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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16614, 9 December 1919, Page 2

So long ns it is a matter of talk and promises Sir Joseph Ward breasts the tape easily ahead of all competitors, but when it comes to a matter of performances Mr. Massey can give him a good start and a beating. Take for example the question of housing, which was griwing somewhat acute even before the war. During the six years of the Ward Government it built only 185 workers’ dwellings, while the Massey Government in tiiroo years built 422. Since the dissolution of the National Government, Mr. Massey lias authorised the construction of 200 dwellings and let contracts for all that were tendered for at reasonable prices. The present Ministry' has also passed a Housing Act which has made provision for the erection of sufficient dwellings to solve the housing problem, provided labour and material arc available. Sir Joseph Ward is talking about houses at lus 6d per week, bat no one takes this seriously, since it is obviously only election window-dressing. In these circumstances it is wise to look at the actual performances in the past of the rival candidates rather than their promises, and there can be no doubt that in this case Mr. Massey will secure tho preference.