A CONTRAST IN EJECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3020, 17 October 1908, Page 4

A CONTRAST IN EJECTIONS.

The United States and New Zealand are both engaged in an election campaign, but what a difference there is in the public interest displayed in ty* L wl ?ne in New

Zealand a stranger would find it difficult to realise that an election was at hand, all America seethes with political excitement. Hundreds of speakers are employed by the parties to "stump'.' the country and keep up the interest to fever heat. Every town and village has its "Campaign Clubs," composed of enthusiastic voters. Many of these clubs wear a military uniform, and call themselves by such titles as "The Taft Cadets" or "The Bryan Zouaves." A writer in the London "Daily Mail," in an interesting account of these clubs, mentions one which called itself "The Republican Grenadiers," and wore a uniform somewhat like that of the infantryman of Wellington's time, plentifully embellished with yellow lace and surmounted by a busby and plume. Even business men of standing were i not ashamed to appear in public in this comic opera costume. As election day draws near, the clubs hold frequent meetings and march through the streets almost every night, headed by bands of music. The local authorities regard the campaign processions with a lenient eye, and allow the paraders to do pretty much as they please. As the clubs march through the streets they frequently enliven the scene by shooting off sky-rockets and Roman candles and burning red fire. Sometircns a house gets burned down as the result of this enthusiasm, but that only serves to intensify the excitement, and if the premises are insured, nobody seems to mind. As election day approaches, every town is hung with flags and portraits nf the candidates, there are huge processions, every participant carrying a flag, and constant outbursts of cheering. Compared with all this, an election in New Zealand is as dull as the proverbial ditch-water.