The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1908. THE GERALDINE CONTEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13736, 28 October 1908, Page 4

The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1908. THE GERALDINE CONTEST.

The electors of' fiertfdine who hoard tin' address given by Mr W. S. Maslin k*t Thursday., or who read the inevitably condensed "report of it, must have .been .truck with the clearness of Mr Maslins political opinions, and wiih the fa"vnes* of his eritier-nns of the Government, a* an Opposition candidate. Mr Maslin is not withoutexperience, .lie having conic Mod move than one election bo tore, and sat as a representative, in one ParVament; and he Inm had a lons iielumlingm'ihe management of local affairs. Mr Maslin when previously a member was an Independent, and" as swell proved a retd Oppositionist, and a candid friend of the Government; by nuns, according to the nature of the proposal in hand. Ho,now admits that, independence? spells impotence, and -following'the guidance indicated bv his examination of ihe iegadutive efforts and the administration of ihe present Government, he now comes forward ar. an outright Oppositionist. He recognises that 'he must follow either Mr Maavey or St Joseph Ward, and Ids opinion ; of .tho Government compels him to eliwwe the. former. Mr Maslin .devoted some time, to a condemnation of 'he Secoud Ballot Bill, and then dealt with a, brancn of public affairs which hh business training enabled hjin to discuss logically and effectively, lintinc*. His remarks on this .subject were eminently fair aimreasonable. He disclaimed and discouraged the pessimistic ideas which > <»ne candidates have adopted, and pointed' out that of iho public debt a large proportion is no burdtn on the taxpayers. His warning that a large proportion of the deposit* in the Saving* Bank ohould be invented so as to be more readly roalhable than ihoy are. i* one that 'lie Treasurer .should certainly take note of. K may be rath-r diflicnh to apply tb»wnmiiig to past investment.-, but it could surely lie applied to future ones. Mr Mwllii is a forceful .-pcaker. has strong convictions, and the courage of them: ho would be a notable gain to the raiiU of the Opposition, ami hi. strong com-mons-use would vaiM- the average, of that valuable quality in 'ho House. , Mr Elatman, the Government cand'duie, i has abo a clearly defined position in the j contest. Ho has done good sent, ein the representation of the old ttcrahhiie electorate, as ,i imppm'rr of the late- Mr Se.'.don, and he evidently f.vls nnrJ raiu.-d U: a sense of lovaltv to continue his support to the successors „f Mr S-ddou's Cabinet. No one ever accused Mr Flat-m-.in of being a -tvong man. but hi.", loyalty to liii; chief made him a valuable ally, "not merely for the vain.- of his vole . but for the influence of his oxample. Mr Flat man's *'mvfity is utt-iiii.-siiuned; but lacking 'he critical faculty he accepts without question the bundles of inures with which Governmeut candiJaies have ben -uppli.d. ao if ihco told the whole ..tory of the pievm i-on.litioii and fmuio prospect:, of Uie country, and applies them in his a.ldie—s in a spirit of contentment thai is mp.iti.nt of entici-m. S" ho artu.-cs the critics of the Government of drawing the long bow. and «.f l-ading people ; " : ' n, - v I bv bias cd as-ciiion* and mi-leadin? oxj pjanationv At the satu-- tin-- he must be! vine mi-i-iv : tii*< and discomfort an lie- Govrnmeiil candidate. He >. not j .(Hit • -.ati-iied «iih UiO ;,dii.iioviraii..n ..| th- l.ltid f»r -uluiicnl. law, and thii: one Mlhjr.t W'hi. h. a- ■< piaefieal far tii-r him- If. Mr Hat man may be Mtp po-ed to 1m? well .ouver-ant with. He and other Metnhr, " ;.*k"d " 'he Min'ou r j of Land-- to amend the «,hj-clio|lah|.-clati-c 80, Inn the Miii'mc: r«-f«'"-->i <•» do , ►•-. Th-re »■;!• noihimr u-are to be doiip. 1 by |..yal and < -our nt"d Mippot!-rv. N'o« I ilu- i-, jtiM «h:ii lb-- Oplwoiiioii ha. i» J ttolk o haid atvailiv in ill- Hou e. iw.i , t!i- actii-iti ■■> of \l:ni>lir-. but the un t ..•isi...l ......piam-c of :heir pi.-,|M„aN l»y 1 \li.o-.1.!ial follower-. 1- <->"- tbft.l a ' he oi uotibl. ~! ...e,.,-. uo.i a..r lJ!: «m.- of !)..- ra.y 10l i, .-otlir ■>• ll.d. U1..1, tiiat • ~,. in' «-l .ii..n .an,]...,; us ih--v Jatpely I iy upon Mllo-t-1- to." Illaift-i..! for fhrir |,c j. v. '|l(.'ie .in Ji mv ti,. n tail, an t Ipl-o-ilioii. •> • kiii-e '-hat e.ii.y "ouia a'-n----:r. .. . ,„h,.,-.. '.. ..,i.v.- mi 11.!,, who .ac ..ii- '.,. i -r) .in! :Ikv- ~r,. ,|,„i. ( ; «>tle-*hl|»ri illt.'lt. tlV' '. CTT-'i- l)g ;Ome .ti

i itiatire. and-rot-merely, doing-as they, are jifihl. and .repealing what is told ,to "them. ■■ '■.•'•■ s y .'«' . -X-- . ..-■.■■.--