NOTES ON THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 334, 22 October 1908, Page 6

NOTES ON THE ELECTIONS.

An excellent example of the view which some Ministerial candidates take of their duties was afforded by a passage in the specch which Mr. J. Stevens, M.P., delivered in Marton on Monday night. We quote his words: "Oil thq subject of the majority representation, the Leader of the Opposition says thcro should be proportional representation. I say that immediately I have been returned as the representative of the district whateyer was required by every resident of the district, whether a supporter or. not, has received prompt and proper treatment at my hands, and I say that the representative who does not represent every shade of political opinion } as far as local matters and personal requirements arc concerned, does not represent that district." This little extract illustrates admirably the incapacity of most of the Ministerialist members to realise that they are in Parliament for'other purposes than looking after their districts. Mr. Stevens appears to imagine that proportional representation is scoured so long as each member uf Parliament attends impartially to tho requests of everybody in his district respecting local needs. That there are greater issues than local ones is a matter of no moment. "Proportional representation" means a Parliament composed of representatives of all sections of general political opinion in thoir due proportion. But to the local delegate it. seems incomprehensible that anything moro should be required than the representation of all tho parochial interests. The following passage in the Prime Minister's speech at Feilding is reported in one provincial journal as having evoked "long and continued applause" : The peoplo who cried "stinking fish" called him an optimist, becauso he had tried to stem tho current' made by thoso pessimists who were continually shrieking "Calamity! calamity I" A man like himself was required from time to time to preach tho doctrine of common sense, courage, and faith. We could quoto fifty other similar passages from Sir Joseph's speeches in the past year. Lot us quote instead, however, the canons governing Colonial Treasurers as expressed in past Budgets. In 1894 wo find Sir Joseph saying that his reduction in the departmental estimates is "highly satisfactory." What, then, must we call the enormous increases in those estimates nowadays 1 ! In his 1895 Budget he quoted a table to show that the net indebtedness of the country per head of the population was decreasing steadily, at the rate of 10s. per head per annum. On this point "he said: Considering the enormous amount of public works,that have been carried on throughout the colony during the past year, and tho fact that our population has not so largely increased as could have been wished, such a marked reduction of indebtcdneLs gor head must give general satisfaction.

The gross debt on March 31 of that year was £40,386,964, or £58 lis. 6d. per head. On March 31 last it was £66,453,897, or £70 17s. 6d. per head. Such a marked increase of indebtedness per head' 1 must give—what? In the same Budget Sin Joseph Ward said: The time is approaching when, in m.v opinion, it would add to the stability, of the colony, and place it in the forefront of any country in the world, if wo would resolve to make, a moderate sacrifice in providing with our annual interest a small payment to enable the loan to be extinguished within a reasonable period. . . . Whilo posterity lias doubtless to reap the reward of tlio efforts of ourselves and those who havo preceded us, and should bear a full sharo of the burdens created to make the country, still, as prudent men wo shouldj whilo recognising the necessities of ths times in which we live,'endeavour to make our .legacy as light as possible for those who will follow us. And how has the Government lightened the burden 1 By adding £26,066,933 to Posterity's bill. It really appears that "the time" has grown tired ' of 1 "approaching," and is "receding" as far as it can.

Of course everybody desires that "the doctrine of common sense" should. bo preached at all times, and the doctrine of "courage and faith" at certain times. "Courage and faith" is a splendid motto for a man toiling up hill, but .wo do not call it "courage and faith" whftn tho man is rushing down hill and seeks to increase the pace. The Colonial Treasurer of 1896 seems to havo had a better understanding of tho : right doctrine for the national financier. In his Budget he said: Now, however, although better times havo dawned upon us, we should not be unmindful of tho lessons taught during the past few years, and our people should not forget that to practise thrift in prosperous times means insurance against reyerses, which history tells us are bound to overtake periodically tho_ most favoured and fortunate countries. A\e must not rush into lavish expenditure simply because there is a surplus and the principal items of revenue show' an increase. Quito the reverse. The strictest economy should be practised in every branch of the Public Service. i Again, in 1897, the then Colonial Treasurer returned to his theme: I have, however, a word of caution and warning to give—namely, that we* must not, because wo are enjoying fairly prosperous times, rush into a lavish and increased expenditure, and suddenly become oblivious of past depressions and financial difficulties. The lessons taught by past extravagance, followed by hard times, snould not bo forgotten; wo should exercise prudence and strict economy. Will Sir Joseph Ward say ho- disapproved of these views of the Liberal Government of 1896 and 18971, Whatever "common sense" may be, "courage and faith" obviously mean to' the Prime Minister a complete forgetfulncss of tho sound maxims just quoted. ' Mr. Major continues to hold out the most alluring baits to the electors of Hawora. At Alton ho informed his audience that if a district docs not express its confidence in tho Government by returning a Government supporter, the Government will express its want of confidence in that district in the usual manner. "I," he said in effect, "am the only key. that will unlock the Treasury so far as Hawora is concerncd." But he lias an even stronger card than this, and he played it at Hawora ,on Tuesday night. "Ho asked the people," so he Js reported in ,i message we print to-day,''"to support him again, because—and'he would say this openly—ho might hold a • portfolio. He would not think of Parliament if ho was going to remain there in the position of private member for.'many years." It requires a very active/imagination indeed to discern in Mr. Major tho successful aspirant to 'the vacant portfolio. One quality at any rato he possesses in full measure. Ho is a pattern of candour. But wo have a suspicion that he has only said openly what a dozen—perhaps two or three dozenMinisterial candidates are saying tjo themselves. He would not have been so frank if ho-had not received some encouragement from headquarters. ■ And if he received any encouragement, a great', many others must have been similarly encouraged. When these others read Me. Major's delightful revelation, there is likely to be a great deal of uneasiness. No doubt Sir Joseph is already busy answering frantic messages and tactfully extricating himself from the embarrassing situation in which Mr. Major's candour has placed him. Need anything be said upon the more serious aspect of Mr.' Major's statement—its rovelation of tho political degoneration which enables a . candidate to base an appeal for support on the prospect of his being able to obtain a Ministerial share, instead of a mere member's share, of the spoil?