A POLITICAL GAME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 30 May 1914, Page 4

A POLITICAL GAME

' HERE are two political parties eagerly seeking the votes .of the people. The electors sit back in their seats at public meetings, and not a few, we think, smile to themselves at the wild. extra v-aigaiices of most; Speakers. Tihere are some -Reformers who quite lose sight of the things that matter in politics, in 'an endeavour to iput their hearers against their opponents. These people, we have no hesitation in saying, do their cause more harm than good. The people soon tire of this l continual ranting, and they want to hear something worth listening to, something, that will

increase their political knowledge, something that will throw light- on the 'problems of the day. But whilst Reformers have erred in this .respect, they have never descended to the level reached by most Oppositionists. If certain politicians consider that they can do better than the Reformer® are doing, they are, of course, entitled to their opinion, and it would -be quite legitimate for them to endeavour to convince the people of the Domindon that they were right. They could show <wliere' ' Reformers were wrong, and what they could do if they had a chance. This would .be clean sailing and 'fair fighting, and the people would, be able to give expression to their .political views as between the two parties with, no uncertainty. And the electors have a right to certainty in this matter. Instead' of anything of this sort, we see the Opposition endeavouring ■to vilify the Government and prejudice the people against it by stirring up bad feeling and class hatred. This sort of thing is a curs 6to the country. It is a bar to progress, and the enemy o-f ali classes. If certain industrial. or humanitarian legislation places a section of the community on each side, let it. This is square dealing. No bad feeling is engendered', as the difference is a political one. But .what fairminded people 'object to is continual misrepresentation of the Government's actions and the setting of class against class simply to secure the votes of one section. The surprising thing is that more people do not see thi-ongh the game.