THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1909 THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9601, 22 September 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1909 THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

It is satisfactory to note that the contest for the Rangitikei aeat has developed into an exciting struggle. The frantic efforta that are being made by quite a number of prominent politicians to educate the electors on the political questions of the day should be productive of some good. Interest at least must be aroused to some extent, and it is interest in politics that is so greatly needed in .this country. The impartial person must admit that there is a tremendous amount of apathy displayed by the general public in regard to the administration of public affairs. Everyone knows ihat, if the people as a. whole were keenly alive to the importance of making Parliament as: valuable an institution for the promotion of the common weal as it could be made, we should in a few years have a very much more representative body of men as members of Parliament than we have to-day. There 13 evidence in the contest for the Rangitikei seat that the Opposition are changing their electioneering methods, and with advantage in our opinion. ' Who is there that is not familiar with the Opposition protests, in past days, againat Ministerial interference with electiona? Who is there that does not remember the emphatic statements to the effect that the people of an electorate should be allowed to make their own selection without being in • terfered with? Now, however, we find the Leader of the Opposition in tha Rangitikei electorate, and "go- j ing at it" properly. On Sunday last so keen was his interest in Oddfellowship that he consented to head a Friendly Societies' procession in Taihape! Most of the Ministry, including the Acting-Premier, are, also, takin? a hand, and provided that their efforta to secure the re-

turn of the Government candidate are confined to speech-making of the usual florid order indulged in on the occasion of an election, we cannot see how any sane or fair-minded man can protest. Surely the patriot, who honestly desires to promote the welfare of the people is not to be abused because he fearlessly proclaims his views in the highways and byways, and on every opportunity that he nny deem to be favourable to the propagation of his gospel? We are pleased that Mr Massey has entered the lists in favour of Mr Hockly. His decision to do so is certainly a step in the right direction. There is no reason at all why he should not fight with all the ability that he possesses for the cause of his patty. The more that the people can hear public questions discusse I by their prominent poli ticians the better it should be for the community at large.