The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1914. THE COMING SESSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 85, 31 March 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1914. THE COMING SESSION.

Discoursing with considerable truth but decided pessimism on the outlook for tiie coming session Wellington's "Evening Post" says that already the politicians, of all parties., are very busy with old and new arts and crafts to win the voters' favor at next elections. "The thoughts of the campaigners are not so much on ways and means of doing good for the public as on strategy for the benefit of themselves and supporters. The Ins are naturally eager to stay In, and the Outs are weary of pressing their faces against the cold glass of the cosy office. So each party lias a song to sing and a tale to tell about its own right to work for the taxpayer and about the other's utter unfitness to be trusted. With the Representatives in such an anxious and excited state

of mind as to the issue of the fight, how will the people be served next session—the people who pay for the politicians' comedies and tragediesr The usual character of a pre-election session is unrespectable. In tin l past the average member had one ear to the ground, and the one word which never stayed far from his mind was Constituent. Everything was more or less a means to that end—the precious vote. Of course, the Government of that time had the advantage because the Ministers were the men behind the counter, with bargains for everybody, at the public expense. This year the Massey'Government has charge of the store. Will there be reform ? Has nothing special been saved up for this important electioneering session? Will the ruling party remember its condemnation of the "sweetening" «sr!i?me* of other pre-election sessions, and will it resolve to set up a new standard P Would the average elector welcome or dislike the innovation? It cannot be denied that many people of manv districts regard election year as a Christmas season, with

the Government as Santa Clans, and therefore some courage will be needed to change the old dispensation.'' That is exactly so and will, we fear, remain so long as the miserable, played-out and ineffective Party system continues.