THE REAL ELECTION ISSUE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 October 1925, Page 4

THE REAL ELECTION ISSUE

Although probably they have precious little sympathy with his party allegiance, we hope that readers who claim to take an intelligent interest in the political situation will spare time tonight to consider Mr. P. O’Dea’s comments on the real issue before the electors. Mr. O’Dea asks whether we will deny that the fight is between Reform and Labour. We do not deny that, because we agree with it. And, reflecting on the weight of public opinion behind the recent negotiations for a fusion of the two older.parties, we find it hard to imagine that there can bo any who honestly believe otherwise. Time and time again it has been made plain that the line of political cleavage in New Zealand is between those who support the policy of the Labour Party and those who do not. Minor differences cannot be allowed to enter into the question when such vital issues are at stake. The people of New Zealand have seen sufficient in these last few weeks to indicate what forces of destruction and revolution are behind the industrial movements with which political Labour claims kinship, and all who hold dear their Empire citizenship must realise that attacks upon its sanctity.can be met and defeated only by a united front. Because he fiddled while the Imperial City burned, a Roman Emperor’s name is remembered with shame all down the ages; yet today men bicker and squabble over petty trifles while their Empiregreater, freer and more deserving of its people’s love than Rome ever was—is threatened by the insidious, underground fire of Red Moscow. The time for action is now; next Election may be too late. That is why we are sorry fusion failed. • But the failure does not affect the issue. The party keeping Labour at bay, the only party that can possibly have a majority in the new Parliament, is Reform. It is as well to remember this in those electorates where no Labour candidate is standing, but where there are still two parties. A vote for Reform is a vote directly against Labour; a vote for a Nationalist candidate is a vote wasted. Why waste votes when every one is needed?