THE EYE-ELECTIONS

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1178, 27 July 1901, Page 2

THE EYE-ELECTIONS

They Convey a X.esaon

It may be aooepted as a significant sign of the times that in the bye- elections last week the Government candidates were defeated at Christchurch and Patea. Straws show how tbe ourrent flows, and bye-elections are usually looked upon as tbe straws that indicate the ourrent of publio feeling. In this particular instanoe, tbey impress an obvious lesson upon tbe minds of those wbo are willing to learn. This lesson is that tbe oountry is alarmed at the tread of resent legislation, and that, as a result of this alarm, a reaction is setting in. It is olaimed by partisans that no endeavour waa made by tbe Government to secure tbe return of itß candidates. This is nonsense. Mr Edwards, the so-called Liberal and Labour organiser, spent weeks recently travelling from township to township in the Patea distriot, and Mr Massey has deolared in the House that be holds in his possession inconvertible evidence that roads and bridges were freely promised throughout the eleotorate to influence votes. Oan this be possible ? And, if so, wbat oan electioneering have deßoended to in New Zealand ? In Christchurch, we know that tbe Government ohose a candidate against Mr G. J. Smith, one of its former supporters, and that itß candidate was very badly beaten. Tbese two set-backs will serve an invaluable purpose if they impress upon Mr Seddon tbe necessity for going slow. He said himself in tbe House a week or two ago that the oountry waß alarmed, and so it iB. Anxiety and unrest are clogging the wheels^ of our commerce, agrioulture and manufactures, as tbe result of recent (legislation, and the tendenoy in every walk of industry is to draw in rather than lauuoh out with that enterprise that should be a oharaoteristio feature of the trade and manufactures of a young and prosperous nation like New Zealand. The fear is not bo muoh of the law aa it Btands as of what may be proposed or attempted in the near future, and already we have paralysed industry to an alarming extent. To the consistent Liberal party, the situation at the present moment is one of uneasiness and dissatisfaction. It has entrusted its potentialities and destiny to the hands of Mr Seddon, and, instead of keeping the legislation upon broad Liberal lines, he has used his power to set np fresh class distinctions and privileges that are utterly opposed to the first principles of Liberalism. Instead of

olbbb privileges in favour of Capital, we now have the opposite extreme of a favoured Tradeß Unionist class. One iB as hateful to the true Liberal as the other. His platform insists on equal rights and equal opportunity. Who oan say that these advantages, for whioh Sir George Grey laboured so long and earnestly, are preserved by the legislation of the last few years ? Indeed, on the oontrary, we have destroyed tbe equality of rights we had achieved by going to the opposite extreme. It mnst be conceded to Mr Seddon that he has given tbe oountry liberal and benefioent laws in a greater measure than any other statesmen of our day. But his fault is that he does not know where to stop. Muoh of our reoen has been of au experimental cbaraoter, and, until we have carefully watched tbe issue of these experiments, and tbeir effeot upon tbe trade and credit of the oolony, it is wise and prudent to go slow. This is tbe opinion of tbe moderate seotion of the community. And upon the confidence and goodwill of this section of the people Mr Seddon depends absolutely for his continuance in office. The country has been prosperous unde r his rule. Much has been done to improve the condition of tbe workers. Land settlement has progressed by leaps and bounds. Old age has been provided for, money haß, been obeapened, settlers have been encouraged, and muoh has been done to stimulate industry and open new markets. This bas been good up to a oertain point. But, with all the advantages that we have gained from Mr Seddon's rule, there bave also been disadvantages. A great deal bas been done, perhaps unoonsoiously and unintentionally, to destroy individual liberty and freedom. Avenues of industry have been closed to young people. Fresh burdens of a heavy though indirect character, Buch as those levied by the Workers Compensation Aot, the Conciliation Aot, and threatened by the State Fire Insuranoe Bill, have been | placed on tbe shoulders of the enterprising and thrifty. Henoe, the feeling of alarm and uoreßt that is so general. If the results of the Christchurch and Patea elections mean anything, they mean tbat tbe people are tired and want a rest. Should Mr Seddon read the signs of the times correctly, and eleot to go slowly and prudently, there is no reason why he and his party sbouid not remain in power for years to come. But, on the other band, if they disregard the writing qn the wall, and persist in experimental and revolutionary legislation, oontrary to the interests of the thriftier and more enterprising seotion of our colonists, their days on the Treasury Benches are numbered. Tbis is tbe most powerful Liberal Administration New Zealand has ever seen, but, notwithstanding tbe magnifioent work tbey bave done, there are circumstances under whiob tbe ourrent of Liberal feeling would set in against tbem and destroy them even aB Gladstone's most powerful Administration was destroyed in England. Aud these oircumstanoes are now in tbe air.