HELL’S DRYING ROOM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 November 1925, Page 10

HELL’S DRYING ROOM.

RESERVED FOR FARMERS. TOO GREEN TO BURN. CAPTAIN COLBEOK’S LAMENT. Mr. Frank Colbeck, the defeated Country Party candidate for the R<oto- f rua seat, in a letter to the Whakatane Press says: “Sir, —Some of your readers may be interested in hearing my view's on the result of the recent election. The issues between the Reform Government and the Country Party were clear cut. We advocated : (1) Cheap moiiey; (2) reduced cost of living; (3) a democratic system of electing members. Tli© Reform Party advocated: (1) Dear money; (2) an increased cost of living; (3) first past the post method of election. Put in another form we advocated. (1) .Agricultural banks, which pay ho dividend's; (2) cheap clothing and other necessaries; (3) preferential voting, which means that the winning candidate, must get an absolute majority. Reform advocated: (1) Bank of New- Zealand and dividends of 67-1 per cent, or more; (2) dear clothes and dear necessaries; (3) representation by minorities. “The farmer evidently prefers the Reform programme. ' “Nineteen hundred and twenty-five years ago the people were, asked to choose between a perfect man and a robber. They chose the robber. It is curious how history repeats itself. “I understand that the largest department in hell is a huge drying room. This is reserved exclusively for farmers. It was rendered necessary because’ farmers were so green that they would not burn until they had been ‘kiln-dried’ for three months. When the farmers of Auckland province are hung up by the ‘breeks’ in this room—the temperature, I am told, is maintained at 350 degrees —they will have ample time to think over the result of the 1925 election. I believe that Prohibition is strictly enforced. They will probably fold their arms and say, ‘Uh Lord, lid merciful, for we didna’ ken,’ and) the Lord will point the finger of scorn at- them and say, ‘Ah, weel, ye ken noo.’ ” —(Signecl) Frank Colbeck, Country Party candidate.