NO REASON FOR, A CHANGE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13277, 30 November 1911, Page 3

NO REASON FOR, A CHANGE.

Tho Greymouth "Star" states: — "Thoro is no reason why the electors should not again renew the confidence which they have reposed in the Liberal Party for the last twent3years. Tho record of the past is such as to justify the assumption that in the future the great Liberal Part,\ will not be wanting, but will pursue a policy having for its object the attainment of those progressive and democratic ideals to which all true Liberals subgcribe. In the Course of the many speeches which he has delivered during tho past fortnight, Sir Joseph Ward has clearly shown what has been done for the people of New Zealand by the Liberal Party; how taxation has been reduced in tho case of the masses and transferred more equitably to the wealthier; how New Zealand's oversees traffic, which means the transport -of her produce to the markets of tho world, lias been maintained by the Mother Country almost unaided by us ever since the foundation of the colony; how, without any appreciable, draft upon the masses, tho whoio defence system, both naval and military, has been placed upon a solid and juster basis; how, under the land for settlements system, which the Opposition denounced as 'confiscation,' tens of thousands of men, women, and children have been placed in homos that would not otherwise have been created, and made happy and prosperous; how poor widows who are left with children are to receive n contribution from the State for then support; how the farmers -and local bodies have been enabled to obtain their monetary requirements at so much less than had they been compelled to go on the money market: how the 'men on the land' have been able to pursue their avocations and make their improvements with greater encouragement, safety, and financial advantage; how those who rail against the Government on tho ground that it is extravagant demand morerailways, roads, and bridges for then district that would run into many more millions; and how the bulk of tho money borrowed by Parliament tmdor the Ward Administration is paying its own interest and even a profit. The achievement is a remarkable one, but quite in keeping with what wo should expttct from the Liberal Party, which has become the guardian and advocate of the rights of the masses, as against those of the moneyed and landed classes, who find such a valiant champion of the Opposition."

"It is the same old Tory Party coming along with a fantastic name-," said Mr. Fitzgerald, one of the candidates for Wellington Suburbs, on Wednesday. "The latest new name is the Reform Party. What does the Reform Party want to reform? It wants to reform its position. It wants to get on the Treasury benches.

Opposition candidates all over the country keep on asserting that the Opposition has never opposed the principle of old age pensions. Yet when the Bill was before the House in 1897 Mr. Homes said: "There is absolutely no necessity for old age pensions. I cannot go back to my constituents and say that I had assisted to pass it." Mr. Buchanan declared bluntly that he would "certainly vote against the Bill," and Mr. Massey, of course, denounced tho proposed system as a species of charitable aid. Since the people have shown their high appreciation of this Liberal measure the Opposition candidates have been claiming that they want an opportunity to extend its humanitarian provisions.

Mr. Fpwlds stated the other night that he had been asked by some people how it was he bothered about defending the Ward Government. Tho reason was that ho had a sufficient sense of fair play to prevent him from allowing charges that had been made against Sir Joseph Ward's administration, charges which ho knew to be without foundation, to pass without refutation.

Sir Josph Ward said the other day that since the House rose ho had received a letter from a leading Opposition supporter, who stated that a number of members of the Opposition, believing that coalition would bo a good thing, had endeavoured to persuade Mr. Massey to agree to the proposal. This letter threw a good doal of light upon the subject, and lie intended to publish it as soon as he returned to Wellington.

Mr. Byron ISr.r.vji (Opposition) at Otaki: "He was against Crown tenants being allowed to purchase at the original value. It was giving away £4,000,000 of the national asset, Mr Masscy had supported this clamour to gain votes for his side.

"Take a, spurious'coin, touch it with acid, and it will turn black," said Mr. L. M. Isitt the other day. ''Take a p.';eudo-Liberal of the 'Reform' variety, <md he stands convicted of being a supporter of privilege and monopoly. Two-thirds of the land on Banks Peninsula is held by a.few big freeholders. It is land peculiarly suitable for sub-division into small farms. The children of the men who hold the remaining one-third are unable to secure a footing on the wide acres that are being monopolised by a handful of men. Mr. Massey and ths 'Reformers' say that these boys and girls ought to moT6 out of Canterbury, and take up land in North Auckland or the backblocks of the east coast. I ask why Canterbury should be drained of its life-blood in this fashion when land is to be had right at our doors, and when we all know that every section ,Qf j,he_community will be benefited hy th£ increased production that follows closer settlement and more intensive farming?" ,

The expenditure upon railways, education, old age pensions, hospitals, charitable aid. post offices, telegraphs and half a dozen other services have nothing whatever to do with the cost of government. To call the expediture upon these services administrative charges is ridiculous Yet some opponents of t!>e. Government are doing this.. Another specimen of their onfairnejn.