MR ANSELL’S DEBUT.

Evening Star, Issue 20010, 30 October 1928, Page 4

MR ANSELL’S DEBUT.

That the contest as between the Reform and United Party candidates for the Chalmers seat will be conducted in the best spirit was illustrated at last night’s preliminaries at Mosgicl. Prior to Mr London's sudden withdrawal Mr Walls had perhaps aspirations, but no expectations of doing something more than preside at political meetings in the town of which ho is mayor. Now that circumstances have changed lie insisted on presiding at Mr Ansell’s meeting to honour an early promise. The meeting was of an encouraging nature. As Mr Anscll said, Chalmers is largely a farming constituency, but it contains a variety of other interests to as groat a degree as any other in the dominion. He has discovered what a number of those interests seek to exact pledges from parliamentary candidates, and it is pleasing to see that ho has put his foot down. In his own words, if he goes to Parliament, it is as a man and not as a trussed fowl. The New Zealand Alliance is evidently seeking quietly a repetition of last election’s trussing tactics. Mr" Ansell declined to bind himself to the Alliance, but ho has declared himself for the bare majority on a two-issuo ballot paper. The upshot is much the same; nevertheless it is gratifying to see that Mr Ansell has publicly administered a rebuke to pledge-seekers wlxp afterwards make it their boast that they have “captured Parliament.”

On the subject of the land Mr Ansell was less explicit than one woald like. He dealt too much in generalities and not enough with conditions as they exist in Otago. It is all very well to say that the two foremost factors governing the situation are making available all the suitable areas of land and giving the youth of Now Zealand the necessary facilities in rural instruction. But, as has again and again been pointed out, the instruction will be largely wasted if so much of the work on the farm can be done by machinery and the rest is allowed to go undone rather than employ labour. And instruction on how to work hind is of little use if there is no land available to work. That is how the position is developing under a Government whoso closer settlement policy consists in a pious wish that suitable land could he found, but seems to encourage its land hoards, understood to be instantly obedient to hints from Wellington, in circumventing any mooted subdivision. It seems very early in the history of this country for it to Le necessary to maintain, as though in answer to a challenge, that there is still a good opportunity for small farm settlement, as Mr Ansell declared last night. There is no sense in blaming the Government for not attempting the impracticable, but the soldier settlements venture is .being made an excuse for not attempting anything at all.

Mr Ansell had his feet on firmer ground when he dealt with the subject of road transport for the farmer, among other sections of the community. His work in assisting to make of the Highways Act a practical working proposition, instead of the dead letter it threatened to be when first introduced, is known all over the South Island, and particularly in Otago. Into this task he has thrown a groat deal of energy and shown much common sense, besides a resolution to oppose the Administration, if need he, which suggests that, if returned, he will he no servile party hack. In particular Mr Ansell has fought the battle of the South Island against the North so that the proceeds of earmarked' taxation shall be equitably applied. The principle has been conceded, but it appears to require constant watchfulness to see that it is regularly put into practice, and it is quite likely that all. motorists, irrespective of political creeds, would lie reassured by Mr Ansell's presence in Parliament. Ho docs not convey the impression of being a bigoted party man, and it would lie regrettable if vote-splitting between him and Mr Walls should result in neither of the two securing the Chalmers seat.