The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1935. THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1935, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1935. THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE

AVini Lyttelton election contest now under way, and the time approaching for the unmasking of the mysterious democratic Party, the political atmosphere will he becoming charged with greater interest. The sitting of Parliament is still some little way off, and with the leaders of the House still abroad,> matters would he quiet otherwise were it not for the two factors just mentioned. In the Lyttelton electin'), the Labour party will make a strong hid to retain the seat, and its prospects should he good. The late numbers wore both prominent in the party, ami earned a reputation for solid work. The son is well equipped in many aspects to follow his parents’ footsteps, and in a constituency mainly that of the working man, the Labour policy with its gilded promises is sure, to find favour. Air Savage, the leader of the Party, with his co-members of Christchurch city, is touring the electorate in support of the candidate. The Labor policy is being expounded on the usual lines, but the public interest is not yet aroused to very’ great interest. The Government candidate has elected to plough his own furrow, and asked for no Ministerial -assistance. Air Lyons is well able to conduct his own campaign, and enjoys meeting a hostile audience. He is well informed on general subjects and is therefore able to handle all questions put to him iu a straight-forward manner. He has been pointing; out that the Government has earned unpopularity because of necessity it had to do unpopular acts, but he naturally asks wlmt is the alternative in the face of what has been achieved. The record of the Government shows the country on an even keel financially. The stabilty of the good ship of State was emphasised last week by the success of• the loan conversion in London and the praise passed to the achievements of New Zealand following the depression period. The burning question in an electorate adjacent to a city where unemployment is rampant, is that of unemploymet. The trend has been for Labour to gravitate to the cities, and it is in those quarters where employment is greatly

overdone. The stringency which results creates a most difficult position. The responsible Board appears to be making adjustments continually to relieve too position, but the net result is not satisfying. The scale of relief rates for city areas is higher than in the country, while, sustenance is now in operation at a rate very little below the p v for .actual work. Even the latest increase in relief pay is contested because of the adjustment of hours, so that the lot of the Board is not a happy one. Continual representations are being made to headquarters, and as frequently attempts arc being made to meet, demands—but only as palliatives. The need is a comprehensive policy within bounds to overcome the bane of unemployment. But. no country has found the way to achieve that end. The promises of Labour are lacking in the wherewithal to support fulfilment and avoid national disaster. Nevertheless, the unemp'oyinent issue in ’a .constituency like Lvttelton, will have much to do in deciding the result of the poll, and for that reason the return of the Labour member is the more probable result, but, unfortunately that accomplished will not solve the major question of the hour.