SOUTHERN PRESS" COMMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17347, 19 December 1919, Page 10

SOUTHERN PRESS" COMMENT.

OPINION IN CHRISTCHURCH. ' " "COMMON - SENSE OF; PUBLIC.'": [BT TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , ■;• CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Commenting upon the . elections, the Ohristchurcfr Press ■'says editorially:— "The ; most satisfactory • feature .of, the election is its revelation of the common sense of the public .at times of crisis. The Reformers were represented too' often in a manner both unscrupulous and unprincipled as "Tories" and "Reactionaries." The people ,-have- shown very decisively that they are no longer to be taken in by appeals to prejudice so ridiculous and so opposed "to the facts that have for years been common knowledge. There are thousands of good, and sincere people amongst those -who yesterday voted for the Wardist candidiases ,who - will . grieve over the collapse of the party they have long sup ported and over the sensational' personal defeat of the leader of that party. We do not think that they need grieve for long, or that they will. Those of them ""who love true Liberalism as Glads to nian Liberals did and do will find a. speedy consolation in the fact that Liberal prin- ' ciples have not suffered through the renewal of Mr. Massey's term of office, and have gained through the extinction of that opportunist # force which we call Wardism." * '■; " The Sun to-night says :—"The wreck of the Liberal Party is due, in our opinion, to the apprehension felt in the country districts at a possible Liberal-"Red Fed." combination and to the fact that in the large centres of population, where the cost of living is felt more keenly than it is in the country, the bulk of the workers determined to express their dissatisfaction , by voting Labour. Liberalism has nothing to offer tiie community except the specious promises contained in Sir Joseph Ward's manifesto, promises which obviously could not De carried out. Before it can expect to rehabilitate itself it must find a new leader and a new policy, and neither is to be found growing on the nearest, gooseberry bush. The personal defeat of Sir Joseph Ward is, of course, the sensation of the elections. ' It represents a turnover of about 2000 votes since 1914, and is a remarkable evidence of how a politician's popularity can Recline. Six months ago it looked as if Sir Joseph Ward had a good opportunity, but he played his cards very badly, and unless we' are very much mistaken bis political career is closed." The Lyttelton Times says: "We dislike and distrust the Reform Party, and our feelings are founded upon long observation and acquaintance. ~- . . . . Realising, however, that , Mr. Massey will have the destinies of the country very largely in his hands during the next'three years, we earnestly hope that he will really try.to justify the trust that is reposed in him, and the claim that has been made on his behalf that he is democratic. The Liberal Party suffered some heavy reverses yesterday. The whole Dominion will be stunned and grieved at the defeat of Sir Joseph Ward, after his long . possession of the Awarua seat. Incidents of this kind are, of course, not at all new ■in political history, and we do not doubt that the Liberal statesman will soon restored to the Parliament which he so long adorned. He is certainly too valuable as a financier, and as an all-round statesman for the country to lose his services. Sir James Carroll's defeat is another of the principal surprises, and we know that this incident, together with that at Awarua, will be regretted by people of all parties and of all shades of opinion:" AFTER MANY YEARS. —i—g» —,— . WIFE SECURES MAINTENANCE. HUSBAND WHO HAD PROSPERED. [BY. TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] * TIMARU, Thursday. A maintenance case having unusual features came before Mr. McLean, S.M., to-day. ji retired farmer,-Patrick Fahey, was sued for maintenance by his wife, whom he left in Melbourne with four children, 18 years ago, and came to New Zealand. For a year or two, it was stated, he wrote to her and sent small sums. His wife said only £2. He also asked her to come to New Zealand, but sent her no money for the passage. She replied that she would come if he sent the passage money. Since then ,ghe had heard nothing more of or from him until recently, and had to earn her own living by washing and charing. She had suffered in the influenza epidemic, and the doctor advised her to give up work if she could. The defendant admitted that he had £2000 in the war loan and £1650 on mortgage, and had bought the house he occupied in Timaru, his income being about £4 per week. He had sent nothing, to his wife for 15 years. He came to New Zealand with his wife's consent, and would have made a home for her if she had come over. He did not wish her to live with him new. Miss Walker, a cousin of the defendant, gave evidence that she all along disapproved of the defendant's neglect of his wife and children, and had tried to get the wife's address. She only recently succeeded, and' it was due to her that the wife was here now to bring the action' against defendant. The latter had always had a housekeeper. The witness had no grievance against the defendant, except his neglect of' his wife and children. Toe magistrate made an order for £25 in respect of past maintenance, £1 15s per week henceforward, and a deposit of £200 or a bond for the same amount as security for compliance with the order. —55g -"" I ——