THE TARANAKI ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1918, Page 7

THE TARANAKI ELECTION.

PRESS COMMENT. (Wellington Dominion.)': The result of the Taranaki by-election shows that the political truce does not exist so far as the Taranaki electorate is concerned. This fact became evident as the campaign proceeded, and now it is placed beyond the possibility of reasonable doubt. Taranaki was a Reform scat, and the choice of a candidate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. 11. J. EL Okey rested with Sir James Allen, who nominated Mr. J. S. Connett, ar.d lie became the National Government's candidate. There was no official Liberal candidate, but Mr. S. GSmith, an Independent Liberal-Labor candidate, came into the field, and has been returned with a majority of ICO. The defeat of the National Government's candidato in such a constituency as Taranaki should cause Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to do some serious thinking on their return from Britain. Both of the candidates came out a3 supporters of a win-the-wnr policy. Mr. Smith proved to be a much better platform man than his opponent, and the full strength of the combined Liberal and Labor vote appears to have been cast for him. His campaign was conducted with great vigor, and the fullest use was made of every argument likely to tell against the Government, whereas Ministers did not think it worth while to make sure that their case was adequately and effectively placed before the electors. Mr. Connett has done good work in connection with the Agricultural Society, the JTarbor Board, and the County Council, but it was hardly fair to expect him to mako the best reply to all attacks on the Administration or to set out convincingly the Government's undoubtedly strong claims to the support of the country. It is true that one Minister took the trouble tc- pay a visit to New Plymouth and make a speech, but that was at the end of the campaign and after most people had made up their m'ntU as to casting their votes. The apathy of Ministers as regards Teceni by-elections is astpnishing. They take far too much for granted, and their indifference is resented by the electors- Their friends are discouraged and their opponents naturally put the worst possible construction upon their unwillingness to give an account of their stewardship. Many competent judges are quite convinced that tho Grev seat might have been won if Ministers had thrown themselves as whole-heartedly into the struggle as they did in the Wellington North by-election. Wellington Central was thrown away by disunion and lack of organised effort and it is reasonable to believe that if the members of the' Cabinet (Reform and Liberal) had made a combined and determined effort the Taranaki seat need not have leen lost. The poll was not a heavy one, and if more enthusiasm and energy had been put into the campaign Mr. Smith's narrow majority might have been wiped out. The political truce tends to Munt the edge of politics. The open strife of parties kept up the interest; but it seems to bo nobodv's business to defend a National Government, simply because everybody is supposed to supjiort it, and any Government which does its duty fearlessly in war-time is bound to make enemies. It is, therefore, all the more necessary that Ministers should take advantage of every proper opportunity of keeping in touch with public opinion, eo that no intelligent man or woman can have any legitimate excuse for misunderstanding or misrepresenting their policy or administrative acts.