POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 313, 12 June 1915, Page 2

POLITICAL.

TAUMARUNUI ELECTION Sir,—The many peculiar ways that are being used to win this seat for Reform are at times bordering on the ludicrous./ First we get a circular letter from the Prime Minister apologising to the constituency for his inability to meet electors, and by the same morning's paper find an advertisement that ho will address the electors of Waitara and Urenui, visiting other parts of the district during th-- interim. Evidently Mr. Massey has taken a leaf left by his late comrade in arms, Mr F. M. B. Fisher, on which was written " consistency is the refuge of fools," but this of course is only in keeping with his other actions. Then we have the inspiriting sight of a neighbouring M.P. attending the meeting cf the Clifton County Council, and urging them to place their wants before the Prime Minister, when he feels sure that the greatest consideration will be shown —just now. From this end of tho distrct the Prime Minister travels to the far north to further advance the light for his party, which will probably mean his staying there until the result of the election is known. And this is the Minister who only a few days ago made the statement that owing to his numerous duties in AVellington he was unable to have even a few hours to himself, working some sixteen hours per day for the country, owing to the unfortunate position of the war, yet he can find time to leave all the official duties to tour for the Reform candidate for Taumarunui. Consistency again of tho Reform typo. The latest notion developed in Waitarato catch the ladies vote is to ask all and sundry to aflemon lea. Probably if the candidate himself did such a thing it wral come under the same heading as that which put Mr Vernon Reed out of politics for twelve months—bribery and corruption, but as it is the other half .if the candidate presmvitdy all is fair, Personal invitations were issued to both the "nice" people and tho washer lady, but when the election is over the latter will receive no such invitations. Well, if this is part of the game they may well go (in with it, but a hole is easily seen in the ladder. In the days when the present Opposition were in power Mr Masscy and his party wore, always accusing Sir Joseph Ward of bribing constituencies by carrying out public works, but what has he to say when he specially visits a constituency for the sole purpose of furthering the Reform candidate's chance and makes wholesale promises on the eve of a by-election. This sort of thing is all right when it suits the Prime Minister, but when his opponents did it legitimately they were just " bribing the people." Consistency, thy name is not Reform ! —I am, etc, j ELECTOR.