POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1334, 8 December 1914, Page 2

POLITICAL.

On Thursday next the electors in this, as in all other constituencies throughout the Dominion, will be called upon to elect a member to represent them in Parliament for the ensuing term. The polling booth for Foxton will be at the State school, and the other booths as set out by advertisement, The polling hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Electors will also cast their votes either for or against the continuance of liquor both on the national and local issues. Separate voting papers will be given for this purpose. The method of voting is so simple as to leave no excuse for informal votes being cast.

It should be unnecessary for us to state that the method of voting is what is called the “striking out’’ system. The elector is given his’voting paper, and on proceeding to his corner, strikes out the name of the candidate for whom his vote is not cast —he leaves unscored by his pencil the name of the candidate whom he desires elected. In other words, the elector must mi no account leave more than one name clear to the view of the person who counts the votes. Unless these instructions are rigidly followed irregularities arise, and the vote is marked “informal.” The same system applies to voting on the two licensing questions.

The following is a copy of the telegram forwarded to Mr Massey last Saturday : “W. F. Massey, Wellington or lot ward. —Robertson stated here last night that Mr Massey met him in the tube, and among other things promised him that if he voted against the Ward Government on the No confidence motion the Reform Party would not oppose him during the 1914 election. Is this true ? Reply prompt. —Keeeow.”

Mr Massey’s reply is as follows : —“Kellow Ksq,, Foxton.—The statement is absolutely untrue. — W. F. Masskv.”

The gross slander which the Opposition politicians and newspapers have been directing against the Prime Minister in connexion with the Waiuku railway came into prominence in Auckland on Friday in a veryinterestlngfashion. Mr Massey, it will be remembered, issued a challenge to his opponents to say plainly and honestly, in actionable form, what they have been saying by innuendo, keeping carefully to windward of the law of libel. The imputation against him is one of political corruption —an imputation against his honour and integrity. If it were not that, it was nothing ; but as a matter of fact everyone knows that the “ liberals ” have asked the public to believe that Mr Massey misused his position as a public man to use public funds for his private benefit. His slanderers have generally stated — often with gross inaccuracy—certain facts, presenting them in such a way that the public might draw an abominable inference. Friday evening the Auckland Star printed a very complete apology and withdrawal. “We hasten to say, it said, that we have not impugned the honour and integrity of the Prime Minister. . . We

neither believe nor have suggested that the Prime Minister is open to a charge of political corruption.” The Star is a very bitter Opposition journal, but it has sufficient sense to know that the slandering of Mr Massey is injudicious as well as infamous. The Christchurch and Wellington organs of the Opposition have freely circulated the slander in question, and neither has dared to accept Mr Massey’s challenge and say outright that Mr Massey has acted corruptly. That he did act corruptly has been insinuated over and over again in these journals ; that was the only purpose their articles on the ostrich farm had, or could have. They know, however, and every Opposition politician and journalist knows, that any jury would award Mr Massey the heaviest damages possible against these newspapers if their boldness were equal to their political malice. Every decent man in the country will know what to think of politicians and newspapers whose weapons are those which are being used against Mr Massey. What indeed, could any decent man think of politicians and newspapers who in this cowardly fashion seek to persuade the public into believing of an honest man what those politicians and newspapers know to be untrue ? And while Mr Massey has to endure these abominable tactics, the Opposition are exclaiming that the paltry and wholly imaginary woes of Sir Joseph Ward are terrible and tragic!—Christchurch Press.

Speaking at Ihakara on Saturday evening Mr W. H. Field read from the the last number of the Socialist organ, the Maoriland Worker, the list of Social-Demo-cratic candidates, among whom were Messrs Webb, Holland and Robertson. He also dealt with the Social - Democratic platform, printed on the same sheet, with its provisions tor abolition of the country quota, the six hours’ day for industiial workers, and other interesting and startling items. The extraordinary part of it was, said Mr Field, that in addressing the public, Mr Robertson had carefully refrained from\ explaining this platform, and tha'r it represented the policy to which he was pledged. )