POLITICAL POINTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12390, 2 December 1914, Page 4

POLITICAL POINTS.

Many reasons are urged "by "Reform"'for its mistakes and failures. Asked at Pukekohe to answer questions, Mr Massey suddenly remembered that he must catch a train, and told his audience so. When asked questions at Kurow he told -his audience that Ministers of the Crown never answered questions. Mr Massey should come to some understanding with himself as to the selection of subterfuges that will fit.

'Reform" boasts about the position of the P.O. Savings Bank deposits during its reign. This implies that "Reform" has affected the business of this institution. But if Mr Allen bad produced the same results that stood to the Bank's credit during Sir Joseph Ward's term of office, when the deposits exceeded the withdrawals by an average of £762,232" a- year, while in the two succeeding years of "Reform" the excess was only £520,720, .an average of £260,310 a year, Mr Allen would have had £1,524,464 instead of only £520,720 to meet those appalling obligations which he conjured up as having been left by his predecessors There "was a time when the "Reionn" leaders pretended that the splendid savings- in the Bank indicated a .want of confidence and it .lack of investment.They have now. manufactured .a new 'conviction —large deposits mean progress. Here is testimony to Liberalism as: strong as the acknowledgment that the surpluses were after aH genuine, and-.a condemnation by itself of "Reform."

Mr Field, the "Reform" candidate fori the Nelson seat against -Mr Atmore, seems to be a worthy adherent to the cause. Here is evidence of his fitness.: to follow Mr Massey:—

Mr T; H.. A. Field (Government, candidate ll(£ : -Mlson): The Government pa%ed;."tfie'-* Exemption of -.Workers' Chattels ' "

A Voice: Who introduced-it?. : Mr Field:. Mr Hindmarsh. " '" : . < A .Voice: Oh, a Labor member!— (Laughter.)

It is the boast of "Reform'' that it has increased, tho rate of interest.to Savings! Bank depositors. So it should, for it was - one of Mr Allen's .first .''acts to, annex £BOO,OOO of their 'haid-earhed money at 3j- per cent. The suggestion to raise the interest emanated from; Sir Joseph Ward, and after it was adopted the deposits improved materially.

Neither Mr Seddon nor Sir Joseph Ward ever declfSecl to answer questions at meetings on the ground that they were Ministers. Genuine statesmen, who have nothing to fear except, the trickery -of their enemies, delight in meeting, conferring' with, and confiding in the people. Discussion brings out the truth,- and Liberals and their cause were never injured by the truth but by that same falsity which it is now sought to hide by suppressing poptilar inquiry. »

' : Mr Paap'e is the "Reform" candidate for Westfand in opposition to Mr Seddjon. ts-Mr : ;Paape appears, like. his. masters, to have an accommodating political conscience. When he last contested an election;'he - wasv the Labor candidate for Inyei-cargill. -What with .Red-Fed. ;rpminisc'ences of -last election, when 31r : Massey commanded his followers at OtaTri, Grey Lynn, etc., to vote for the hated Socialists to defeat the men who had given New Zealand all its universally approved legislation—what with all the incidents of.this nightmare and the •affectionate regard of Socialistic leaders who seek to get into the Tory citadel as spies, Mr Massey.is having a bad time. But he ought not to have.turned his back on Mr Robertson, Mr ..Payne, and Mr Veitch.

. We really must protest against Mr Massey for allying himself with that Socialistic firebrand, Mr Paape.

Mr Mehaffey, the eloquent schoolmaster of Thvereargill, who is opposing Mr, Anderson for the Mataura seat, said, in the course of one of his election addresses :*— "I recognise that bad though; party government is, it has got to be, and therefore I cast my lot in with the party that has striven for what is best for the people rather than a, party that has, and always will, legislate' for a class. The Reform, or Conservative, party, is born of class, nurtured and fed by class, and desixite the apparent inclination of some of its number to move in progress, its groat watchword is 'Stop!' and as a sheet •anchor the. u'ord a.cts to stop the. wheels of progression.."

Mr J. L Jenkinson, the cx-Legisla-tive Councillor, who is opposing 'Mr Malcolm for the Clutlia seat, is attracting attention by the sterling character of his addresses. His 21 years' experience in the Council, and his natural ability, would make him a very useful member of the Hoiise of Representatives. . Mr. Jenkinson's thorough honesty, and selflretjance ai;e also, unusual assets in the political world nowadays.

. Mr Acland; one of Mr Massey's instruments,'.- "and an opponent of Mr G.' W;, Russell for the Avon seat, excused the neglect of the Government in regard to the Huntly'mine in this way.: "Mr Fraser had the Bill ready, "hut he-knew that it was a contentious law, and there had been a. lot of contention in the Hmise, so that he did hot introduce it that session .—(Laughter.) The following session there was tlifestrike, and the Bill could not "be ihlrpduced.-—(Laughter.) This year tlie Bill was ready and would have been made law but for the war." —(Laughter.) -.-Mr'Acland forgot to explain that the Bill'was none'the less urgent because a deputation of the mine-owners Massey's especial political friends) waited on Ministers, and that, as a result of the plondings of the-deputation, it was scfc back as No. 1G on the Order Paper. . '