Bay of Plenty Times. FRIDAY, NOVEM. 6th., 1925. WEDNESDAY'S POLL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9028, 6 November 1925, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Times . FRIDAY, NOVEM. 6th., 1925. WEDNESDAY'S POLL.

Not lor many years has a political party in New Zealand found itself with such a substantial majority in Parliament as the Reform Party finds itself as tho result ol the General Elections on Wednesday last. Despite the opinions of opponents, and of many supporters also, that the Reform Party could not possibly last the full term of the last Parliament, it succeeded in carrying on, and through the death of its leader was forced to face the country with a new leader. How the appeal to the country has been met is now a matter of history. Except in the strongest of strongholds of Liberal and Labour the Reform Party candidates are returned, in many cases with most decisive majorities, in some with majorities substantially increased, and again in others—where the majorities are not so great—in a manner that clearly indicates a breaking away from those parties to which the electors had hitherto given 1 their allegiance. Tho Reform Party under Mr Coates has clearly a mandate from the people. It is well that it should be so. Mr Coates has now the opportunity to j prove his staiesmanhip—or want I of it. Labour made a strenuous bid to impress its views upon the people and had no doubt hoped to make such gains as would bring appreciably nearer that day when it would sit upon the Treasury benches and usher in Utopia. Rut | the sound common sense of the people is yet to be relied upon. It has long since been recognised that the legitimate claims of labour must receive recognition and attention at, the hands of any Government. The Parliamentary Labour Party as we know it at present, is a very pale red if it has any “red’’ tinge at all, and would be found quite unable, if not disinclined, to live up to its declared intentions.. That is known and understood and so the sober-minded New Zealander—greatly predominating —prefers the more settled course of entrusting the Government to a pally that has certainly made an honest endeavour to guide the country through the troublous times of war and its aftermath. As for the once stalwart Liberal Party, even the change to “National’' did not stay the disintegration long evident. It is gradally sinking into oblivion and must ultimately disappear, either by absorption or decay. As to which it chooses is now —as the result of Wednesday’s poll—of little concern to anvone but the ’ ‘ National members. ft becomes their own domestic afi’air entirely, to be settled as iltcv deem best. 1 ho elections over, tlie Prime Munster is now iV->d with early Cabinet _ reconstruct inn. He has vacancies m his Cabinet-, and. in the opinion ol many, weakiies.-e.->. liie vacancies in the taliine 1 caused b V 1 he d<-aH- of Mr Massev .and the ret if-men i. o' Sir H. 1.1. Rhodes have 50 He hlh d, and a leader has a’?n to found for the I,©ablative L'mim"! to replace Sir I ’.ancis P**H,

J ,vho is reliring. M r Coates has ! fho mandate from fhe people, and j with it goes the responsibility for i utilising the best: material at his disposal. The result will be awaited with no little interest.

LOAN FOR RAIMA] IK) AFC On Tuesday next the lOih inst., the ratepayers of the Tauriko special rating area will bo called upon to vote on a proposal to raise a loan of h’JSOO for the purpose of enabling the County Council, with file aid of a grant from the Borough Council, to lift, a subsidy of Xd for XI from the. Main Highways Board for the improvement of the Raimat Road. This would make available for the road a sum of about X 12,000, and the expenditure of such any amount would mean that the road could be used for motor traffic all the year round. The improvement of the road is highly desirable, both m the interests of the Tauriko ratepayers and of the whole district. The assistance that is forthcoming from the Highways Board is very generous indeed, and it will certainly result in a set back, not only to the Kaimai, but to the whole district, if the proposal is rejected. For many years the improvement of this road to an extent that will make it available for motor traffic winter and summer, wet or dry, has been eagerly looked for, and with the realization of the hope of years in sight it will be a keen disappointment if the opportunity is refused. The polling booths are at the Lower School at Omanawa, the Cambridge Road School, and the Coronation Hall, and will bo open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.