POLITICAL POINTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 281, 27 November 1922, Page 4

POLITICAL POINTS.

CANDIDATES AND THEIR VISWS. [By OLD C_.MP_y-_-._-i:.; Sir -Joseph Ward, in the couise of con. versatioti with a pressman, disclaimed (he right to be regarded as an invalid. Many of his friends at a distance had a.snmcd from his determination not to re-enter the political arena just now that his health nas in some way impaired, that he did not care to face tiie strain of an election contest. This was not the case. He had had rather a bad time during his last visit to the Old ( ountry as a result of many years of strenuous work, but doctors had set him on his feet again. He __-<" entirely improred. as they said lie would, since his return to the Dominion. He had been urged by his friends in a number of constituencies to accept nomination for the approaching election, and he would have been read}' enough to throw himself into the contest could he have done so without disturbing arrangements already made -by his former comrades in Parliament. He could not be a party to adding to the complexities of a very difficult situation.

Commenting on the Reporoa purchase on Friday, the "'Star"' was careful to make it clear that the whole of the land had not been taken up. It bad taken "about £3500" to place each settler on the land, but this average would fall as more was settled. The "Herald" said on Saturday: "Tw_nty-six soldiers have been placed on the estate, the co_t of which was something over £80,000. It has been calculated that this represent- over £.1000 per soldier settler. The arithmetic is rough and ready, but near enough for practical purpose. What has not been allowed i_ that in a considerable portion of the area drainage and consolidation have been necessary before the sections could be offered. so that there remain a number never yet offered." Comment on this n:ethod of unprincipled misrepri'sent.tion would be superfluous. We may add, however, that it costs £4 or £5 a ton to cart material to and from this isolated settlement, where at present the average capital cost of a holding is £3500. with a possibility of reduction if other stout-hearted settlers will assist, in shouldering a part of the Government's blunder —to apeak in kindly phrase of this State purchase.

During the course of his visit to tho Patea electorate on Saturday, the Prime Minister met Reform supporters at Waverley. Patea and Hawera. and explained to them briefly his views on the threatened split in the Government vote in that electorate. He said that his obvious duty was to declare the retiring member (Mr. E. Dixoni to be the official Reform candidate. An exmember. Mr. G. V. Pcnr.-e. was opposing him a s a Reformer, and Mr. ■•. R. Corrigan was standing as a Liberal. The electors should realise that a split Reform vote would probably let in tinOpposition candidate. There were several other seats endangered in a similar manner, and "if they were lost the party would suffer. It was certain that if the Reform party did not get a majority the balance of power would 1»----placed in the hands of the Labour group, which would mean a state of dangerous political confusion. Mr. A. <■'. Dent has informed the Prime Minister that he intends to .stand as a Reform candidate for the Waikato .seat, despite the f."t that, Mt. ,J. T. Johnson has been chosen as the official candidate.

The ( unterbui-y I'rugrcss League has submitted a number ul i|Ui>_l,ion_ to candidates standing for C.-iuterburv consntuencics. including: "Are yon prepared to support the .siablishment of ■> Dominion School of F,.re_trv at Canterbury ( oilege. in accordance with the recommendation made by the Director of Forestry.'" ami "Are "you willing to actively resist any attempt to have the school established elsewhere in opposition to Canterbury's interests?"

.lie recent experioiH ••• of tlie l'u_..kolie Borough ( ouncil proves the fallacy of tlll_tll.fi at all times („ one -„ political friend-, even if they are powerful Reformers. Mr. Mason, tin- present Labour candidate for _de„. ..cured a,, injunction some time ajjo attain. I the Pukekohe Council in respect of levying a ccram water rale which tlie Court had held to I,e illegal. |-|,c Council promptly applr.il t.. it. member. Mr. Massev cullin- upon him to in-eri a special" clan-., m the Finance Act validating this illegal '•_l-r rate. Presto! M ,. M -._ ( . v ...„-,,, i ... b-gi-lative wand and the troubles of the Pukekohe I ouncil vanished into thin •*ir. He explained, however, that the little clause did not affect the eV w ii„_ judgment. Armed with it, brand-new Act he council applied to the Supreme Court to dissolve t!„. injunction. J that it might proceed with ;t„ rate collecting flui liorr.ble to relate th. Court accepted Mr. Quartley-s plea on behalf of Mr. Mason that the case of the Pukekohe HorougM'ouncil did not come within the strut meaning of the nPvr ~|a u _ c v _ (l >o, notwithstanding a s pi?e.! \et of Var!iaiii_nt. introduced !>v the Prime Minister himself, this obnoxious injunction still stands against Pukekohe. the very -ffi-ntain head of the Reform Ministry.