POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 260, 27 October 1908, Page 4

POLITICAL.

TAI'.ANAKI SIiAT. Sir. H. Okt'.v, M.P., addressed tiie electors at Kaimiro on .Saturday, A representative meeting received him with applause. Air. Jl. i'eters was voted to tile chair. Mr. Okcy dealt witk a large number of questions ami for nearly two hours kept his audience interested in the political questions of Ike day. l''requcul applause was accorded tile sneaker, especially when lie gave a history of the dairy regulations. At the conclusion a hearty vole of thanks was accorded tile candidate lor his address and ihrce cheers for the way iic had represented the district in Parliament. ill!. iIALOXE AT OKAXO. Some one liundrod electors assemhled at Okalu Mall on .Saturday night last and gave Mr. M alone a most cordial and friendly reception. The meeting quite eclipsed those of the oilier two candidates. The speaker, in an earnest speech of one and a-lialf hours' duration, aroused the enthusiasm of the iiiuliencc and gained their hearty applause throughout. His reference to the businesslike acts and proposals of the (Joverunient was most convincing. He mentioned specially Hie scheme for Tec hold hind settlement on Slate glial'' intec, the 11,000,000 extra for back docks roads, the extra .1'1,000,000 foi idviinccs to settlers, the coiiceiilnilioi in a few main works at n lime, tin completion of the Main Trunk Pmilw.iy, the local bodies' superannuation fund, the Arbitration Act Amendment, ami the Kdiicalimi Act Amendment. In answer to questions, Mr. italone strongly approved the principle of the Second Ballot Act. but would have preferred the lion. Mr. McXab's Absolute Majority Bill providing for a second count at one ballot. He approved universil school-books and the consequent saving of unnecessary expense to parents. A vote of tliuuks to ill', ilaloue and one to the chairman were carried with acclamation.

Wherever what is called i-hjirjictcr is associated witli .stupidity and dulness, it is dangerous in [inlilic-M (writes Frank Jlorton). A groat scoundrel often dues better Hulk than a (.'real fool. Some I of till' most useful men Australia lias ever liad in politics were, men whoso private character did not repay soriiti'iiy; and, conversely, some'of the most dangerous dunderheads have l>eeu men of blameless life. Tlie defect of corruption is the outstanding defect of all democracies. It must be so, in the nature of tilings. Responsible ministers are -human; and you may rely upon it that in any given circumstances they will consider their friends first. There is 1 very little corruption of this kind in New Zealand now, compared with what there undoubtedly was during the palmy days of tlie tteddon regime. That is merely because the actual democracy—the tyrannous majority—is not so powerful now as it was at tlie height of the Peddon period. Then all things [ were in the egg; now, strange chickens arc coming home to roost. There must r always be a certain proportion of corrupt appointments, so long as the du!>i lie service is in any way influenced '■)>' Ministerial or political patronage.