UNDER WHICH FLAG?

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 4 December 1914, Page 3

UNDER WHICH FLAG?

The Prime Minister's, Message. The Prima Minister has issued the following message to the people in 000 nsction with the forthcoming general elootioD:— The Reform Government appeals with confidence to the eleotors. It has more than justified its existence, its reoord is one of progress and continued development In spite of unprecedented difficulties —financial, industrial and otherwiseit hat made good by placing the public finanoes on a sound footing, and by introducing reforms that, five years ago, seemed altogether out of the question so far as New Zoaland was oonoerned. Politick patronage and the •' spoils to the viofcors " polioy are things of the past. All classes of the community have benefitted by the Reform Government's legislation, which has been dictated by the earnest desire to bring about the greatstt good to thegreatest number. The Government's polioy is shown by its actions to be really liberal, progressive,- and humanitarian; its programme for the future is one of development on broadly beneficent lines, and of ever-increasing progress: If. circumstances have not permitted the fulfilment of all its promises, the Government can at least claim that the gretter number of its pledges have been redeemed,, and that it has not broken faith with the public by abandoning a single plank of its platform, nor by repudiating any of its promises, all of wbioh will be given effect to if the oppoctuoity is afforded it Momentous issues depend upon the result of the present election. The country has to choose botwecn two parlies the one resolute and united, the other made up - of hopelessly divided and incongruous) faotions The Reform Party is led by a Ministry of oapable, courageous men, who have conducted the affairs of the ocuntry on • sound, businesslike and honourable lines, and whose supporters form a homo geneous and united party, all working for the common good. The other Purty—that of the Opposition—is not merely hopelessly divided in its counsels, but is split up into many factions, and as the price of its return, to offioe, would havo to accept the polioy dictated by the" Red Feds" and '* Social Democrats," who are arsooiated with it, and who, as the price of their support, will dominate its counsels, the ultimate expense, of course, having to bo met by the country. The need of the day and the hour is for a strong Government, and I think we can fairly claim for the Reform Ministry that; in days of storm and stress and of grave national peril through which wo have been passing, it has proveditself such.