THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1911. THE "CINDERELLAS" OF THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14825, 31 October 1911, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1911. THE "CINDERELLAS" OF THE NORTH.

Now that the triennial elections are approaching Government candidates are unanimously advancing the strangest of reasons why they should be sent to Wellington to look after the interests of their constituencies. For example, Mr. Napier asserts that Waitemata is the " Cinderella among Northern constituencies" and excites his fellow-citizens to return him to support the Government, which has left them with " rotten and dangerous" budgets, with broken down and useless''* culverts, with " seas of mud" fo? roads, and without the "78 miles of metalled roads" which he admits should have been constructed. How their support of a neglectful Government can improve their lot Mr. Napier does not explain, for the obvious deduction is that. the dismissal of the Government or the strengthening of the Opposition in such a manner as to destroy the unchallenged Parliamentary domination of the Government is the only remedy. In Parnell, Sir John Findlay has also pointed out many local requirements which are urgently required, and has eloquently given his hearers to understand that his return will enable his particular Cinderella to share the luxurious life of her proud and haughty sisters in the South. If we turn to Eden, we find Mr, Speight criticising the Government for its manifold sins, but assuring the incredulous electors that if they will refuse to support the " effete Opposition"— whose proposed reforms he approves —and will send him to sit on the Government benches all good things will be added unto them. Everywhere throughout the province there is the same tale. It would be u«e-

less to attempt to persuade the aver age elector that he has been fairly dealt with, so we have the remarkable sight of general recognition by Government, candidates of Government shortcomings, this recognition being accompanied by the earnest plea that if these Government candidates are elected the Government will, in some mysterious way, act; wholly differently in the future.

The Government has held office for twenty years. At election after election Northern constituencies have listened to the same story, and from. Parliament after Parliament have received the same treatment. There is nothing new in tho position taken up by Government candidates, but we trust that there will be some- | thing new in the comment made at 1 the ballot-box by the electors. Mr. ' Napier is so far correct when he speaks of Waitemata as a Cinderella that this electorate is one of a group of Cinderellas, is one of that Northern sisterhood whose fate it is to work hard and v fare badly, to pay taxes and obtain in return the barest possible consideration. We cannot even have for our Northern constituencies that seat in the Cabinet of which they have been deprived by the resignation of Mr. Fowlds. Instead of this being assigned to some one or other of the loyal supporters of the Government to be found in the North, Sir John Findlay is sent up from Wellington to secure an Auckland seat and to continue in the Cabinet as an Auckland representative. The Opposition would do more for us than this, although to hear some candidates, one would imagine that the only value of an Opposition was to advocate reforms which Government. candidates could adopt for electioneering purposes and then repudiate for three long years.