PUTTING PUNCH INTO POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 163, 28 March 1923, Page 6

PUTTING PUNCH INTO POLITICS

TAURANGA PARTISANS COME TO BLOWS

HIGH FEELING IN THE ELECTORATE

BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CoRP.ESrONDENT. Tauranga, March 27.

There was much marching and mustering of forces today for the final battle in tho Tauranga by-election campaign. The hurried movement began quite early in the morning with the departure of the principal combatants and their allies from different camps along tho wide front to tho'weakest point of the line. That, at least, was clearly the idea of it, and the disposition of the rival warriors appeared to be quite a serious task in tactics for those who imagined that there was 'nothing but politics in all tho world. There Bas been a great deal of unique entertainment for tliose with eyes to see the humour of the moil and clamour, and the best of it may not be told. Many people have found it both curious and entertaining to note that although an unparalleled number of rival party members. of Parliament have taken part in this unrivalled byelection campaign, the fates have always mercifully prevented the different contestants from meeting at tho same hotel. In the cool of lovely evenings one wonders what might have happened if by some misadventure, they had all been compelled to camp in a hamlet with only ono inn. Would it have been a terrible night? It is impossible to say with anything liktS reliable® definitenpse, for one has seen a member of a party suddenly turn his back upon a genial Minister on the quiet street of a pleasant country town u» tho electorate. It need not be pretended that political temper has not occasionally been high, and it is certain that for years to come in Parliament there will be bitter party reference to this contest for the Tauranga seat. I A Donnybrook Fair. This mood has not been confined to the loquacious oombatants. It has been prominent to an unusual extent among the camp followers Of the respective leaders. Temper has not been confined to argument. It has on several occasions attained the ecstasy of a Donnybrook Fair. The stranger has, like Agag, “to walk warily” 'lest ho be challenged, if he should talk politics, to put his money up and reveal the character of his faith. The electorate is an Ellerslie for wagers, though the dividends have not been guaranteed with tho exactitude of the totalisator. Hord and there some men liavo already fought like tigers, even with the sun high in tho heavens. There were, for example, no fewer than three bruising clashes to-day in tho town of Tauranga. In one of these two staid shopkeepers, usually lawabiding neighbours, fell into a political argument. “You Are a Cur.” “What about that 22 millions Massey wasted?” demanded the disciple of Sir Joseph Ward. “That money was spent on the soldiers,’,’ retorted the hater of frenzied finance, “and if you again say that it was wasted you are a cur.” The indictment was repeated, and the fight was on. • Such was the morning mood of lauranga. What may it be before the end? The prudent stranger becomes as Mr. Pirn —he passes by. It is clear that everybody will be glad when the hurricane campaign has been terminated, and when “the. captains and the kings denari.” Business was practically at' a standstill in Tauranga today, and even in the country industry has been unusually interrupted. It is not every day that the great men of the Dominion pass and repass along the white roads of the plains and athwart tho many hills overlooking the of the oustanding features of thei singular campaign has been the remarkable wealth of the district in motor-cars. The prosperity of the lauranga district and the comfort and hospitality of its people have made most of the destructive criticism in this campaio-n indescribably ridiculous : but politics is a game with the referee blindfolded until the end of the test.