Every Vote Counts.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17631, 7 December 1922, Page 6

Every Vote Counts.

TJntil the last few days, when the unfortunate importation into the election campaign of the sectarian element provoked some feeling, the contest in Canterbury has been unusually quiet and devoid of incident. However gratifying this may be from some points of view, from one point of view *at least this is not wholly satisfactory. A vigorously contested campaign almost inevitably produces a heavy poll; there is a danger that the lack of excitement which has characterised the present campaign may lead some, if not many, electors to abstain from voting. To do so will be a plain dereliction of their duty tus good citizens, for the exercise of the franchise ia no less a duty than a privilege. The issue to be decided to-day is not a negligible one; it is on the contrary of vital concern to the welfare of the country. For upon the result of to-day's voting depends the question whether the government of the Dominion is to be entrusted for another term to the same safe leader who has guided New Zealand's affairs

during the past three anxious years, or whether it is to be handed over to a combination of two parties, equally inexperienced in administration, of whom one rests on the achievements ot men who were in office last century and the other is really, though not frankly, revolutionary it is essential that every Reform vote m the country should be polled. There must be no 'ver-confidence, no indifference; the Reformer who neglects to tako the small amount of trouble involved in going to the nearest polling booth, deserves all he would get if Mr Massoy were defeated.