ELECTION JUDGMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 23093, 20 October 1938, Page 20

ELECTION JUDGMENTS.

TO TJlli EOllOll Sir,—“ Fifty thousand Frenchmen can’t he wrong,” says an old song. I Neither, apparently, can a dozen city ' editors. But, according to those editors, 500,000 New Zealanders can bo. The editorial comments on the result of the poll quite unanimously infer that the 500.000 New Zealanders are incapable of clear thinking and are actuated by low motives of greed. We | have an Auckland editor, an Australian one, and a London one all quoting a cynical remark, “Nobody shoots Santa Claus before Christmas,” meaning thereby that the electors of the Government voted as they did because they expect to receive some personal benefit from the- return of the Government to power. The Wellington ‘Dominion’ says: “The people made it clear that they approve of his (Mr Savage’s) policy. Whether they know exactly what that means or where it may lead them is another matter.” “ The/great bulk of the electors were influenced more by the immediate material benefits they had gained.” And, again; “More attention is being paid to the gains dangled before their eves than to the loss alluring aspect of how they were to bo paid for.” The ‘ Dominion ’ has a very low opinion of the morals and character of the majority of the electors. The 1 Evening Post ’ says: “ Have they (the electors) shut their eyes to the foundation evidence . . . even if the people have voted without full comprehension . the consequences of their misunderstanding.” The Dunedin ‘ Star ’ says: “ Another consideration which may have operated, no one ever made larger promises to the largest numbers than his (Mr Ravage’s) party ” There was quite a furore, during the election campaign, about a so-called

slur on the respectability of our pioneer ancestors; but are not these editorial comments on the result of the poll a slur cast on the mentality and integrity of character of the present-day New Zealander S'- —I am, etc., J. P.S.-—-Why shoot Santa Claus at all? October 18.