The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1908. NOT A SHUFFLER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13731, 22 October 1908, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1908. NOT A SHUFFLER.

It is refreshing in South Canterbury at piesent to come across one political candidate who is not afraid to sail under his true colours. Mr Jeffrie-, the Opposition candidate for the unwieldy Geraldine seat, who opened his second campaign at Temukii last' evening, -. knowwhere he stands in pol'tics and let, the electors know as well. There is no attempt on his part to curry favour with the public by slapping the Government over the head while attempting to manoeuvre himself into Parliament by piling us their supporter. Neither docs he seek to secure a footing in the House by shutting his oye> to the political wrongs that are being enacted, and relying- upon the Government influence to pull him through. If the electors of tVeraldine return Mr Jeft'rjes, they will know .that their representative will be a man who will notblow hot and cold on any of the leading questions of the day, nor will they be able to scratch, a " Liberal".' veneer and find uncleriK-ttth. a capitalist and' the no■minee of a capitalist Government. If we are called to book for coir-men ting in the;e terms upon the Ministry and it* felfeU'd candidates throughout the "'conntry, we retort that the Opposition have too long been damned by the persistent tactius of the Ministerial party in representing Mr Massey and his supporters as thf political advocate of the" fat man," The blindest individual can isce that the exact leverse is the caiie. The- "fat men" are to be found on the Treasury beuches-, and on the. hustings with the "Liberal" brand" upon their backs; the Opposition i.s led by a man who,' as Mr .Jeffries told his audience lust night, has graduated front-a station rouseabout towhat even now fe only A modest competence, a man who could probably be bought and t-old niany.tim.es over by any of ,the wealthy capitalists- in the Ministry whose favourite jibe against- him is that he is the living embodiment of the "old Conservatives." However, we do not with t-i commend the views of Mr Massey or ot Mr .Jeffries on the ground that they arc comnarativcly penniless men while the : r opponents are rolling in riches. The precise circumstances of the men 'themselves are not of vital importance. •Vv hat concerns the public is that their attitude towards the present political situation and the reforms which they pn> : wise', if they are placed in: power. Jt was the business of Mr Jeffries bust n'ght'! to explain that, and wc are, glad to .sec. I hat next week Mr Maitey himself will bi> down to criticise the Goveuuucni find expound his own platform in. xemuka. There is no need therefore, that we hliould do more than "stuuuui rise in the briefest way the doctrines of the party to which we ourselves are attached. There, .is electoral reform—the in : tintion of prnjtorticnal representation which will give every oiganised political group its proper number of representatives in the .Howe. There is the curtailment of borrowing, which will be forced on the country whether the Government is. kept in or turned out. There is. the pro]icr .expenditure of the money that is borrowed on genuinely reproductive works —not on the salaries of departmental officer.*, not on repairs and replacements of railway gear, not on elaborate buildings and baifov for touiisis. There is the grant of the freehold, which v> the most convenient form of tenure both for" tln» State and for the tenant when he is able to acquire ; t. There is the reform of the Upper'" House by making it elective by the people. Thenis the pmvision of an annuity scheme blithe whole of lb? people instead of t|ic special treatment for State employees. And i:i I be. matter of defence, there i* a system of universal training wtich as Australia -s going in for. Those aie the main planks in (lie " Conservative" 'platfoim.