MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1908. THE ISSUE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 117, 16 November 1908, Page 4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1908. THE ISSUE.

Tho issue before the electors to-mor-row is a plain one, arid every intelligent voter should have no difficulty in discerning the line of cleavage between the claims of the rival candidates. The personality of the men need not necessarily come into consideration. The real issue is, Does tho Government deserve a renewal of tho confidence of the country ? That is the point the electors have to decide. The Government ask to be judged upon their past actions, and in view of tho splendid work that has been accomplished by the Liberal party, can there be any doubt "as to-' the result? We think not. 'The Opposition are endeavoring by every means in their power to discredit tho Government, but the test is, Has any ! member of tho Opposition had the courage to advocate the repeal of a single one of these great Liberal measures, the passing of which haa done so much to assist the progress and settlement of the dominion? The answer must be a negative. This has not been due to any acknowledgment by the leaders of the Opposition of the good these measures have done. In their hearts they still hate thoso beneficent Acts with as malignant a hatred as ever, but they know that the great bulk of the people would not listen for one moment to any rotrogressivo action, and hence the reason for their silence. Knowing that they have absolutely no hope of success in this direction, the opponents of the Government seek to bring about ■their downfall by maliciously-conoeiv-od attacks upon their finance, by exaggerated statements of their extravagance, by ill-disguised lago-Hke inuendoes as to corruption and'nepotism in their administration, and by charges of socialism. These -charges have all been met and controverted on the public platform. It haa been shown how the settlement of land has been increased under the Government, how cheap money has been provided for small settlers ; how the railways have been used to assist the development of the country; how the position of the worker has been improved; how the Agricultural DeI partnient has been used to assist the , great landed industries ; and how, under this wise and beneficent legislation the country has progressed by great leaps and bounds. That the voice of the people will be unhesitatingly in favor of the Government is beyond all doubt. In the Waipawa electorate, Mr Hall confidently claims a verdict on behalf of the Government. In all the forward develop-

ments that has taken place in Now Zealand politics he has given his most loyal support. He has been most clamant in demanding the settlement i of the Crown and native lands of the colony, and to the utmost of his ability has assisted in tho doniaad for the segregation of largo estates, con- j fidont-in the conviction that New Zea- \ land's future would be best assured i by the division of tho land into small holding*. Of the success of . that policy in this district there can be no shadow of doubt, as every unbiassed thinker must admit. While making the accomplishment of this work his greatest effort in his political life, he has not been indifferent in any matter that would assist to improve the lot of Labor, or would tend to the geueral good , of tho community. His best services have always been availablo for his public duties, and in overy way ho has loyally endeavored to carry out his election pledges. Regarding his opponent, Mr Hunter is irrevocably allied with the old Conservative party — that party which opposed the Lands for Settlement Act, the cheap money scheme (which has proved of such incalculable service to the country) old ago pensions, progressive labor legislation, and State fire insurance; and who continually object that our railways are .not paying, and who, by inference, would raise rates (except no doubt on wool) the moment they achieved I power. The issue between the two I candidates is so clearly defined that, there can be no doubt as to the result/and wo have every confidence in asking our readers to | VOTE FOR MR HALL.