The Political Situation.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XIV, Issue 1190, 24 October 1904, Page 2

The Political Situation.

i Matters political should shortly | begin to agitate the minds of even the most placid of Very little inoru than? a year now lies between the constituencies and a general election. It therefore behoves those whose duty it U to take ah afitive part in politics^—ah i that duty belongs to every adult man and woman in the colony—to begin now the work which will ter ; minute joyfully or dispairingly at the end of next yejir. Much of course, depends upon the spirit in which the : work is taken up There are many men and women who are imbued with a sense .of their responsibility in politics as in ether matters where the public is concerned, and these may be expected to buckle on their armour without any loss of time. But there; ;-i"s, another .section of the community with which it is Impossible to do much until the tnrmoil of an election is upon it. Thgn theye is £he plassi which makes of politicsamatter qf barter.. The people constituting this class wait around for purchasers, and they are invariably bought at a fair price. |Phen, m due course, they are sold}; and this is right; because the pQlitioictn who Nys has also a right to. sell,;; The serious part of the business i«, howerer, thai the qonitituency often enough is bought and sold—mostly sold— in the process. At the next general election a more strenuous effort than hat ever yet been pat forth will be made by the Opposition to oust the present Government We do not believe the effort will be successful, but are convinced that the Government will not be returned to power with anythinglike Its present big majority. Seats were wrested from "the Government at last general election because of superior organisation of Conservative forces and owing to the contributory neghgence of the Liberajs. Jiet us hope tha^i those who are for progress will be as punctilious about voting and working, as they wonld be over any other personal duty. The men and wemen who are indifferent in such a vital matter as politics, or who allojjr tliis or that fee|ing to take the place qf.pjjfycjpje, tinWorthy the great jr.q*t which has been repo^cf m |h«in. Vfe ty>pe there wijl be few fij«c| In NPVe«nber next year.—Wajrftrapa -Reader.