Evening Post. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1929. ONE SIDE OF THE TRIANGLE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 130, 28 November 1929, Page 8

Evening Post. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1929. ONE SIDE OF THE TRIANGLE

It is many years since New Zealand has had a by-election fraught with greater interest than that centring on the Hutt contest. The circumstances contribute greatly to the interest. There are three parties in Parliament. They are not equal in strength, but the differences between them are not so great that the possibility of a general election altering their "positions can be ruled out. Each party looks to Hutt to show which way the political wind is blowing. Then there is the personal factor. For twenty-seven years Hutt has been represented by the same member. His personal following has helped much in late years to assure his return. In fact, it may be said that there has not been a real test of party strength in the electorate for many years past. Even with three candidates in the field (and Reform had no candidate at the last two elections) Mr. Wilford had a good start fr6m his. opponents because of his unbroken association with the fortunes of the district. Now that no longer applies. In the byelection there will be two candidates resident in the electorate and a third who ,has resided there and has previously been a candidate for the seat. The three start from about the same mark, and the decision of the race will rest partly on party and partly on personal merit. No doubt many of the voters have already made up their minds concerning party; but others, believing that the personal standard of Parliament is of great importance, are waiting an opportunity of judging the qualifications of all three candidates.

On the personal side the electors with an open mind will, we believe, be most favourably impressed by Mr. Johnston, who opened his public campaign last night. He will appeal to those who are anxious to see Parliament strengthened by the entry of men of busirless capacity and experience, possessing sound ideas on policy, and the ability to express them. His statement of policy last night -was reasoned, clear, and forcible. We cannot agree with him on every point. In particular, we think he attaches too little importance to land settlement as a means of assuring New Zealand's progress. Our prosperity must rest upon a well-proportioned base; and the increase of primary production (by closer settlement, waste land development, and improved methods) is essential in maintaining this proportion. We can agree, however, that industrial development is also necessary, and no Government of to-day can afford to overlook this. A progressive industrial policy must be evolved to meet the needs of the time. Mr. Johnston did not lay down definite lines for such a policy; but he emphasised that goodwill in.industry was vital. The co-operation of labour and capital must be secured. With such co-operation as a starting point there need be no fear of failure, provided business principles are applied in the reorganisation of existing industries and the establishment of new ones. But before Parliament can be deemed competent to guide and assist this reorganisation it must be strengthened by men who can. perceive the weaknesses of the present position and apply, appropriate remedies. 1 Doubtless the other candidates, when they state their views, will submit other plans. It will be for the electors to examine these with care and judge how far they are practicable. In such an examination possible and probable results should be looked for. It is not enough to spend freely, with a confident 'expectation that the return will come if one is sufficiently bold. A freespending policy is not necessarily and essentially progressive. Genuine progress may be assured even more certainly by caution, and it is right that this caution factor should be stressed as Mr. Johnston stressed it. There are possibilities in industry, and the difficulty to-day is to distinguish between the possibilities which are great and those which are slight. When this distinction is made a bold policy of helpfulness will be timely. In the past New Zealand has been too prone to spread assistance, and much of this broadcast help has been wasted. Now it is necessary to apply a selective policy. One of the maxims of Mark Twain's "Pudd'nhead Wilson" is appropriate. "Put all your eggs in one basket," he said, "and watch the basket." We have had too many industrial baskets hitherto, ,and some of them have not been watched.