BAY OF PLENTY ELECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10717, 11 October 1920, Page 5

BAY OF PLENTY ELECTION

PERIL" OF “APPALLING APATHY. Commenting on the Bay of Plenty election to the Auckland “Star’s” “special,” Sir James CajToll, who stood sponsor for Mr F. D. Lysnar during the contest, explained Mr Lysmar’s defeat by saying that the seat had been held by Mr MacDonald rather than by the Liberal party, and that when Mr MacDonald passed away the inclination of the majority of tho electors was towards the “top dog” in politics. . “This may not he very admirable,” Sir James said by way of comment upon the “top dog” tendency. But it is natural. Our present system of administration leaves the gjft of all good things in the hands of the Government of the day, and the vast majority of the electors imagine Governments habitually look with more favour in this respect upon their political friends than they do _ upon their political opponents. _ This is unjust to the average Minister of any colour, so far as it implies that he purchases land rewards support by bribes from tho public purs© or by improper concessions. Such things are not done in those days. They never have been done within my recollection. The peril to our public life, is not tho corruption of Parliament, hut the appalling apathy of the popple.”