Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1919. PERSONAL FACTOR IN POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 10 November 1919, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1919. PERSONAL FACTOR IN POLITICS

THERE can he no doubt that the main issue before the electors through- ; avlt New Zealand is, sound progress along constitutional lines or Bol.sb.evism. In some place the li ne dejnarkatiou is not so plainly drawn' as in. others, but the issue, taking the Dominion as a whole, is the same. There is *o little difference between the platforms of ‘Mr Massey, and Su Joseph Ward that it hardly matters, so far as the programmes care concerned, which party is supported. There is no need for the two parties,f Both should be spending their energies working for the country instead of fighting each other over trifles. In breaking away from the Government on the eve of the session and determining to Tight, the election as a sep- ! arate party, Sir Joseph Ward and his followers made a move which is against the best interest*, of the country. No one wanted, or wants now, a return to the old party squabbling. Big problems lie before the country and there is no time to

WJIRtO. * « Bub the public has to take the situation as it finds it. The choice between ordered progress with security and personal safety will win easily against the forces working for the disruption of the country. So far as most other candidates are concerned. thar e being no other issues of any great moment, the choice must naturally be made on the score of per-, aonality. What candidate possesses the best qualifications for carrying ou» th© duties pertaining to the position. In all such matters it is necessary to remember that it is not what a p.* Htician says, biiit what he is, and does, that counts. The politician who public life to serve hip own ends is not wanted in any community, for 'sooner or later* the occasion arises when -the choice must be made between self-interest and the interests of the people. Th P , politician whose outlook is inherently selfish, no mat ter by what subterfuge he may endeavour to t obscure the tissue and howwell he may pose as a heaven-born martyr, does not last for any length of time, for the people find him out and know what value is to ho placed upon his words. A steadfast opponent is infinitely t 0 b e preferred to a fairweather ally. In the present contest the electors will, wr,e arc convinced, find that they can best serve their country by supporting men of sound principles with the sincerity to stick to them and the ability to carry them out. Problems cannot be solved and the- country, properly governed by speech-making. Talkers are not the best doers. As we remarked above, it is not what a man says, but what he is, and does, that counts.