ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43386, 10 November 1908, Page 3

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

To the Editor

Sir, —I noticed a correction in The Te Aroha News sent by Mr Young in iconnection with his address to tho electors of Te Aroha. In reference to your report the correction was as follows: “I did not say if you returned Mr Homes the people of Te Aroha would not receive the same consideration from the Government aa they would if they returned me.” There was a very indignant reply, contradicting this and claiming your report as being correct, although being present at the meeting I am sorry to say I do not know what Mr Young really said, but, sir, it was very pleasing to know what a great change has taken place from the old times. There is a cry that the , world is getting worse, in fact that we are becoming heathens, that our consciences are getting quite dead, hut surely this cannot be, as I can prove by my own experience. I remember coming in contact with the late Hon. Mr Rolleson when he was Minister for Mines. No duubt but he was a sturdy conservative and they were not ashamed of the name in those days. He was an honourable gentleman in [every sense of the word, and it is really a pleasure to look back and think of such a man. He was a giant in the political world, and looked up to by all classes whether they called themselves Liberals or Conservatives. He had no hesitation to tell a deputation of us miners, with a merry twinkL in his kindly eyes, “What could we expect when we had a member in Opposition to the Government?” Did we resent this, sir ?” Ne t a bit of it, but then, sir, we were a wicked old lot, and the late Mr Seddon only laughed when informed of the statement made by Mr Rolleson. It was pleasant reading Mr Herries address, especially when he frankly admitted that the late Mr Seddon was a Statesman, also the late Sir John Mckenzie, and, I am sure, sir, when be looks at the past legislation introduce! by the Liberal Party under tho e gentlemen, with the assistance of Sir Joseph Ward and the late Sir Jerome Cadiuan, one is not surprised that be wishes to have the name of his party changed from Conservative to l iberal. With your kind permisiion I would like to mention a few of the most permanent measures brought forward since the party came into power. The first problem that the late Mr Balance faced was the settling of the people on the lands. When they came into power the country was at the lowest ebb, money to carry on the work of the country was difficult to procure, but under the Liberal Government all this has been altered. They have done everything in their power to assist the settlers. One of the grandest things that ever was done for the country was the Loan to Settlers Act, which every farmer in the .'country must thank Sir Joseph Ward for introducing and putting on a sound footing. It was the best move ever introduced to assist the far-

mers, yet we are told Sir Joseph Ward is not af- tatesman. Then, sir, we have the * Old Age Pension, and how many men 1 and women are not blessing the late Mr Seddon and the men who supported him in passing the Act ? I would like to ask the fanners where would we be if tbe Liberal Party had not come to the rescue of the Bank of New Zealand ? Surely, sir, those acts should not be forgotten, and is there any man will say those were not acts of statesmen, which were opposed • by the Conservative party ? but I will be told the present party want to take away the freehold but that has proved to be totally unfounded. I am a freeholder I believe every man should have bis own home whether he is a miner or a farmer, and am fully persuaded we have an honest Ministry tiying to do all [in their power to advance the interests of the Dominion We have an acknowledged statesman at the head of affairs. Lord Carew in addressing a meeting in London, acknowledged it was an honour and a pleasnre to know such a statesman. I hope Mr Herries will see that Sir Joseph is a statesman it will be wise to follow. Surely Kipling was inspired when be wrote “ Lest we forget, lest we forget.”—l am, etc , John Williams.