The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1911.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 135, 29 November 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1911.

THE PREMIER AT INGLEWOOD. The Prime Minister was assured of a big audience and a good hearing" at Inglewood, despite the party adherence of individuals, because in party politics the leader of a side is naturally pedestailleil. Apart from his position at the head of a government with a remarkably long and useful record of achievement the intense practicality of Sir Joseph Ward appeals to all who are not hopelessly biassed or unable to appreciate his grasp of all subjects appertaining to the politics of the country. The prevailing characteristic of the Primes Minister is his optimism, and it may be laid down aa an axiom that the politician who is a confirmed and persistent pessimist has no right to sue for a place in the government of a progressive country. Throughout New Zealand during the past weeks there has been a pessimistic wail from the members of the "Reform" Party, compelling their hearers to believe that this Dominion is. badly misgoverned. The Reform Party locates the disease, and prescribes the remedy. The remedy is the Reform Party! As the Reform Party has no record of constructive statesmanship, necessarily it merely promises. The people must take it on trust. Its promises have been precisely the .same i promises that it has made during two decades—and the people at the polls have not, yet been persuaded to accept the Party at its own valuation. There is indeed no indication that the people have quite changed in their attitude during the short period that has elapsed since 1908. Perhaps the electors who c.owded to hear the Premier at Inglewood had heard or read .similar speeches from the Premier before. There is indeed nothing in the Premier's opening speech of the campaign that could be cut out. The press has made the people of New Zealand acquainted with the constructive policy of the Government and the. sentiments of its leader. It has also made the people acquainted with the destructive, quality of the "Reformerrs"' ideals and their anti-Government wails. The reformers allege an intolerable state of public affairs is existing and has existed for upwards of a score j

of years, thereby accusing the people whose suffrages they woo of being blind foods for that period in allowing such mismanagement to exist If the people admit the accusation of the Reformers thaifc they have leon fools for many years they will do the sackcloth and ashes act—and vote for a Massey Government. If they still hold that they have thriven under the pernicious and monstrous Government of which Sir Joseph Ward is the head, they will suggest the retirement of the gentlemen with the bilious oultlook. The Premier referred to the healthy condition of commerce generally, live prosperity of the people, and so on, but while a Government does not invent prosperity it may improve it. A government is unable to claim as its achievement the health or wealth of a people, but the present New Zealand Government is able to claim with perfect justice a wise discretion in placing on the Statute Book measures that aid industry, tire nation and the individual. Although our prosperity is largely governed by the Home market, legislative facilities aaiid Government assistance of enterprise make it possible to do our business in the most effective way.