1911 AND 1922

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 14 November 1922, Page 7

1911 AND 1922

(To tho Editor.) Sir, —To be wounded, nut by their enemies but by their Iriends, not lor their faults but for their virtues—such, it seems possible, may be the late ol the Massey Government at the coming election so far as the Nelson electorate is concerned. “i would not see Massey put out of power lor anything in the world, but I am going to vote for Atmore because Jin Ims got so many things for tho district." That is tho extraordinary statement which has beeli made by several electors, who nevertheless recognise that Massey is the only possible leader for our country at the present lime. The view thus expressed is obviously most parochial, short-sighted ami unpatriotic, it regards polities as merely a matter of “loaves and fishes: ’ The national welfare is admittedly subordinated to considerations of the “parish pump” variety. .But even on these low grounds the part played by the Massey Government is entitled to full recognition, If Mr Atrnorc has been so successful In ■‘delivering the goods, from whom has he in turn obtained t hem ! 11 the Government had acted on the “spoils to tho victors” policy, as so many previous Governments hltve dolim wlult amid Mr Almore hitve achieved? Let us give Mr Atmotc his due, None will deny that he. has attended in the requiroments of the district ii\ ah afesiduous anil businesslike manlier; But let us also remember Unit be lifts been well supported by the efforts of I lie local bodies, whose share to milch of the credit must not lie Overlooked. And let us remember that both bis atld their efforts were entirely dependent for their success upon the reasonableness and fairmindedness of the Massey Government. Surely of the two the Government is far more entitled to our gratitude than Mi Atmore. And finally let us bear in mind that in the Government candidate, Mr Gilbert, we have a keen, energetic business man who may be trusted to push the interests of the district with at least as mnch vigour and success as the present Opposition member. Is history to be allowed to repeat Itself? It is but a few years shlct; 41 1 c supporters Oi the Reform parly in Nelson ailed fm Mi \tmore only to find to their deep chagrin that their misguided action had decisively swayed the balance of power amiinst their own leader. With the civil servants and other sectional parlies vofing solid I v against the, Massey Government, the fate of the latter and of our country also, again lies in the balance—to he swaved again, perhaps, by a single vote. Can we tor a moment risk the chance that the destinies of our country may bo placed in the hands of a Wilforil or a Holland? That avowed Liberals and Labourites should oppose the Government, candidate is only to be expected. But that those who recognise the sterling worth of our present Premier should be'led by a perverted view of the “loaves and fishes'’ question into voting against the Government, which in spite of some inevitable blemisjtes Ims deserved so Well of us all, is not merely an act of disloyalty to a political party, but- it perilously akin to an net of treason against our country.—-1 am, etc., PRO PATRIA.