NOTES ON THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 337, 26 October 1908, Page 6

NOTES ON THE ELECTIONS.

Owing to the alterations in the plectoral boundaries a great deal of confusion has been created in the minds of those living near the border lines separating the electorates. In the case of Wellington the boundaries are so very eccen-. trie that many people do not know in which electorate they now reside. It is unfortunately characteristic of the elector that he will rather disfranchise himself than be at the trouble of ascertaining the roll upon which he must have his name registered, and .we accordingly print in this issue a map which will enable any Wellington resident who has doubts on the subject to see his electoral position, for himself. It should be unnecessary to urge every elector to have himself or herself placed upon the roll. In time, perhaps, the duty of voting will be recognised and discharged by the people as naturally as the duty of obeying the laws of the land, although there must always be a percentage of idle and careless folk who will not realise what the franchise means. If people had to do something more than merely come of age in order to obtain the- franchise, we should find very few non-voters amongst those qualified to vote. It is of little use appealing to the public to remember that their forefathers gave up their ,lives and their liberty to secure the boon that is so lightjy treated, by their descendants. We must only remember that some people will not vote unless they are coaxed, worried, or inspired into attending to their duty as citizens.

Although they differ in many details, and in their methods of presenting similar views, the Ministerialist members of Parliament who are seeking re-election all agree upon one point. Each of them claims that he has tho special advantage of having obtained large sums for public works in his district. Sooner or later, in reading the speech, with its familiar repetitions, you como upon the member's trump card. Mr. Witty claims at Riccarton "that no one obtained so much for the district as he had." Me. Buddo, at Kaiapoi, "can say that he had been ablo to maintain at a good standard the public buildings and bridges in the Kaiapoi electorate." Mk. Remington, at Mangawcka, "claimed that he had dono as much, if not moro, for his constituency than any other member, and pointed out the large sum of nearly a quarter of a million had been allocated to the Rangitikoi district, and said when any other member could show aucb a record. It

would bo time to take hira to task." Mr. Remington's syntax baffles us, but his main intention is very clear. In the Wairarapa district the "roads and bridges" policy has induced a quite sensible newspaper to make itself ridiculous by supporting a member whose views it opposes. Could any stronger argument be required in favour of having the expenditure on public works taken out of the hands of the party that happens to be in power? If that expenditure wero removed from political control, the character of Parliament would change at once. Freed from the necessity of swallowing the Ministerial candidate, the public would be able to vote on the larger political issues, and would return a Parliament composed of something better than mere local; delegates—something better than men whoso only claim to re-election is their capacity for getting the ear of the man who doles out the cash.