The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1935. MUCH ADVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1935, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1935. MUCH ADVICE

The present election, due to the many candidates and the extra party with increased Independents, has resulted in much advice being poured out to the electors. The strenuous nature of the contest indicates that ail are straining their forces to assure success. The contest has gone far enough to give some indication of the probable result. The Democrat Party began well, but the rift within its ranks boded ill, and there has not been a recovery from the set hack. The Leader (Mr Ilislop) has held on gallantly, anti some of his candidates have been making a fair showing, hut generally the fortunes of the party appear to be drifting into the backwash. The real struggle seems now to concentrate between. the Government and Labour. Both have about the same number of candidates in the field, and leaders and lieutenants on both sides, as well -as candidates, are maintaining a steady bombardment on the electors. The whole scheme of administration anu the policy for the future have been well canvassed, and folk will be settling in their own minds what they uelieve best. The people have been told over and over again that it is the farmer on whom depends the country's prosperity. There is no doubt the Government has done its part to help the farming community. But Labour believes the right thing has not been done, and offers something more, realising, too/ how. iuvjiovtflut the fanner

is. The head of the Farmers’ Union, Mr Poison, himself a candidate, nas summed up the political situation, and strongiy advises the farmers to give full support to the National candidates. Coming from such a quarter, the advice must carry a great deal of weight, for Mr PolsOn has been an araein; worker for the farming community. Then there is another important seetion, the business community, with which is bound II P the finances of the country. Solid advice from such .as Mr Downie Stewart points to the fallacies of the Labour financial policy and the inherent danger of breaking down the present strong position which has been gained. The banking world in the literature it has been broadcasting, makes clear that the present system has been tried and lias served New Zealand well. These two sections go to make up the main-spring of the country’s fortunes. If all is well with the export trade, and the financial position is manipulated on sound lines, there is a glow of prosperity which affects all classes—worker, manufacturer, and the whole social fabric. If the issue is focussed a'ong the lines indicated, there is the lead given to realise the paramount importance of maintaining the National party in power. This is essential because sof the success of the. policy which overcame the stringency of the depression period, and shaped a course to continue building up trade and the fortunes of the Dominion in the betterment now being felt. No- doubt a great achievement was acconiplishnd in bringing Neiv Zealand through stressful times. It was done without great dislocation. As soon as stress appeared, measures were taken to cope with it. The wheels moved slowly but they moved effectively, and are now gaining the necessary momentum to ensure tn« all round improvement desired. What the National Government has clone, it can improve on, and now occurrs the opportunity to help that further betterment'by supporting the Government candidates put forward to assist a safe and sound national policy.