ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 139, 7 December 1911, Page 4

ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.

Xot for very many years have the general elections been fought with such j fierceness- as on the present occasion. ; And yet never lias there been a time ! when tlx* issues have been so clear cut as they are at the present moment. The "fat" men the owners of the great estates of the country, the heads of ' the large commercial concerns, and the men of independent means—have, it is pommon knowledge, combined to overthrow the, Government, whom they recognise as obstacles in the way of thi attainment of their designs. They have rarised a big fighting fund, the spending of which has been no small factor in causing the great amount of feeling characterising the campaigns in the cities. So determined have they been to ( carry their object that they have extended the hand of brotherhood to the class/ they've hitherto regarded and treated as their hereditary foes, namely, the 1 and Socialist malcontents, and I the latter have seemingly allowed themselves to be deluded into believing that their new bed-fellows will, if they sucI oefed in reaching the Treasury benches— I a quite unlikely contingency—receive j what they have teen quite justifiably j refused by the present administration. , Hence we thus have presented the incongruous spectacle of the two extremes, \yith interests diametrically opposed to one another, co-operating—the backbone of Conservatism and the Socialistic whole-hoggers. One will soon believe it poss-ible for oil to mix with water! The fat men have also laid themselves out to capture the small farmer, using every moans, fair and questionable, to poison him against the Government, who, if they arc to be believed, are a gang of swindlers and daylight robbers,, opposed to everything making for the true progress of- the country and scheming all the time to "take down" the farmer, especially the small farmer. But if jjttye latter will look at the facts of the itdse and study the position for himself, will perceive who have been and are I his friends. He will see that the very that enabled so many of him to I'go on the land and work it profitably were the identical means that were bitterly opposed l)y those who now profess such friendship and solieitudo for him. This fact is all important, and should be carefully weighed by every man on the land before casting his vote to-day. The Opposition say: "It would have been all the same if we had been in power. We would have done all this and much more for the country, which has been and is suffering from such bad government." The answer to this is given in telling force in the Premier's manifesto. Says he: "If you want a safe test as to which side, Conservative or Liberal, is on the path of progress, ask yourself this question, Behind which party stands the great landholders? Land monopoly and progressive smaller settlement are as far apart as the North and South Poles, and no man can be a true friend of the principle of smaller settlement and the increased resumption of the big estates for settlement which is supported by | and stands in public life as a champion | of the great landed interests." That j is the position to-day confronting the I small settler, and every other elector : for thai matter, succinctly and oflVetiinl- | ly put. Closer settlement is the most | important question before the country. ! at the present time. Upon it depends almost entirely our future progress and

development. Upon it we must concentrate our whole efforts, making the way easier for the small man with or without capital, and the way increasingly harder for the land monopolist, of whom there are far too many blocking the progress of the country at the present moment. It is he and the class that stands for conservatism and privilege that the Government are fighting, and in fighting them they are fighting the battle of the smaller people, be they farmers, tradespeople or workers. For that very reason, if for no other, the Government are deserving of a continuance of support at to-day's ballots.