THE HAWKE'S BAY ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3020, 6 March 1917, Page 4

THE HAWKE'S BAY ELECTION

Awlif from tho fact that all three candidates for tho Hawke's Bay seal; support the National Government, and in consequence party politics are obliterated, the election Campaign now proceeding is strangely unlike what ono would expect at a time like tho present. Almost from the outset there has been a descent into personalities that would be undesirable at any time, and ,*i truckling to sectional and parochial interests which somehow we cannol, escape from in our politics even in timo of national danger, when all should be prompted by a common purpose. Sir John Finulav, the official candidate of tlio National Government, has managed to avoid the personalities, but oven he has failed to escape the alluring possibilities of vote-catching devices so dear to the heart of polij tical organisers and local committees. This is regrettable, we think, for the reason that it may militate against tho prospects.of the candi-date-chosen by l'he party leaders as most qualified in existing condii tions to render useful service in J .Parliament. The fact may be j plainly faced that a public man, j be ho ever so well known, is placed at a disadvantage in contesting a country constituency distant from his own placc_ of residenc6 against an opponent living in tho constituency. At ordinary times this is a very; great handicap, for tho very simple reason that our politics are largely parochial, and the man who lives on the spot, who knows tho district and its needs, and whose interests are, broadly speaking, the interests of his neighbours, is presumably better able than the candidate from outside to voice the wishes and forward the claims of the constituency. This is tho case at ordinary times, and there is a I good deal to bo said in support of tho point of viow.it expresses. But thoprcsent is not an ordinary time. It is becauso it is not an ordinary time that the leaders of the two political parties have sunk their party differences; and it is for this reason that Sib John Findlay was requested to contest the Hawke's Bay seat. It is not a timo to consider tho smaller issues—parochial interests and sectional prejudices. It- is a time when national interests should bo placed not merely first, but should be studied to tho exclusion of all other minor concerns. There should be no need for Sir John Findlay to attempt, to compete with Mr. Fbaser and Mn. iSimson on .parochial grounds in the present contest. Tho grounds on which he invites tho support of tho_ electors of Hawko's Bay aro plain and sufficient. Ho is the chosen nominee of the two political leaders under the agreement which led to the formation of the National Government. The formation of that Government was essential to the welfare of the Dominion, inasmuch as it was the onlj means by whioh that concord could bo socured which would enable the country to play its part to the best advantage in the war. Tho National Government has no right to demand that its nominee shall bo returned, but it has, in the circumstances stated, a very groat claim to the sympathetic consideration of thc_ electors of any constituency to which it may turn for assistance and support.