose thoughts and opinions are based upon their own selfish wishes. It is neither logic nor fact to say these labour wins do not affect the strength of parties in the House because the institution of a National Government obliterated all party element; the ostrich reasons on similar lines when, hard-pressed, it buries its head in the sand antT thinKs it has ended its visible existence:* Tan National Government is a very thin translucent if not a transparent veil over the true nature of assembled representatives, and there are wanting no evidences that one party or another is exploiting the confidence of tne people to a resentable extreme. In Mr. Connett the Reform Party had a very worthy successor to the late Mr. Okey nominated to maintain pre-war parliamentary equiponderance of parties, and although his candidature was supported by professed Liberal members from Taranaki platforms he failed to prevent the erstwhile Reform seat in the' House being filled in future by a Labour-Democrat. Doubtless Taranaki electors had a very goocr reason for the transference of its confidence; they had ceased to trust the party that hitherto represented them, and rather than continue in distrust they preferred to go to' the other political extreme, and they sent to Parliament a Labour-Democrat instead or a supporter of a Government that has proved its. incapacity or unwillingness to control most vital matters of policy in the best interests of the masses or the people. Taranaki has hoisted another danger signal to the onrushlng train of exploitation; !t is too late for the National Government to put on an effective 'brake that could stop its dashing past the polrits-'df safety, and it will be forced on by the load of exploiters It carries until the collision

of a general election smashes it to atoms. The people invested its Government with autocratic powers, believing that it would act justly in domestic politics while rendering its management of war matters more effectual; they have been disillusioned. and thinking they have discovered an utter abandonment of the popular cause and an espousal of the greed of profiteers they are promptly adjusting matters by throwing National Government candidates for Parliament aside and by electing those wEo condemn the Government's acts. So disastrous has the placing of autocratic powers in the hands of a Government proved that it is Indeed doubtful whether the people of this country will ever be cozened and cajoled into repeating such an experiment. We are not professed supporters of any party in Parliament but we cannot nelp thinking that the National Government has been indifferent to an opportunity to demonstrate dts national character by leaving the masses of the masses of the people to the mercy of a system of profiteering without lifting a legislative finger to save them. To argue that because people are worse off in Britain and Germany than In New Zealand is mere subterfuge. The necessaries of life are blockaded out of European countries and there is, as a matter of course, a shortage; but in New Zealand the necessaries of life are blockaded in, even To rotting In stores, and tEe apostles of profiteering, legalised by the National Government, will let them TOt rather than spll them at a price the wages they pay to the people will permit them to buy at. No more glaring instance Jr legalised robbery can be quoted than that perpetrated recently by coaiowners. Miners, after months of industrial strife, were "given a ten per cent rise of wages, but the owners immediately levied five hundred per cent on the additional outlay from the people, increasing ' their net profits by several thousands of pounds a year. All this winking at and legalising of profiteering is meeting with just resentment from the people, visible In the return i to Parliament opponents of the party in power. Who are the men that are leading the community into industrial upheavals?